There's only ONE review for Camp Letts?? How can that be???…read more Okay, a little bit of background, here: I have been going to Camp Letts for over forty years (coincidentally, my age is a little over forty years). For once, I'm gonna have to write a relatively irony-free Yelp review. Letts is a YMCA mixed-use facility situated in a wooded peninsula, on the Rhode river (which feeds right into the Bay). That means you drive a mile and a half down a beautiful forest road to get there, and at the end you're surrounded on three sides by the tidewater shoreline of the Bay. Mixed-use means there's a variety of reasons you might show up there. Mostly, it's: - a summer camp. Woo hoo, summer camp! - a conference center (church/synagogue groups, and retreats for local businesses) - a special events venue (weddings, bar mitzvahs, etc.) - a family camp. They hold this every Memorial and Labor Day weekend. In my years there, I've experienced all of these facets of Camp: I went there as a summer camper, have been on a religious retreat there when I was a kid, saw my sister get Bat Mitzvahed there, and perhaps most importantly (for me), gone for family camp every year since I was a wee babe. It's great for all these events. Why five stars? Because there's something here for everybody. That means for every purpose you might need (Getting married? check. Sending a kid to summer camp? check), as well as the range of activities, and the range WITHIN those activities. For example, the waterfront is a big part of what make Camp great - but not everybody feels like sailing or water skiing. No problem - you can also just hop in a canoe, and paddle your way around the coves and islands of the river. The staff is professional, and they make sure you're experience is as good as possible. The food is taken care of by their excellent staff. Accommodations are mostly in cabins, which are relatively gussied-up (carpeting, bathrooms, and electricity); there is also the econolodge-like Letts Lodge, "rustic" cabins (no interior bathrooms or carpeting), and yurts. But really, I'm gonna push for Family Camp, here. Twice a year, you can get away for a weekend, to a place where - like Cheers - everybody knows your name. It's relaxing, there's all kinds of activities - from nature walks and tennis to sailing and archery. You can even just relax on a rocking chair overlooking the water and read or knit. I've been going here forever, and hope I'm always able to. I fly back east from California every year, just to grab a weekend here. It's a big part of growing up for me and for many others. You can't do better than going to Camp.

Camp Letts is a seriously gorgeous summer camp on a peninsula that juts out into the Chesapeake Bay…read moreand Rhode River. There is precious little on the internets about Camp Letts as a wedding venue, so I'm going to try and be comprehensive here. I got engaged around the same time as my brother - he's getting married at the Four Seasons. We chose Camp Letts, or "the Four Seasons of summer camps" as one guest called it. Availability - Because it is a functioning summer camp, there aren't too many summer Saturdays available for weddings (and Memorial and Labor Day weekends are booked for camp retreat events each year). I think they only did 14 total weddings all of last year. If you are doing a fall or spring wedding, you have a good shot at snagging a Saturday. We were lucky to get a June Saturday, right before the campers arrived. Staff - The original event planner was (thankfully) replaced by Trev Dalton, who was a dream to work with. He was a Grade-A professional, and responsive to all my e-mails and calls. And there were many. The camp is a camp before it is a wedding venue, and my folks wanted to do a lot of "sprucing up" around where the outdoor ceremony would be. The camp staff welcomed this, and the lawn and boathouse looked fantastic on the day. Everyone was very helpful on the day, and even provided a little golf cart to get some photos in some of the hidden gems of around the camp for pics. We could cruise around without wasting too much time/getting dirty/sweaty en route. Catering - If you book the camp for your wedding, you sign on to have Chef Betsy (the camp chef) make the food. I was scared about this because I was already in love with the venue when I learned about the exclusive catering, but she DELIVERED. We had crab cakes, prime rib, a summer veggie pasta, and some simple sides of roasted potatoes and roasted vegetables. I'm telling you as a crab cake snob, the crab cakes were to.die.for. Compliments from the guests abounded. Do not be afraid of the catering. Determine what you want and ask for a tasting. They try to combine tastings with other couples (again, it is a non-profit and not a typical wedding venue, so funds are limited for lots of tastings). Rentals - The catering at the camp only includes table set-up, food and bussing of tables, so you do have to rent linens, glassware, etc. A day-of wedding coordinator is pretty key, unless you have friends/family members that are game to set the tables and you want to put them to work. I'd recommend a coordinator that can make sure all of your gifts and items you own get into the right cars, so that all of your guests can enjoy drinking and dancing! Bartenders - You will have to hire a bartender(s) and get a one-day liquor license. You can order booze and have it delivered, and the bonus is that most liquor stores will take back any unopened bottles for a full refund. Grounds - So pretty so pretty! We had an outdoor ceremony on the water, flanked by trees and sailboats. The reception was in the dining hall, which is a lodge-type buidling with high rafters and a giant fireplace. We fit 200 guests with a dance floor. Another bride had a few more guests and did the dancefloor outside under a tent (another option). The boathouse is available to rent for an extra $500, and makes a decent place to get ready with your bmaids, though it isn't the most picturesque on the inside. We did our "first look" on the pier outside, and I can't wait to see those photos. Overall, the experience of having our wedding at Camp Letts was five stars. The look and feel of the wedding was the cheerful, natural, fun vibe that we hoped for because of the great venue. It was truly the best day of my life!

