We had high hopes for this camp. To give context to Alexandria parents, we did a week of Browne…read moreCamp (which my girls both said was their favorite in town camp and want to go back to next summer), Campagna, vacations, sleepaway camps for three weeks, and then Steve and Kates. I only bought 5 days for each child and we did 3 days the first week and 2 the 2nd week. I ended up having a babysitter come the remaining three days because my girls didn't want to go back to the camp (a first). There is very little structure to the camp, little to no outdoors time, and the food selection was either a bagel or pizza.....every day. There were no other options available. We packed lunches and snacks and after about a day of the camp my kids were really bored. They spent most of the time on pads or watching movies due to other activities being full when they wanted to do them. They specifically asked me to never send them to this camp again.

My 11 yo daughter attended camp the last 2 weeks. She was always disappointed when I picked her up…read moreas she wanted to stay longer. She was happy with the activities and food options.

I truly enjoyed having Browne Summer Camp on the top of my kiddos list every summer. They enjoyed…read moreevery minute of it! From swimming everyday, going on creek walks each week, to getting ready for Friday performances. They always came home smiling and ready to go back the next day. As a parent, that made me feel good on choosing Browne Summer Camp every year!!!

Both my kiddos go to Browne for summer camp! It is amazing- I have really noticed they are more…read moreoutgoing due to the lovely friendships they have built at Browne and Friday afternoon shows they do on a stage for friends and family! Both kiddos LEARNED to swim at Browne from their counselors. Any questions feel free to reach out to me!

I enrolled my daughter at this location with high expectations for a safe, nurturing, attentive,…read moreand structured learning environment. Unfortunately, my experience over time raised several concerns that ultimately led to me seeing the truth about this location. One of my primary concerns was basic hygiene and attentiveness. On multiple occasions, I picked my daughter up with visible food residue still on her face. I also observed dried nasal discharge on her face and even on the back of her hand, as if she had attempted to clean herself. I began noticing similar issues with other children as well, including children walking around with excessively runny noses for extended periods without staff intervention. I'm sure this is why the kids are always sick. In addition, there appeared to be a lack of situational awareness when it came to children's comfort and supervision. There were times where clothing did not seem appropriate for the weather, which further reflected a lack of attentiveness to individual needs. They would take the children outside without coats while it's cold. More concerning were multiple safety incidents involving my daughter that were handled in an extremely dismissive manner. One incident I personally witnessed on camera involved another child pushing my daughter three times back-to-back until she fell to the ground, while a teacher stood directly beside them without intervening. Later that same day, I noticed a bruise on my daughter's leg. When I reported this to the director, Erin, I was told the video showed my daughter "falling into the teacher's lap," which did not align with what I personally observed on camera. I was also informed that no incident report would be completed because the injury was not from the neck up. Another incident involved my daughter being struck in the head with a toy by another child, leaving her with a swollen bruise and lump that was black, blue, and purple. At pickup, staff appeared very nonchalant about the situation, simply stating that they "put ice on it" and that these things were "normal." While discussing this incident with staff, another child nearby was actively biting another child while staff stood around without immediately intervening. When I pointed this out, the response I received was dismissive instead of reassuring. I also observed what appeared to be inconsistent treatment and favoritism within the center. When I inquired about my daughter transitioning to the next classroom as she approached the appropriate age, I was told it would not be possible because of lack of space and something regarding the way they pick who goes to the next class. However, I personally observed the director's granddaughter transition out of the same classroom within approximately 2-3 weeks. She doesn't talk, isn't potty trained and is only two months older than my daughter. Her mom confirmed these things to me personally. This raised concerns for me regarding whether policies and opportunities were being applied equally to all families. In addition to these concerns, I often was dismissed when attempting to advocate for my child. Erin's communication style frequently came across as condescending, defensive, racist and lacking empathy whenever concerns were raised. Rather than feeling supported as a parent, I often left interactions feeling unheard and uncomfortable. I also recorded my second raised concern that I had with Erin. So if anyone wants proof on the way she handles things, I will send you the video! There were also instances where staff appeared more focused on phones and side conversations than actively engaging with the children. The environment is more like passive babysitting than a structured educational setting focused on child development and attentive care. My daughter went from talking and being expressive to crying and whining all the time. When I asked to speak to the owner Erin continuously lied and made excuses. For $525 per week (approximately $2,100 per month), parents should be able to expect attentive supervision, professionalism, cleanliness, accountability, and equitable treatment. Unfortunately, that was not my experience. Also the front desk worker Suzie as well is extremely disrespectful. I just left the school so upset that this is the way they handle people who pay their hard earned money. Erin is a liar as well. She claimed I was rude and used profanity when my child was hit on by another child. Which is a lie! Watch the cameras for one full day while your child is there and I PROMISE YOU WILL NOT WANT YOUR CHILD ATTENDING THIS EXPENSIVE BABY SITTER! UPDATE: Notice every response is signed "Karim B. (Owner) mine is "Center Administration and Compliance Team". Erin is in fact a big part of the problem. Parents can draw their own conclusions regarding how concerns are handled when serious safety and supervision issues are raised.

