Living
Countdown to summer camp!
Register now to guarantee a slot in these LGBT-affirming regional spaces


Children and teens in the Washington area have a wide array of summer camping options that are open to rainbow families. (Photo courtesy YMCA)
Summer camp sessions kick off in a few months but programs have already opened registration. Local camps offer short-term, long term, day and overnight sessions that can give children a fun summer whatever their comfort level. Whether children want to explore more of a subject they already love or try something different, there is a camp program for every interest. Here’s an overview of some summer camps that are already prepping for the season.
The Barrie Montessori Prep School (13500 Layhill Road, Silver Spring, Md.) offers Barrie Camp June 18-Aug. 10. Set on 45 acres just outside of Washington, Barrie Camp provides a time-honored camp experience for children ages 4-14. Through hands-on experiences, collaboration and diversity of thought and culture, campers are encouraged to be themselves, try new things, explore, accept challenges and find joy in all activities.
Lower, Middle and Upper camps are broken down by age. Specialty Camps combine a half-day concentration in a specific area such as karate, digital video, horseback riding and more.
Super Camps offer fun and learning targeting a specific interest and age group.
Full details and pricing online at barrie.org.
Burgundy Farm Summer Day Camp has two summer camps that provide great options for children excited about learning and playing outdoors. Both camps are accredited by the American Camp Association and offer educational opportunities led by nurturing staff in natural settings.
Day Camp at Burgundy Farm takes place on the 26-acre campus of Burgundy Farm Country Day School in Alexandria with divisions grouped by age and interest for kids 3 years, 8 months-12 and 13-16. Older campers can customize their camp day by picking programs each session, which run June, July and August.
Nature Camp at Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies is in Capon Bridge, W.Va., on a massive, 500-acre campus. Junior sessions for ages 8-10 last one week; senior sessions (11-15) run two weeks and there’s an adult weekend for ages 21-and-up as well.
Full details and prices at burgundysummer.org.
Adventure Theatre has a full day Summer Musical Theater Camp for first through sixth graders in Glen Echo Park for a two-week session. Professionals and teaching artists will train campers in daily rehearsals for dancing, singing and acting. Campers will perform “Circus Circus,” “Pirates,” “100 Year Snooze” and “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.”
There will be a main stage performance for campers’ friends and family at the end of the program. Tuition ranges from $800-850. Campers in sixth-12th grade have two courses of study in Wintergreen Plaza. Contemporary Musical Theater Study lets campers learn from musicals including “Come From Away, “Beautiful,” “Kinky Boots,” “Dear Evan Hansen” and “School of Rock.”
The program includes a day trip to New York City to see a Broadway show and to participate in a master class with a Broadway performer. Session two will be a student production of “Les Misérables” which allows students to have daily technique training. Tuition ranges from $1,300-2,200. For details, visit adventuretheatre-mtc.org.
The Beauvoir School (3500 Woodley Rd., N.W.) gives campers from rising pre-kindergarten through rising 12th grade the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. Fireflies (rising pre-kindergarten) will explore weekly themes such as swimming, games, music, stories and cooking for a half or full day of activities.
Bluejays (rising kindergarten) can experience a full day of camp with the Blue Jays Journey, a camp that allows kids to focus on outdoor play; Nature Navigators, which challenges campers to discover nature; and Summer Language Programs, which lets children learn Spanish, Mandarin or French as well as the culture, traditions, food, art and more of the specific country.
Box Turtles (rising first grade) can enjoy full day camps focused on outdoor play, nature and languages. Koalas (rising second and third grade) can participate in full day camp focused on nature and the outdoors and Cathedral Studies Camp where campers will study the Washington National Cathedral. Brown Bears (rising fourth and fifth grade) can participate in the same programs as Koalas and enjoy programs such as a camp out, city-wide excursions and more. Blue Jays, Box Turtles and Koalas can “Make-Your-Own” camp by combing morning and afternoon activities. The CIT Program (rising sixth-12th grade) is for counselors-in-training and includes financial literacy workshop, team cooking challenge and mock interviewing. For prices and more information, visit summer.beauvoirschool.org.
Camp RimRock (343 Camp Rim Rock Rd., Yellow Spring, W.Va.) is an overnight camp for girls that offers a variety of activities. General camp (rising second-10th graders) lets girls experience horseback riding, arts and crafts, performing arts, aquatics and sports. Riding camp (rising fourth-10th graders) focuses on ring lessons, stable management, trail rides, swimming with horses and aquatics. Mini camp (rising first-third graders) lets girls try all of the activities except for horseback riding. General camp two-week sessions are $2,850 and four week sessions are $5,150. Rising camp sessions are $1,950 and mini camp sessions are $1,500. For more details, visit camprimrock.com.
