Arts & Entertainment
High camp fun
No, we mean real camp — as in summer fun for kids. Here are a few of the region’s offerings
Imagination Stage, part of Artisphere (1101 Wilson Blvd.) in Arlington, has many summer camps for children of all ages, starting at 4 and going all the way through high school. There is the Arts Explorer camp for children ages 4 and 5. Children ages 6 and 7 can go to the Arts Adventure camp. The other camps are either four weeks long or a week-long flex camp. There’s also a Filmmaking Camp for children grades five to 12 that last either one or three weeks and dance camps. For more information, visit imaginationstage.org.
Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School, (3500 Woodley Rd., N.W.) has multiple summer programs for different age groups from ages 3 to 11 that run throughout the summer. Costs of the camps vary program to program. Brown bag lunches and snacks will be provided for all-day campers and half-day campers will receive snacks. Children are encouraged to dress comfortably and sock and tennis shoes are required. For more information, visit summer.beauvoirschool.org.
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (545 7th St., S.E.) puts on a summer program called “Island Arts Adventure,” which is two week sessions that run from June 20 to Aug. 12 for children ages 5 to 13. Each session is divided into morning and afternoon camps. In the morning, the campers will focus on an island such as Indonesia or Hawaii and then the afternoon camps are more recreation based. Campers must have turned 5 by June 1 and completed a year of kindergarten or equivalent education. For more information, visit chaw.org.
The Corcoran Gallery of Art has a camp for children ages 5 to 16 called “Camp Creativity.” The camp is divided into four age groups. The groups for children 5 to 10 meet at the Georgetown campus (1801 35th St., N.W.) and the other groups meet at the gallery’s downtown campus (500 17th St., N.W.). Studio A has campers experimenting with a variety of materials as they investigate themes in art. Studio B allows campers to explore a variety of artists and themes while developing their artistic skills. Studio C has campers concentrating on skill development and they get to try out things like fashion illustration and cartooning. Studio D has campers building their skills in figure drawing, digital photography and fashion illustration. Campers can be signed up for one to eight weeks. Prices vary based on age and session. For more information, visit Corcoran.org.
TIC Summer Camp (4620 Dittmar Rd.) in Arlington is a technology- and sports-based camp for children 7 to 16 at three locations. The technology choices are programming, robotics, web design, animation, filmmaking, digital arts and digital music. All campers get a sports period each day and their choices are soccer, basketball, gymnastics, dance, team handball, street hockey, ultimate frisbee, flag football, softball, capture the flag, volleyball and crazy games. Campers can also choose drama or tennis for an additional cost. Campers are expected to provide their own lunch. There are four sessions throughout the summer starting June 20. The base tuition is $820 per session. For more information, visit ticcamp.com.
Woodland Horse Center (16301 New Hampshire Ave.) in Silver Spring has two summer camps available this year. There’s the Pony Pals Summer Camp for children ages 5 to 7 and the Horsemanship Summer Camp for children ages 8 to 15. Horsemanship campers get two riding lessons, horsemanship lessons, interactive lectures and do arts and crafts. A two-week sessions costs $760 and the first session starts June 13. Pony Pals are given a daily riding lesson, horsemanship lessons, interactive lectures and do arts and crafts. A single week costs $380 and the first session starts June 20. Both camps will have special activities such as pizza day and water games day. For more information, visit woodlandhorse.com.
Jonah’s Treehouse (2121 Wisconsin Ave., C-1 Level) has a summer camp for children ages 3 to 6 that runs from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Registration is done by week with a different theme each week. For more information, visit jonahstreehouse.com.
The Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory (1501 14th St., N.W.) has summer workshops for young actors ages 12 to 17. The Young Actors Ensemble will run from June 27 to July 21. The curriculum includes theater games, pantomimes, improvisations, ensemble work, monologues and scene study. Actors acquire better skills in concentration, observation, response and interplay. Placement auditions are June 18 so instructors can better develop individual students to their fullest potential. The program costs $550. Scholarships are available. For more information, visit studiotheatre.org.
Cleveland Park Club (3433 33rd Place, N.W.) has a summer camp that runs from June 13 to Aug. 12 for children ages 5 to 9 and counselors-in-training ages 11 to 16. Campers participate in a variety of activities including stilt-walking, tumbling, kickball and chalk drawing. Camp prices vary based on session and membership in the club. For more information, visit clevelandparkclub.org.
Sports
Jason Collins dies at 47
First openly gay man to actively play for major sports team battled brain cancer
Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to actively play for a major professional sports team, died on Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 47.
The California native had briefly played for the Washington Wizards in 2013 before coming out in a Sports Illustrated op-ed.
Collins in 2014 became the first openly gay man to play in a game for a major American professional sports league when he played 11 minutes during a Brooklyn Nets game. He wore jersey number 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student murdered outside of Laramie, Wyo., in 1998.
Collins told the Washington Blade in 2014 that his life was “exponentially better” since he came out. Collins the same year retired from the National Basketball Association after 13 seasons.
Collins married his husband, Brunson Green, in May 2025.
The NBA last September announced Collins had begun treatment for a brain tumor. Collins on Dec. 11, 2025, announced he had Stage 4 glioblastoma.
“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” said Collins’s family in a statement the NBA released. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’s “impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”
“He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador,” said Silver. “Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.”
“To call Jason Collins a groundbreaking figure for our community is simply inadequate. We truly lost a giant today,” added Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson in a statement. “He came out as gay — while still playing — at a time when men’s athletes simply did not do that. But as he powerfully demonstrated in his final years in the league and his post-NBA career, stepping forward as he did boldly changed the conversation.”
“He was and will always be a legend for the LGBTQ+ community, and we are heartbroken to hear of his passing at the young age of 47,” she said. “Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We will keep fighting on in his honor until the day everyone can be who they are on their terms.”
The Washington Blade will update this article with additional reaction when it becomes available.
Glitterati Productions held the “Studio 69” party at Bunker on Friday, May 8.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

















Arts & Entertainment
Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13 to kick off D.C. Pride week
Pride on the Pier officially launches Pride Week in D.C.
The Washington Blade’s annual Pride on the Pier celebration returns to The Wharf on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 4-9 p.m., bringing thousands of LGBTQ community members and allies together for an unforgettable waterfront celebration to kick off Pride week in Washington, D.C.
Now in its eighth year, Washington Blade Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment for all ages. The District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, drag, and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.
“Pride on the Pier has become one of the signature moments of Pride in D.C.,” said Lynne Brown, publisher of the Washington Blade. “There’s nothing like watching our community come together on the waterfront with live music and incredible energy as we kick off Pride week.”
Pride on the Pier is free and open to the public, with VIP tickets available for exclusive pier access to the Dockmaster Building. To purchase VIP tickets visit www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.
Additional entertainment announcements, sponsor activations, and event details will be released in the coming weeks.
Event Details:
📍 Location: District Pier at The Wharf (101 District Sq SW, Washington, DC)
📅 Dates: Friday, 13, 2026
⏱️ 4-9PM
🎟️ VIP Tickets: www.PrideOnThePierDC.com/VIP