Leaving Kiddie Academy of Alexandria is so bittersweet for our family. Both of our children have…read morebeen here since they were just 12 weeks old, and watching them grow up in such a loving environment has been a beautiful experience. It's the kind of place where everyone knows your kids, greets them with a smile, and treats them like family. We are so sad to say goodbye. The wonderful teachers will always have a special place in my heart, and I cannot recommend this daycare enough to any parent looking for a safe, loving place for their little ones. They really are the best.

A friend of mine having done classes here recommended we do an iPhone photography class together…read more As a first timer I found it great! I had no clue what majority of the settings on my phone were and having been walked through how to change the settings and what they do I so far have been able to take better quality photos from my phone. If more classes come up related to iPhone photography definitely recommend.

Do not consider the courses unless you know the hidden costs of materials before hand, as well as…read moretheir extremely rigid cancellation policy. They are not transparent in the total estimated cost of each course, i.e., the cost of materials. Or even a range of costs. And, if you do not cancel on or before an exact date, before the classes even start, and before you even know the material costs, no refund; They simply credit your account for future courses, less a $20 admin fee. Unfortunately, I was 2 days past this arbitrary cancellation date,5 days before my course start date when I went to their store to purchase materials. I was aghast at the price-nearly the cost of the course. When I called and the wrote to the head of the school, she showed no interest in my side of the story, my financial concerns. In fact, she was rude and unprofessional. There is so much room for improvement in the way the business is managed and run. They do not appear to care about their customers' feedback. And, I haven't even mentioned to store itself... Can't vouch for the teachers, as I didn't even get that far. And I won't . I will try to sell or gift my credit. There seems to be many other venues for art classes that are far less expensive. And more transparent in their costs.

I thought of one thing to add that would be useful for parents looking for a preschool: Some…read morepreschools in the Alexandria area require all students to take a nap, even if the student is old enough to stop napping and doesn't nap at home, and even if the parents would prefer the student not nap at school. Northeast Stars does not require all students to nap. The teachers (who are awesome) coordinate with parents on when the student is ready to stop napping at school. Older students who don't nap go to a different room to do activities while the younger kids sleep. It's a badge of honor for the kids when they're old enough to "go to specials" instead of napping. This makes parenting a 4 year old a lot easier. This is the main thing that other parents in our social circle are envious of when we compare preschool experiences.

