Steve & Kate's Camp
Concord Hill School, 6050 Wisconsin Ave, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
About
Steve & Kate's Camp gives campers control over their day, with children choosing their own activities and planning their own schedules. During the camp day, campers spend their time designing, building, creating, playing, eating, and clowning on their own schedule, with all activities that interest them included in the camp fee.
• Ages: 4–13 years old
• Schedule: Long camp hours from 8am–6pm, with all camp hours included in the camp fee
Founded in 1980, Steve & Kate's Camp has used the same camper-directed model since it began. The summer camp program is for children entering PreK through 7th grade and generally accepts children aged 4 to 13 years old, with specific state-based age minimums. All campers must be fully toilet trained, able to speak up for their needs, and able to get through the camp day without a nap. The camp age limit is 13, but if a camper turns 14 while attending summer camp, they may finish out the summer, and 13-year-olds are eligible to attend under specified conditions, which can include entering grade 8 at certain locations. Steve & Kate's Camp also offers mentorship programs for children aged 14 and 15, with availability varying by location, and no paperwork is required for age verification during registration.
Parents can buy any number of day passes to use whenever and wherever they would like throughout the summer, or they can buy a Summer Pass for unlimited use. Drop-off and pick-up can happen at any time within camp hours, and tasty meals and snacks are included in the camp fee, with no additional or surprise fees. All-inclusive rates cover all camp hours from 8am–6pm, snacks and lunch, and any activities that interest the child. Any unused purchased Day Passes are automatically fully refunded at the end of summer, and if a Summer Pass is underused, the difference compared with the daily rate is automatically refunded. Parents can buy any number of day passes, attend camp any time, and receive automatic refunds for any unused passes.
Steve & Kate's Camp is staffed with people who share a talent for connecting with kids and who focus on showing kids what can be done rather than telling them what to do. The camp celebrates the individual by enabling campers to express themselves freely while staff cheer them on. The organization’s vision is carried out through vice presidents Kevin and Mike, who have a combined 55 years of experience at Steve & Kate's Camp, including 47 years working alongside founders Steve and Kate Susskind. Mike started as a counselor at Steve & Kate’s in 1998 and has been there ever since, and Kevin is a former Steve & Kate’s camper who later joined the operations staff. The camp’s website references more than 70 locations from Manhattan to Manhattan Beach, and more than 90 locations are mentioned on the search result page.
Testimonials describe the camp in various ways. Andrew Stanton, director of WALL-E, Finding Nemo, and Finding Dory, states that “kids find their thumbprint at Steve & Kate's.” Apple’s Hot News notes that “if kids ruled the world, it might look something like Steve and Kate’s Camp.” Variety magazine reports that Steve & Kate’s Camp “didn’t set out to cater to the children of folks at Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic and the like, but given their philosophy, it’s no surprise so many attend.” The Washington Post describes Steve & Kate’s Camp as “a blend of that traditional camp experience combined with a modern, tech-savvy touch” with “innovative approaches to everything from programming to payment.” The Chicago Tribune states that “working parents’ worries dissipate as they contemplate Steve & Kate’s model.”
Last updated April 30, 2026.
• Ages: 4–13 years old
• Schedule: Long camp hours from 8am–6pm, with all camp hours included in the camp fee
Founded in 1980, Steve & Kate's Camp has used the same camper-directed model since it began. The summer camp program is for children entering PreK through 7th grade and generally accepts children aged 4 to 13 years old, with specific state-based age minimums. All campers must be fully toilet trained, able to speak up for their needs, and able to get through the camp day without a nap. The camp age limit is 13, but if a camper turns 14 while attending summer camp, they may finish out the summer, and 13-year-olds are eligible to attend under specified conditions, which can include entering grade 8 at certain locations. Steve & Kate's Camp also offers mentorship programs for children aged 14 and 15, with availability varying by location, and no paperwork is required for age verification during registration.
Parents can buy any number of day passes to use whenever and wherever they would like throughout the summer, or they can buy a Summer Pass for unlimited use. Drop-off and pick-up can happen at any time within camp hours, and tasty meals and snacks are included in the camp fee, with no additional or surprise fees. All-inclusive rates cover all camp hours from 8am–6pm, snacks and lunch, and any activities that interest the child. Any unused purchased Day Passes are automatically fully refunded at the end of summer, and if a Summer Pass is underused, the difference compared with the daily rate is automatically refunded. Parents can buy any number of day passes, attend camp any time, and receive automatic refunds for any unused passes.
Steve & Kate's Camp is staffed with people who share a talent for connecting with kids and who focus on showing kids what can be done rather than telling them what to do. The camp celebrates the individual by enabling campers to express themselves freely while staff cheer them on. The organization’s vision is carried out through vice presidents Kevin and Mike, who have a combined 55 years of experience at Steve & Kate's Camp, including 47 years working alongside founders Steve and Kate Susskind. Mike started as a counselor at Steve & Kate’s in 1998 and has been there ever since, and Kevin is a former Steve & Kate’s camper who later joined the operations staff. The camp’s website references more than 70 locations from Manhattan to Manhattan Beach, and more than 90 locations are mentioned on the search result page.
Testimonials describe the camp in various ways. Andrew Stanton, director of WALL-E, Finding Nemo, and Finding Dory, states that “kids find their thumbprint at Steve & Kate's.” Apple’s Hot News notes that “if kids ruled the world, it might look something like Steve and Kate’s Camp.” Variety magazine reports that Steve & Kate’s Camp “didn’t set out to cater to the children of folks at Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic and the like, but given their philosophy, it’s no surprise so many attend.” The Washington Post describes Steve & Kate’s Camp as “a blend of that traditional camp experience combined with a modern, tech-savvy touch” with “innovative approaches to everything from programming to payment.” The Chicago Tribune states that “working parents’ worries dissipate as they contemplate Steve & Kate’s model.”
Last updated April 30, 2026.