This is our first experience with RE and it has been nothing short of pure magic. My son has…read morespeech processing disorders and Teece assured me he will be in good hands, and he is! In regard to the other review, the camp handbook notes they send all food wrappers and waste home and do not dispose at camp. My son's school was the same so do not find this to be odd in any way. As for timing, part of the experience is the facilitated free play and with kids joining and leaving disrupts their play, also similar to my son's Montessori setting.

not worth the exorbitant cost! $425/child/ week for drinking water, a porta pot, and land. "nature…read moreimmersion" is just code for the camp not needing to provide anything- no zip line, obstacle course, sports, nothing. WARNING- the camp is cancelled if there is threat of thunderstorms with NO reimbursement! i requested to pick up my children 30 minutes early for a doctors appointment and was told no- that I could either pick them up at 1 during the porta pot break or at 4 when camp ends. So in order to make it to the doctors, it meant 2.5hrs that I had to find care for my child during my work day. Two of my kids arrived to camp with a lollipop (not great i know, but trying to accommodate the 9am pickup with an 8am work start means things slip!) and was told lollipops were not allowed and they didn't have a trashcan to throw it away in! the owner of the camp tried to tell my son to put it on the seat in my car! so i paid $1275 for my three kids to attend camp and they could not accommodate an early pickup, wouldn't throw away a lollipop they wouldn't allow, and they had to stay home today due to potential thunderstorms that so far have not come to fruition. I've had the kids in this camp for 3 years bc I wanted them to have different experiences and they take toddlers, but I'm really frustrated and disappointed in the lack of accommodation and lack of value for the cost. we will certainly not be going back. save your money! there are tons of great camps around that are less expensive and tons of fun with great, accommodating staff.

Our children started attending Goddard in June 2019, when we moved to the area, and our family's…read moreexperience over the last 3 year has been nothing short of exceptional. Our children were 2 and 4 at the beginning and throughout our time at Goddard, teachers and the leadership team have been dedicated and strong partners in building a school community that is enriching, encouraging and educational for all students. Goddard teachers are exceptional, they make a concerted effort to develop relationships with their students and their families, and day to day activities are thoughtful, engaging, and focused on learning. Our kids often had much to say about what they did at school that day and we greatly enjoyed seeing their photos and the outline of their day through the Tadpoles application. The Goddard leadership team was always accessible and available. Their commitment to consistent and transparent communication was something we valued and certainly, as we progressed through different stages of the pandemic, their frequent updates and willingness to listen and discuss policies and actions taken speaks to their integrity and interest in keeping students in class and well. Beyond the staff, the Goddard facility is impeccable, it's clean and fully furnished with books, toys, and learning resources. While our time at Goddard is ending, we are so glad to share our family's experience, and encourage all seeking child care to visit, take a tour, and meet the staff.

The Goddard School in Edgewater has been such a fresh breath of air for our family. Their…read moretransparency, care, principles and great staff compliment a top notch, new beautiful facility. Our son has been going here for a little over a year after 3 other previous centers. The staff at Goddard has been so supportive and I feel they are having a huge impact on his rapid educational and personal advancements. I cannot recommend Goddard in Edgewater enough!

Exceptional entertainment for children - the cast is great, funny and interactive. The storyline…read moreholds so well and keeps the kids engaged the whole way through, with many surprises and adventures on the way. One of the best family adventure in the US.

Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake was a really cool adventure for my kids. They loved all aspects…read moreof it! The adventure starts with a phone call. This isn't the type of adventure you can show up to on a whim. You have to schedule a visit in advance. I scheduled a date and time over the phone. They took my credit card info, a contact number and my kids' names. The first date I scheduled was cancelled due to inclement weather. Pirate Adventures called and cancelled the adventure about three hours prior to when it was supposed to start. I elected to reschedule right then. I was instructed to arrive a half hour before our adventure so the kids could get their faces painted and pick out a sash. We parked on the street a few blocks away not realizing they have a parking lot. We checked in, the kids were given name tags with their name and an alliterative adjective (ie Zig Zag Zora and Kung Fu Kieran) and then reported to the face painting and sash picking area. After face painting kids and adults boarded the boat and the Chesapeake part of the adventure began. The captain went over a few safety measures with the adults while his assistant went through guidelines with the kids. The adventure has a whole story with different parts involved that kept the seven kids on our adventure entertained. Ages ranged from probably three to fourteen. These parts included a map search, treasure hunt, key finding expedition, pirate fight and a final pirate bounty quest. For the adults, we just hung out under a shaded portion of the boat. I got up to interact with my kids a few times and to snap some pictures. Mostly I just enjoyed the boat ride. The whole adventure lasted almost two hours (counting face painting). If you have kids that love to pretend and don't mind riding a boat, Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake might be right up their alley.

Camp Mardela is a really beautiful camp that's over 70 years old ! It's got a great community of…read morepeople and staff who really care about the camper experience . I would definitely recommend this summer camp to anyone in the age bracket and for those who aren't, family camp and their multiple fundraising events are definitely a good place to get involved !

Many, many summers were spend here, again, less than a mile from my house. It has a rich history…read moreand a popular summer program. Some of my best memories were made here - swimming in the pond, family style meals at the dining hall, and late night whispers in the cabins.

I signed up for a pop up adult watercolor class this evening, making holiday cards. It was a great…read moreexperience. Each person's station was set up and well-supplied. The instructor, Cat, gave a demonstration of various watercolor techniques and then turned us loose to experiment a bit and then to make our own holiday cards. She circulated around the tables, gave feedback, and made suggestions. The location is easy to find and there is off-street parking right outside I will watch for more classes here.

My son took art classes in the fall 2024 and spring 2025. Couldn't wait for summer camp but…read moreunfortunately the ones he wanted filled up before we got him registered. Highly recommend and he can't wait to return. Their staff/art teachers (Ms. Kat and Ms. Montana) plus the owners (Allison is one) are genuinely amazing and you can tell art is their passion and working with kids.

Holy cow! We just attended a 4 year old birthday party here and it was incredible. Everything is…read moreover the top decorated like a jungle or rain forest. They have tons of cool animals, mostly reptiles and sea animals but also some birds and an armadillo. All the employees seemed super passionate about their job, they were great with the kids, and they facilitated the party well. There was plenty of space for the kids and their families and I'd say the adults were as engaged in the activities as the kids. There was free time for the kids to look at all the exhibits, the charismatic host brought out a lizard, an armadillo, a boa, and a cayman to teach us about and let the kids touch. There was time for pizza and a dinosaur egg hunt. Everything was clean and they did a great job sanitizing between animals and doing hand washes before food.

Amazing staff! From the first hand knowledge and professionalism of/with the animals to the…read morebirthday party set up and picture taking! Simply splendid!

We had a class for our four kids and it was a wonderful intro to horse back riding. The staff was…read morefriendly and their kids assisted with the class in a really helpful way

Not a good experience for us. Maria is the best instructor there. The others? not so much…read more Trainers yelling at students, not paying attention, constant texting, negative, rude, condescending, passive aggressive, just plain unprofessional. We were miserable. Can't recommend, sorry. Look elsewhere.

Ms. Julie was amazing. She catered to our every need. The children were engaged the entire time…read more Her prices are much cheaper than the competitors! She set up the tables with decoration. I decided to bring my own and all I had to do was add the Hello Kitty plates to the colorful plates she had. Don't forget to tip her! She is way worth it!

From the owner: Artworks Studio encourages kids of all ages to develop their full creative potential through art…read more Artworks strives to create a unique environment in which kids of all ages, abilities and experiences can feel free to imagine, create and welcome the arts into their lives. Artworks offers after school art classes, a home school art program, summer art camps, birthday pARTies, workshops and more!

Needed some time with nature....my mind gets to wondering all over...figured this would be the…read moreperfect thing for my son and I as we get ready for the school year. Wanted a kayak place that wasn't crowded with easy entry and exit. I couldn't find and promos but that's cool....the price for a double is comparable to most. Splurge for the 2 hours because it's only $10 more. Take in the sights and enjoy some conversation. Customer service was just right....before you knew it we were in the kayak and on our way...for the record I did most of the work

I was on vacation last month and went back to my former home state to do something active and fun…read morelo and behold: Capital SUP. I have been going to this business for years and have now been to all 3 locations. The people working here are very friendly and helpful. The location of Quiet Waters is awesome, very serene place. A nice little walk from the parking lot about 10 mins surrounding by beautiful trees and wineberries. Also cool that they have classes and yoga SUP. This was one of the highlights of my trip. Thank you.