Camp Friendship

Camp Friendship is one of those places that lets you forget about the problems of the world. It may sound full of hokey pokey, but it’s the truth. It’s why Camp Friendship was founded and what we are all about. Chuck Ackenbom established Camp Friendship in 1966, and the business is still proudly run by the Ackenbom family today.

We call ourselves a traditional camp but don’t be fooled by what others may deem traditional. Our traditions are timeless–steeped in a simple way of life and acceptance for all. Diverse by design, we offer a vibrant environment founded in kindness. Here at camp, we embrace differences. We know being a kid can be hard, but being yourself should be easy.

Child development, meaningful social interactions, quality programming, and safety protocols are skills we have mastered and continually hone.

Camp Friendship has over 50 years of experience working with children and their families. We take pride in being an American Camp Association accredited camp and are active leaders in the camping industry. We never settle and always strive to create the best environment possible for each and every child.

We believe in inspiring wonder and empowering children with the opportunity to make their own choices in a safe and supportive environment.

Campers make choices on a daily basis and achieve great independence from doing so. With over 35 fun activities to choose from, we encourage exploration and offer a wide range of possibilities for rich and meaningful experiences. In all our activities and interactions, Camp Friendship focuses on supporting and encouraging each child’s development. Many campers grow with us and return year after year to reunite with friends and try new things. A child-centered philosophy is combined with high-caliber programming to make summer camp an experience like no other.

Each exceptional staff member is selectively hired for their character and trained to be the backbone of camp programming.

Our Directors search all over the world for outdoor enthusiasts, musicians, athletes, swimmers, dancers, you name it, to build a comprehensive team. Many of our staff return for multiple summers or were campers themselves.

At Camp Friendship, our counselors act as a north star to our campers. They work tirelessly to bring the warmth of home to each and every child at camp, while also being just plain fun! They give guidance, support and advice as kids navigate their time at camp. They are always in action–going somewhere, running, chatting, teaching. On any given day, our staff are surrounded by forests, mountains, sunshine, starry night skies and of course…kids! Not bad for a day at the “office.”

Selected as one of the top camps in Northern Virginia in 2019 by Northern Virginia Magazine Best Summer Camps.

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