Circle Yoga (3838 Northampton St., N.W.) offers mindful yoga, relaxation and traditional camp activities such as camp songs and crafts. Half-day camp is for children ages 4-7. The one-week session is $250. Full day camp is for campers ages 6-12. The session is six weeks for $365 per week. For more details, visit circleyoga.com.
Green Acres School (11701 Danville Dr., North Bethesda, Md.) has summer camp for children ages 3-12. Kreative Kangaroos lets pre-kindergarten campers participate in swimming, carpentry, outdoor play and more. Junior camp, for kindergartners through second graders, can enjoy activities such as cooking, drama, music and sports.
Senior camp for third-sixth graders offers additional activities like robotics, photography, filmmaking and dance. Senior campers can also attend day and overnight field trips to water parks, ice skating, bowling and more. The camp also offers an instructional swimming program. Three week sessions are $1,610 and six-week sessions are $2,695. For a complete list of pricing, visit greenacres.org.
The Lowell School (1640 Kalmia Rd., N.W.) has summer programs for campers from rising preschool to rising ninth grade. Campers can enjoy basketball, aquatics, horsemanship, gaming, filming and more. Summer Stage, a theater program for rising third through eighth graders, will have two sessions. Gotta Have Glee, the first session, will teach improvisation, costume design, stage managing and more. Session two will put on a production of “Annie Jr.” For a complete list of prices and programs, visit lowellschool.org.
Synetic Theatre (1800 S Bell St., Arlington, Va.) lets campers put on a production of “SHA-ZAM!” for five, two-week sessions. During the two weeks, campers will work alongside senior artistic company members to stage the play with musical numbers and an original score. The program is designed for campers ages 6-14. For tuition and fees, visit synetictheater.org/camps.
The YMCA in D.C. offers standard camp programs such as art, theater, dance and sports. The organization also has theme camps including air and space babysitter training, cartooning, creative writing, lego builders and more. For a sleep-away camp option, Camp Letts (4003 Camp Letts Rd., Edgewater, Md.) lets campers ages 6-16 try sports, learn to build a campfire and more. Young campers ages 6-8 can make the transition to sleep-away camp with Overnight Try-Out Camp for a three-day, two-night stay. For a complete list of programs and prices, visit ymcadc.org and campletts.org.
Autos
A cheeky convertible: Mercedes CLE 450
Riding the freeway of love with the top down and spirits up

“Drop the top, baby!… Drop the pedal and go!”So croons Aretha Franklin in “Freeway of Love,” her classic song about a joyride in a pink Cadillac convertible.
Those free-spirited lyrics came to mind recently each time I got behind the wheel of an equally exquisite ride: the Mercedes CLE 450.
MERCEDES CLE 450 CONVERTIBLE
$76,000
MPG: 23 city/32 highway
0 to 60 mph: 4.2 seconds
Cargo space: 9.6 cu. ft.
PROS: Dreamy design. Divine handling. Dazzling amenities.
CONS: Cramped cargo area. Kinda impractical for everyday driving.
IN A NUTSHELL: Who needs two fine open-top chariots when one fabulous convertible will do? That seems to be the thinking at Mercedes, which recently replaced two of its cabriolets—the compact C-Class and midsize E-Class—with the brand-new CLE 450.
While the wheelbase is a wee bit shorter than on the outgoing E-Class model, the CLE is longer overall than either of its two former siblings. The result: more legroom than expected, especially for anyone in the front seats. Even backseat occupants may feel comfy (OK, perhaps not Brittney Griner or Carl Nassib, but still…).
Alas, trunk space is slightly scrunched, thanks to the folding fabric roof. But that power-operated top—available in black, gray or red—can be raised and lowered with the car traveling at speeds up to 37 mph. And the triple-layer acoustic material provides excellent insulation and greatly reduces outside noise. In fact, I often had to remind myself this was the CLE convertible and not the hardtop coupe.
There’s also a wind-deflector apparatus that, when activated, elevates airflow off the windshield and reduces backflow with a rear mesh screen. For added pampering, an AIRSCARF system lives up to its name, sending warm air onto the necks of front-seat passengers. (Don’t tell my husband, but I felt like an invisible suitor was wooing me, seductively blowing kisses my way.)
