Meet Isabel Coss, executive chef at Pascual on Capitol Hill and pastry chef at Lutece in Georgetown, whose sold-out master class happens on Feb. 23. The Hill Center impressed chef Isabel Coss the very first time she visited, and long before she knew she’d be teaching there. Washington City Paper named her one of its Change Makers for the 2024 People Issue and had brought the group in for a photo shoot. “I fell in love with the place,” she says. “I thought it would be the perfect spot for building a sense of community—and then I saw all the activities listed!” It echoes how the ebullient, 33-year-old Mexico City native feels about opening Pascual on Capitol Hill, which is celebrating its 1-year anniversary in February.

Avoid the Summer Slide with Summer Camps at Hill Center
Summer is finally here, and the kids are ready to leave their homework behind. They can’t wait to enjoy long, carefree days in the sun, but don’t let the “summer slide” get better of them! Located on Capitol Hill in the heart of Washington, DC, Hill Center’s summer camp programs are a great way to keep their minds and bodies focused over the break. If you want to introduce new sports like archery to your kids so you can bond more often, you may need to order archery equipment and gear like a bow string online.

Kids from pre-school to teens will find their stride at Hill Center, making friends and learning new skills in the arts and sciences. Combining learning and play provides great structure to the summer months, and encourages curiosity, teamwork, and creativity. Hill Center’s partner camps focus on building independence and confidence through concentrated projects and goals that range from robot building to dance routines. By the end of the week, campers will be thrilled to show friends and family what they’ve accomplished.

Keep the learning going with science, math, and tech camps that go above and beyond with interactive STEAM activities. Campers with Mad Science will become junior scientists for the week, getting hands-on with rockets, robots, and chemical reactions. MathTree allows campers to brush up on their addition, subtraction, and multiplication skills, making math fun. CodeREV Kids explores Modding and Minecraft through Java code. A future virtual reality creator, robotics engineer, or app developer could find their groove this summer!
If kids are looking to express their artistic creativity, try Incrediflix’s movie-making camps, where it’s lights, camera, action! for a budding film star, director, or animator. Super Girls campers gain independence and feel the girl power through artistic and team-building activities.
Campers can release their summertime energy with Young Warriors Karate Camp, building confidence and martial arts skills for all belt levels. With Studio One Dance, dancers explore costume and set design, in addition to ballet and Broadway.
With all of our camp opportunities, kids can maintain stability throughout the summer with a safe place to learn and play in the city. Hill Center’s spacious rooms and surrounding gardens form a campus that’s separated from the busy streets but still convenient to bus lines and the Eastern Market Metro station, only two blocks away.
We know it can be tough to crisscross the city during rush hour, balancing work and family, so several camps offer half-day options or before and after care, creating flexibility for parents with busy schedules. Grabbing lunch or dinner after camp? Check out Little Pearl, our friends right inside the gates. With outdoor seating and plenty of grass to run around in, it’s the perfect place to unwind after a long day of karate or arts and crafts. Barracks Row on 8th street also offers plenty of kid-friendly options, just steps away from our gates.
Summer presents an opportunity to learn something new that school may not teach, whether it’s show tunes or a sense of uninhibited play. At Hill Center, we encourage continual learning for all ages, offering something for every kid. See you this summer!