Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office will hold four weeklong summer camps to keep children from joining gangs. The camp, called Road DAWG (Don't Associate with Gangs), is part of the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program and will be held July 7-11 at Seneca Ridge Middle School, July 21-25 at Stone Hill Middle School, and July 28-Aug. 1 at Round Hill Elementary School. The camps are for upcoming sixth graders. The camp is designed to provide students with the skills they need to avoid gang pressure and youth violence. Ask for an application at your local elementary school or pick-up an application at the Loudoun sheriff's Office Administration Building, located at 39 Catoctin Circle, S.E., Leesburg.
The Loudoun YMCA and St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church are cooperating to hold a summer day camp July 7-11, a special Vacation Bible School and Day Camp, at the Meadowkirk retreat center near Middleburg. The YMCA will provide daily swimming, crafts, games, nature walks and more. St. Gabriel’s will enhance the program with a daily bible lesson and activities. The camp session will run 7:45 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Cost: $100 registering with St. Gabriel’s. Free transportation from the YMCA offices in Leesburg. Pick up forms from St. Gabriel’s office in Leesburg or download forms from St. Gabriel’s Web site www.saintgabriels.net to send them in to the YMCA. Call and register directly with the YMCA at 703-777-9622.
Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church is offering its Mission Possible program, from 9:30 a.m.- 3 p.m., July 7-11, rising second- through eighth-graders. Register for any of the days, includes opportunities to volunteer. Contact Jodie Leach at jodieleach2@aol.com or at 703-421-6310. St. Matthew’s Church is located at 201 E. Frederick Drive, Sterling.
Dance Camp. Opportunity for children to learn or enhance skills in jazz, urban funk and rock jams through modern creative choreography at the Douglass Community Center, 405 East Market St., Leesburg. Classes run July 14-18, from 1-3 p.m., and July 21-25, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Bring a snack and water bottle. Camp is for ages 6-12 and the cost is $70 per child. Contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or e-mail dcc@loudoun.gov.
From July 14-Aug. 1, Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestal’s Gap Road, Sterling, will be holding nature camps for elementary-age children during the summer. Campers will have a chance to explore the forests and fields and visit the ponds of the park through hiking and hands-on activities and crafts. Call 571-258-3700.
Civil War Camp, from July 14-18, at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, 21085 The Woods Road, Leesburg. Campers will learn how important historical events affected the lives of the people living in Loudoun County through activities, games, crafts, etc. The camp runs 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., cost: $175, and children ages 8-12 are encouraged to enroll. Call the Loudoun Museum at 703-777-7427 or e-mail education@loudounmuseum.org to register.
Cheer Camp. Learn team building, stunting, spotting and performance skills at the Douglass Community Center, 405 East Market St., Leesburg. The camp runs from July 14-18, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and July 21-25, 1-4 p.m. Cost: $85. To register, contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or dcc@loudoun.gov.
Abrakadoodle anime camp. Learn the Japanese art of animation at the Douglass Community Center, 405 East Market St., Leesburg. Listen to Japanese folktales and learn Japanese games. The camp runs July 14-18, Monday through Friday, 1-4 p.m. Cost: $185 includes all materials. For children ages 8-12. Contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or e-mail dcc@loudoun.gov to register.
Sterling United Methodist Church is holding its annual summer camp program from July 14-Aug. 1, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. daily. Located at the church on 304 East Church Road, Sterling, the camp is open to children age 3 to those completing fourth grade. There will be activities including arts and crafts and field trips. Cost: $125 per week. To register, visit www.sterlingumc.org, e-mail sumcsummercamp@yahoo.com or call 703-430-6455.-
Children can acquire new art skills at the Abrakadoodle minidoodlers camp. Located at the Douglass Community Center, 405 East Market St., Leesburg, the camp is for children ages 20 months-3 years and is split into three sessions: July 22-24 and Aug. 5-7, from 1:30-2:15 p.m. Cost: $60/ session. To register, contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or e-mail dcc@loudoun.gov.
Abrakadoodle pirate island camp. Create pirate ships, sandcastles, treasure maps, sea monsters, ship flags, doubloon necklaces and more, July 28-Aug. 1. Camp fee: $185 includes all materials. For children ages 3-5. Held at the Douglass Community Center, 405 East Market St., Leesburg. To register, contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or e-mail dcc@loudoun.gov.