Convertibles usually are not as structurally rigid as their hardtop counterparts. But here again, Mercedes works its magic: The chassis—made of aluminum and high-strength steel—is so incredibly stiff that there’s absolutely no shake and shimmy. This solid body structure also provides for a safe vehicle shell.
Under the hood, there’s a spirited 375-hp turbo engine, augmented by grippy all-wheel drive and a graceful nine-speed automatic transmission. As a crazed soccer fan, I think it’s not too much of a stretch to say the driving experience combines the speed, sass and savvy of a star athlete (think Megan Rapinoe).
Inside, there are plenty of premium styling cues, as well a glitzy dashboard with 12.3-inch digital cluster and 11.9-inch multimedia touchscreen. Yes, the CLE borrows heavily from the C-Class and E-Class. But somehow—perhaps because of the low ground clearance and multi-contour seats (which include heating, ventilation and massage functions)—this cabin feels and functions more like a true cockpit.
Along with all the driver-assistance features, there are 11 airbags (including rear head airbags), pop-up roll bars and a drowsy-driver alert monitor. In case of an impending crash, an accident-preparedness system immediately tightens seatbelts, adjusts seats and closes windows.
I could go on about all the amenities, including a 17-speaker Burmester surround-sound stereo, the 64-color ambient-lighting system and more. But why bother? This is a Mercedes, after all, so you expect such babying.
What wasn’t expected? How much I keep missing this beauty after my weeklong test drive ended. It’s not as if soft-tops are practical, like minivans and SUVs. And two-door rides—coupes or cabrios—now account for less than 4% of all new-vehicle sales.
But Aretha would have understood. Classy convertibles, like her pink Caddy and the Mercedes CLE 450, represent open-air freedom and the promise of adventure.
“So jump in, it ain’t no sin. Take a ride in my machine.”
Real Estate
Pride, patriotism, and prosperity
Real estate plays role in honoring servicemembers’ legacy

As the calendar turns to late May and early June, several powerful movements and celebrations converge in a profound and colorful tapestry of remembrance, Pride, and progress.
Memorial Day in the United States honors the sacrifices of military personnel who gave their lives in service. Simultaneously, WorldPride and Black Pride commemorate both the historical struggles and enduring strength of LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
Though these observances may seem distinct, they share powerful commonalities — solemnity, resilience, and the pursuit of equity. When viewed through the lens of real estate and community development, their intersection reveals the critical importance of space, ownership, and inclusion.
Memorial Day is more than a barbecue, a long weekend, or the unofficial start of summer. It is a solemn remembrance of those who laid down their lives for the ideals of freedom and democracy. Many of these fallen heroes came from marginalized backgrounds, including a rainbow of LGBTQ+ Americans who served valiantly, often without recognition or equal rights at home.
LGBTQ+ service members have fought in silence for decades, only gaining the right to serve openly in recent years and then having that opportunity for some individuals snatched back simply because of who they are. Memorial Day is a chance not only to honor their service but also as a reminder of the injustices they endured.
Real estate plays a role in their legacy. For decades, returning veterans used the GI Bill to buy homes and build generational wealth; however, discriminatory practices like redlining and restrictive covenants denied Black veterans the same opportunities, contributing to the racial wealth gap that persists today. Similarly, LGBTQ+ veterans and their partners often faced housing discrimination with little legal recourse. These systemic barriers underscore how access to safe and equitable housing is part of the fight for justice.
Black Pride events emerged in response to racism within the broader LGBTQ+ movement, asserting that Black queer lives matter and deserve visibility. Held in cities across the globe, Black Pride is not just a festival — it is a political and cultural declaration. It amplifies voices at the intersection of race and sexuality, advocating for people who are disproportionately impacted by housing insecurity and gentrification.
Many urban neighborhoods that were once cultural havens for queer communities are being transformed by rising rents and redevelopment. While revitalization can bring economic opportunity, it must be done equitably, with safeguards in place to ensure that long-standing residents are not displaced. Real estate, in this context, becomes a tool for resistance and renewal.
WorldPride, a global event celebrating LGBTQ+ rights and visibility, is hosted by a different city every few years. It draws millions of participants, shines an international spotlight on LGBTQ+ issues, and highlights disparities in rights and protections worldwide. In countries where queer identities are criminalized, safe housing can be a matter of life and death.
Even in more progressive regions, LGBTQ+ individuals often face subtle yet persistent discrimination from landlords, real estate agents, and lending institutions. In the real estate industry, advocacy groups are working to increase representation, offer training, define ethical responsibilities, and advocate for inclusive policies to ensure housing is truly accessible to all.
