Overnight summer camps are a time-honored tradition for many children. The freedom to choose daily activities, learn independence, and sleep in cabins are just some of the best parts of going to sleepaway camp.

Luckily, there are a variety of overnight summer camps near DC that help kids learn new skills, have fun, and build lifelong friendships. Ideal for kids as young as 5 and up to 17, these overnight summer camps in Virginia and Maryland are located in the mountains, in forests, along the shore, and on farms.

Here are 12 overnight summer camps we're sure your kids will love and ask to return to year after year. Many sleepaway camps begin sign-ups in the winter, so be sure to check their websites for registration and camp dates, rates, and up-to-date availability.

Looking for more options for summer camps near DC? Bookmark our local Summer Camp Guide, and peruse our full Camp Directory for more programs to fit any budget and interest, from sports summer camps to STEM summer camps and everything in between.

There is lots of free fun to be had all around the DC area this month!

New Year's Eve with kids might feel as wild as those pre-children celebrations with sugar highs and post-holiday excitement. You're just likely celebrating it a bit earlier in the day. I know when my kids were little I wanted to ring in the coming year, but also be asleep well before midnight. (Let's be honest—I still want to be in bed before midnight).

When my now teenagers were a baby and a toddler, we attended the very first Noon Yards Eve. It's grown and become the premier DC event for kids to celebrate the new year. I can't recommend it enough.

But this isn't the only incredible event. Check out early celebrations at Shipgarten or the B&O Railroad Museum. Families with older kids might enjoy nighttime parties like the popular First Night Alexandria or the new New Year's Eve Drone & Fireworks Show in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

Still clinging to Christmas? Most holiday light shows in the area are open on New Year's Eve, or you can get tickets to a holiday performance before they end their seasonal runs. Happy New Year!