My wife and I interviewed, applied for and we're awarded enrollment for many pre-schools in…read moreArlington. But, when we visited NE Stars and met the owner, director and teachers, we felt it was worth the longer drive to Alexandria for our son's initial learning experience. We've been enrolled now for 8 mos and we couldn't be more happy. NEStars philosophy and teachings has led to our son to become more autonomous over this short period of time. He's also made many friends and has expanded his interests. There are many programs offered like Soccer and Gymnastics that expose him to interacting with his friends and his own self. I think one of the best qualities of NE Stars is the diversity among the friends. We couldn't be happier with NE Stars and will be sad when it comes time for him to graduate on to the next chapter in his learning.

The Absolute WORST camp ever!! My kid camp home with bruises and bloody nose!! The owner tried to…read morecover it up!!!! Instead of telling me. Don't send your kids here if you expect transparency and SAFETY!!!! The owner lacks INTEGRITY!!!

we had the pleasure of working with Scigenie in a workshop setting. Kids of all ages--preschool…read morethru 4th graders--were enamored with the experience. It was fun, it was educational, and it was hands on! The workers obviously loved kids, were so engaging, and were saintly on how many questions they answered. Cannot say enough good things!

After 2 years at the school and 2 children enrolled, we ultimately withdrew both of our children…read morebecause we no longer felt confident in the school management's ability to provide a safe, stable, and well-managed environment. The root cause of nearly every concern we experienced was the same: poor leadership and management by the owners. During our time at the school, we experienced: * Every single teacher except one since the school started 2 years ago has left. * ~6 new lead teachers across our two children's classrooms since October 2025 alone. Not counting all the one offs they brought in and out that lasted only days / weeks. * 3 principals in two years, with the school still lacking permanent leadership. * Frequent classroom shuffling for students and teachers, and staffing changes to maintain ratios to the point where our kids would sometimes have lunch in one room, sleep in another. * Repeated injuries and biting incidents in understaffed classrooms. After one incident involving our child, we were told that "at least it didn't break the skin." * Multiple illness outbreaks, reports that classrooms went without soap for an extended period, prolonged HVAC issues, and rodent activity. * A consistent lack of transparency. Parents often learned about significant issues only after repeated questioning, conversations with teachers, violations posted to the DSS website, and after problems had already escalated. * A recurring disconnect between what teachers reported and what management communicated. Teachers frequently shared concerns about staffing and classroom support, while management often claimed they were unaware of the same issues. Consistently the management blamed teachers, and refused to take accountability. * Repeated billing discrepancies and incorrectly charged fees that required us to carefully review statements and request corrections. The school's licensing reports ultimately confirmed many of the concerns parents had been raising. Recent inspections cite repeat violations and systemic deficiencies involving background checks, staff qualifications, CPR requirements, classroom supervision, medication administration, and safety procedures. Particularly alarming was a finding that an employee had worked at the school for 19 months without a completed criminal background check, along with findings that staff lacking required documentation were sometimes working alone with children. Most of the teachers genuinely cared about the children and worked hard under difficult circumstances. Our concerns are not with them. Often the lack of management support drove them to leave. Our concerns are with the owners. These are not first-time childcare operators. They know what stable staffing, strong compliance, transparent communication, and adequate classroom support should look like. Yet many of the same concerns persisted despite repeated feedback from families and staff. What was most frustrating was not that problems existed, but that meaningful action often seemed to occur only after repeated parent complaints or licensing involvement. It felt like business and operational considerations were being prioritized over investing in the staffing, support, communication, and resources necessary to provide the quality of care families were paying for. We ultimately felt safer keeping our children at home than leaving them at a school we were paying thousands of dollars each month to trust. We gave it enough time, but felt there wasn't a real path to improvement, with more problems cropping before prior ones were resolved. In good faith, we cannot recommend this location. Parents should review the Virginia DSS reports, ask detailed questions about staff retention and leadership turnover, and speak directly with current teachers, not just management. Virginia DSS licensing reports: https://legacy.dss.virginia.gov/facility/search/cc2.cgi?rm=Details;ID=50753;search_keywords_name=goddard%20old%20town%20alexandria

