WHATAKID
What is
OVERVIEW / MISSION
Camp Whatakid is a place your kids will want to be. This is a place where kids between the ages of 5 and 12, rising Kindergartners through rising 7th graders, will make new friends, be curious and creative, learn valuable skills, and experience an unforgettable summer filled with fun and excitement.
Our camp staff is geared up and eager to provide outstanding service and a quality environment for your child's summer adventures. At Camp Whatakid, we're committed to providing a safe, enjoyable and exciting experience for all campers in our care. We strive to meet each camper's individual needs and provide an atmosphere for social growth and development while maintaining excellence, value, and purpose within our programs and facility.
The overall mission at Camp Whatakid is to invest in the hearts and minds of young children through fun and rewarding activities to help them grow and mature so they may be better prepared for full and rewarding lives.
Our Staff
The staff at Camp Whatakid includes professional educators, university graduates and students, upper-class high school students, and counselors in training (CIT). Most of our senior staff members are college students returning to us summer after summer.
Our staff is well-trained in safety practices, and our lead staff is certified and trained in CPR, First Aid, Medication Administration, and EpiPen procedures. Camp Whatakid is licensed and approved by the state of Virginia as a religious exempt organization. All Fire and Health Inspections, student/staff ratios, and staff health and background screenings meet and exceed all code requirements.
As a group, our staff is a dynamic team, and they make our summer day camp a special place for kids.
Amy Duarte
Camp Director
Amy has been working in the education field for nearly two decades. When Amy began at New Hope she started as a lead preschool teacher and a counselor for The Back Pack and Camp Whatakid. Over the years, she has moved into different leadership roles with both Camp Whatakid and The Back Pack program. Amy gained extensive knowledge in the realm of child development and behavioral management while she studied Elementary Education and Psychology at Southeastern University.
Amy’s passion for serving children started at the young age of 12 years old. At this time she began going on mission trips with her youth group at Word of Life. Her heart and passion is to share the love of Jesus with children both here and around the world. In 2005, Amy served as an intern in Nicaragua working for a mission organization called King’s Castle, with the main goal being to serve the children. During this time, she was able to put her leadership and organizational experience to work as she led youth groups from the U.S coming to serve.
Amy also has a passion for developing her staff and their leadership skills. She knows the importance of having a staff that is well equipped and set up for success. She plans yearly, as well as weekly, training with the employees to make sure that the staff is constantly growing and learning.
Location / Directions
Camp Whatakid is located at New Hope Church's Silo Center at 8905 Ox Road in Lorton, VA, just 2.5 miles north of Occoquan on Rt. 123. We're right next to the Shoppes of Lorton Valley.
