DC Campus: SE Newsletter + Announcements

Hi Camp families!  

Below are the focus instruments that will be offered at your camp location this summer for grades 3-6. If you would like to make any changes to your camper’s instrument choice, please be sure to do so through your Levine Music account by Thursday, May 15th.   

To make changes to your instrument choices: 

• log into your Levine Music account. 
• select the blue hyperlink that says, “Change answers to enrollment questions.” 
• select your camper’s account 
• click on the drop down for each enrollment to adjust the instrument choices.

Session 2 at THEARC will have a percussion group class, rather than offering multiple instrument choices.

Note: we cannot guarantee your camper will receive their first-choice instrument. 

Dear Camp Levine Families, 

We are excited to welcome Catherine Hammes back to Camp Levine this summer—this time in a new role as Co-Director! As we continue preparations for an amazing summer, you may receive emails from Catherine with important updates or reminders. 

Get to know Catherine a little better below! 

Catherine is a Washington, DC native and recent graduate of Duquesne University with degrees in Music Performance and a minor in philosophy. In addition to her involvement with Camp Levine, she also works in the Student Services department at Levine during the academic year. 

Her musical roots can be traced back to Camp Levine, where she started as a camper at the age of 7. She would go on to be a Teen Apprentice and later a member of the seasonal staff at the NW DC location. Catherine is so excited and honored to be returning as Co-Director of Camp Levine this summer! 

As a flutist and woodwind doubler, she has made several appearances in musical theatre orchestras in the Greater Washington Area as well in Levine’s orchestra ensembles. During her time at Duquesne, Catherine performed in principal positions with several premiere ensembles, including the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Wind Symphony, Duke’s Music (early music), and Flute Choir. She was nominated as a finalist for the Women’s Advisory Board Scholarship Competition and was a featured soloist with the Duquesne University Flute Choir. 

Catherine is looking forward to spending another summer at Camp Levine and can’t wait to see each location in action! 

• Updated parking and carline information for West Falls, VA families has been added to the parent portal. Please take a moment to view it prior to camp starting. 

• 3rd-6th Grade campers ONLY: Focus instrument assignments for Session 1 will be sent out later this week. Please expect an email from camp staff at your designated site with additional details.  

• PK/K campers bring a mat, blanket, or towel for rest time and a change of clothes along with their lunch, snack and water bottle.  

Reminders for Week 2: 

Spirit Week: Week 2 of Camp Levine is spirit week! We encourage all campers to participate and join in on the fun. Camp staff at your site will communicate what the theme days are for next week. Be sure to join the fun!

Independence Day: Camp Levine will be closed on Friday, July 4th. 

Instruments: Campers in rising 3rd grade and up bring their focus instruments to and from camp daily. Feel free to encourage your camper to practice and show you what they’ve learned!  

Lunches/Backpacks: Your child is in rising 1st-6th grade they should only be bringing their lunch, snack, and water bottle to camp. Space is limited, so it is hard to accommodate large backpacks, particularly with older campers are traveling from classes with instruments.  At Camp Levine THEARC lunch is provided. You can view menus below.

• PK/K campers bring a mat, blanket, or towel for rest time and a change of clothes along with their lunch, snack and water bottle. 

Late drop off: If you arrive after 9:45am, please walk your child to the camp office so we can sign them in and escort them to their class. It is the best way for us to make sure every child accounted for.  

Absences/Early Pick-Up: If you are running late to drop-off, need to pick up early, or if your child will be absent, please e-mail your site. Campers leaving early must be picked up before 3pm. We cannot accommodate campers being picked up after 3pm. 

Games Day: Week 2 of Camp Levine we host games day! Be on the lookout for more details from your Site Director with specifics pertiaing to games day. Camp Levine does not administer medication including the application of sunscreen or bug spray.  

Phones numbers and extensions: Each Camp Levine site now has a designated extension where the Camp staff can be reached. To contact them please use the information below: SDs you can choose to only include the number and extension for your site in your email to families. I will include all of the extensions in the portal. 

NW DC campus: 202 686 8000 x2001 

SE DC THEARC campus: (202) 274-9152 

Strathmore campus: (202) 274-9153  

Falls Church campus: 202 686 8000 x2005 

Instrument Open House: From 8:15-9am at each campus, parents will have an opportunity to meet our instrument teachers at each campus and hear more about what your child is learning. At the Instrument Open House, you can speak directly with our instrument teachers about their class and your child’s interests.

There will be informational flyers regarding private lesson and group class offerings for the 2025-26 Academic Year at Levine, Levine swag, and coffee to enjoy! 

THEARC Instrument Open House will happen on: 

• Wednesday, July 2, 8:15-9am

If you plan to attend, please complete this very simple form letting us know if you need Before Care (at no additional cost) for your child on this day.   

 
If you can’t join us in-person, please join us online! We will be offering a virtual Lunch Chat on Friday, July 18 from 12-1pm. (A zoom link will be sent out closer to the date).

Independence Day: Camp Levine will be closed on Friday, July 4th. 

Lunches/Backpacks: Please make your child continues to bring their snack, and water bottle to camp each day. Space is limited, so please continue not to bring large backpacks. Ensure that Pre/K campers have changes of clothes and rest mats that can stay at camp.  

All-Camp & Musical Theatre Performances: All-Camp Performances will happen on the last day of the camp session, July 11, depending on the site. Due to safety precautions and space occupancy, families and friends are not invited to attend the performances. Campers will be performing for their camp community, and it will be recorded and shared with families through email and in the Camp Levine Parent Portal. All campers should wear their Camp Levine t-shirts on performance day.  

Performance Videos: All camp families will be emailed a link to their site & session’s performance video as soon as it is available. It may take a while to edit and send them, but they will be on their way as soon as they are completed!  

Attendance & Absences/Early Pick-Up: If you are running late to drop-off, need to pick up early, or if your child will be absent, please e-mail your site. Campers leaving early must be picked up before 3pm. We cannot accommodate campers being picked up after 3pm. 

*Please email your camp site if your camper will be missing any days during week 3. It is important to for us take this into account while we are planning the rehearsal and performance.*  

Instruments: Instruments will not travel home the day before the final performance. 

Please check back for Camp Levine 2025 performance videos!