The convergence of WorldPride with Memorial Day and Black Pride invites deeper reflection: What kind of world are we building in memory of those who came before? How can we ensure that freedom, the very principle so many fought and died for, includes the right to live openly and securely, regardless of race, gender, or sexuality?
The real estate industry has a unique role in shaping the future. From urban planning to homeownership policy, to income-based downpayment grants, it directly influences who has access to stability and opportunity.
Developers, policymakers, and community leaders must work together to address housing disparities. This includes funding affordable housing, protecting tenants from discrimination, and investing in communities that have been historically excluded. It also means respecting cultural legacies and ensuring that neighborhoods reflect the diversity of the people who live in them.
Memorial Day reminds us of the cost of freedom. International Pride events remind us that the fight for freedom is ongoing. As we honor the fallen, let us also honor the living – those who continue to fight for their right to exist, to love, and to call a place home. Whether waving a flag at a Pride parade, laying a wreath at a soldier’s grave, or signing a first-time homebuyer agreement, these moments are connected by the enduring belief that everyone deserves dignity, safety, and a place to belong.
Valerie M. Blake is a licensed Associate Broker in DC, MD & VA with RLAH @properties. Call or text her at (202) 246-8602, email her at DCHomeQuest.com, or follow her on Facebook at TheRealst8ofAffairs.
Real Estate
Tips for buying a house in Rehoboth Beach
And why it’s a great fit for the LGBTQ community

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a charming beach house where flip-flops are considered formalwear and sunsets are your daily entertainment, Rehoboth Beach, Del., might just be your dream come true. It’s not just a beautiful coastal town—it’s also a long celebrated safe haven and vibrant hub for the LGBTQ community. Let’s dive into why Rehoboth Beach is a fabulous choice and how to make a savvy beach house purchase.
Why Rehoboth Is a Vibe (especially for the LGBTQ community)
1. A Welcoming, Inclusive Community
Rehoboth Beach has been lovingly nicknamed the “Nation’s Summer Capital,” and it’s not just because of its proximity to D.C. For decades, Rehoboth has built a reputation as a warm, inclusive, and LGBTQ-friendly destination. From gay-owned businesses to LGBTQ events and nightlife, this is a town where you can truly be yourself.
2. Packed Social Calendar
Poodle Beach, the LGBTQ beach hangout just south of the boardwalk, is always buzzing in the summer. Events like Rehoboth Beach Bear Weekend, Women’s FEST, and CAMP Rehoboth’s myriad of social and wellness events bring people together all year round. That’s right—you’ll never be bored here unless you want to be.
3. Small Town Charm Meets Big City Culture
You get art galleries, drag brunches, live theater, eclectic cuisine, and adorable boutiques—basically everything your soul craves—without the chaos and crowds of major cities. It’s quaint but never boring. Think: Key West vibes with a Delaware zip code.
Tips for Buying Your Dream Beach House
1. Know Your Budget and Think Long Term. Beachfront and near-beach properties come at a premium. Expect to pay a bit more for proximity to the sand and ocean views.
2. Choose Your Neighborhood Wisely. Do you want to be walking distance from the action on the boardwalk? Or do you prefer something more secluded in areas like North Shores or Henlopen Acres?
3. Rental Potential. If you’re not living there full time, your beach house could work overtime as a vacation rental. Rehoboth Beach has a healthy short-term rental market, especially in peak summer. Often times LGBTQ travelers actively seek inclusive, affirming places to stay.
4. Weather the Weather. Like all coastal areas, Rehoboth comes with a side of salt air and occasional storms. Invest in a good home inspection, especially for older homes, and be prepared for the maintenance that comes with beachfront living (yes, that includes sand everywhere).
5. Work With a Local Real Estate Agent. Look for an agent who knows Rehoboth inside and out and understands the unique needs of LGBTQ buyers. This isn’t just a house — it’s your happy place. You want someone who sees that and says, “Let’s find your sanctuary.”
Buying a beach house in Rehoboth Beach isn’t just about real estate — it’s about finding a space that reflects your lifestyle, values, and need for both community and calm. Whether it becomes your full-time home, your weekend escape, or your Airbnb side hustle, Rehoboth welcomes you with open arms (and maybe a mimosa).
Want personalized tips on navigating the Rehoboth Beach real estate market? Let’s chat! I’ll bring the listings if you bring the sunscreen.
Justin Noble is a Realtor with The Burns & Noble Group with Sotheby’s International Realty, licensed in D.C., Maryland, and Delaware. Reach him at [email protected] or 202-234-3344.