Good afternoon families, I would like to share my experience…read morewith The Goddard School in Old Town Alexandria. While some members of the management team were helpful, I had ongoing concerns during my time there. Communication from the enrollment specialist, Anu, was inconsistent. I was told my calls would be returned, but they often were not. I also experienced serious billing issues, including unexplained charges to my account. My balance reportedly exceeded $5,000, yet my caseworker stated my actual co-pay should for DSS have only been around $200. Despite multiple attempts, no one could clearly explain the charges. I was also concerned about the classroom environment. On several occasions, the food portions appeared inadequate, and I noticed milk that smelled expired. I reported seeing mice in the building to the Operations Director, Ms. Mack, and she addressed the issue immediately. She consistently went above and beyond to support the staff and ensure classrooms remained in ratio. However, there was a constant turnover of staff, with new employees appearing almost daily. As a parent, this instability did not make me feel comfortable or secure leaving my son there. I was also told that the curriculum was not consistently being followed, which became another reason we decided to withdraw our child from the school. Additionally, I witnessed concerning behavior from the owner, who often appeared angry and was overheard yelling at staff members. The environment seemed stressful for employees, many of whom looked unhappy and underpaid. One of my biggest concerns involved safety and medication procedures. I was told children were receiving medication even though no properly certified medication staff appeared to be available in the building at the time. I also became aware of multiple child injury incidents that are reportedly under investigation. I do want to acknowledge Ms. Mack and Ms. Mahdu, who were the only individuals in the office I personally felt I could trust and who consistently treated families with professionalism and care.One day I went in the classroom and I saw Rebecca taking some pills in a pillow box and left it outside the countertop you are saying that I do not like the rough dirty filthy in the classroom Miss miss Trinity is Olivia. They all get rid of all the good staff members all they have right now is young lady who do not know what they're doing. They need to be trained. I saw two new people at the front desk Normal Mack where's Mack? No one can answer what is the height about then Mr Ray no mystery. No one know where is mystery. Ultimately, due to concerns about safety, staffing instability, billing practices, and communication, we decided to remove our son from the school.

I am extremely disappointed with the lack of professionalism and overall operations at this gym…read more The woman working at the front desk today was very rude and spoke in a condescending tone. Normally my husband takes our daughter to her class, but he had a dentist appointment today so I attended instead. After this experience, I honestly would have pulled my daughter out of this gym immediately. The substitute/manager I spoke with initially provided me with inaccurate information regarding my daughter moving up to the preschool class. Later, when I spoke with the front desk employee, she told me the teacher had been giving parents the wrong information all day and proceeded to reprimand the teacher in front of everyone when she returned. It was very unprofessional to witness staff correcting each other publicly. Afterward, the teacher attempted to backtrack by saying my daughter needed a lot of help. This had never been mentioned during the earlier conversation about the preschool class, especially considering there were only two children in the class at the time. This was also the first and only time this teacher had ever worked with my daughter. Her regular coach, Shay, was on vacation. Honestly, Coach Shay seems to be the only person holding this place together. The staff turnover is extremely high, which is very concerning. Considering the cost of tuition adds up to well over $1,000 per year, there should at least be some type of progress notes or communication system in place so parents receive clear and consistent information about their child's development. When I called back to speak with a manager, the same rude front desk employee transferred me to the same teacher she had just reprimanded -- presenting her as the manager. This only added to the confusion and lack of professionalism. Lastly, the facility itself is very outdated and unclean. There is a noticeable odor when you walk in, and the floors and equipment appear dusty and dirty. The cleanliness of a gym where children are constantly on the floor should be a top priority, but that clearly is not the case here. Because of this experience, they will not be receiving any more tuition from us.

I have loved seeing both my daughter and stepdaughter thrive in gymnastics at this gym. The only…read morething keeping it from 5 stars is the age of some of the equipment. I was brushing mat lint off of my daughter today after her workout. It would be awesome if they had a pit!