DC SCORES hosted a five-week long soccer and arts camp at Truesdell Education Campus. Rising second to sixth-grade students participated in this free summer camp from June 26 - July 28.

(View our complete 2017 Summer Camp photo album)

In the longest running DC SCORES summer camp of the season, Truesdell Education Campus was the home of the only soccer and arts camp of summer SCORES.

For five weeks, the education campus in NW kept the minds and bodies of DC kids active through soccer, arts and crafts, field trips, and many more fun activities. More than just giving kids something to do during the summer months, this camp offered new learning opportunities for everyone.

It is not every day that kids get to learn about drumming, or how to make fruit sushi, or visit the National Arboretum. The opportunity to wake up and learn about how bees make honey at the Washington Youth Garden is something special that the Truesdell summer camp offered to all campers.

More importantly, the kids learned about themselves and their fellow campers.

The once shy kids that arrived at camp learned that it is easier to make friends than they thought. The kids that didn’t really like soccer realized that with a little practice and great teammates it’s a lot of fun. The campers that have never held a camera before found their natural ability to capture unique moments.

Every week was a new adventure at camp.

Wednesday pool days at Upshur Recreation Center and Friday field trips to the National Museum of Natural History, the International Spy Museum with Clark Construction, the National Zoo, among others sites, were all part of the adventures the campers experienced.

There is no doubt that the coaches and staff were an important part of the campers adventures. The bonds created with campers and coaches alike made learning experiences that much more memorable.

During the last week of camp, the traditional end of camp BBQ has the only thing everyone had on their minds.

Thanks to DC SCORES friends Cresa, the BBQ was nonstop fun thanks to the great food they provided and their endless energy when it came to playing dodgeball with the campers.

As the last day of camp came winding down, the realization of the end of summer SCORES started to kick in.

With endless hugs going around as everyone left camp, there wasn’t a single “goodbye” said. Only “see ya laters” between the Truesdell summer camp family.

Sometimes I wish I could hit rewind, Moonwalk that yellow brick road Go back in time and, Be a kid again Cuz

It’s like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from going under Uh uh uh under

The riveting opening lines of A’dora Willis’ original poem from Our Words Our City last February are not, however, an apt description of her life.

A’dora, 18, doesn’t need to hit rewind or be a kid again. The DC SCORES alumna and recent high school graduate has her future figured out. On a recent afternoon during a rare break from her summer jobs triumvirate of doctor office work, daycare work, and teaching karate lessons, A’dora matter-of-factly laid out her plans.

(View the complete 2017 Summer Camp photo album)

There is no doubt that once kids get to experience what DC SCORES is all about they become like family.

For some kids, there’s some hesitancy at first about joining, and then there are others like Rey C. who count down the days to become a part of DC SCORES.

For the second straight month, the Center for Nonprofit Advancement chose DC SCORES for a distinguished award validating the leadership and structure of the after-school program.

At an event Thursday morning, DC SCORES received the Board Leadership Award for nonprofits with a budget under $2 million. The award “was developed with support from area experts to recognize and spotlight outstanding leadership from Boards of Directors of Washington-area nonprofit organizations.”

Inspired by her father, Claire Constant grew up wanting to help others. Thanks to her accomplishments on the soccer field, the rising senior at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria is now making a tangible difference locally.

After being named the 2016-17 Gatorade Virginia Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Constant learned of DC SCORES and chose to designate the organization for the $1,000 award — an amount that provides a full year of programming for an at-risk child in the District.

“I had heard reference of DC SCORES and then when I saw the website and the impact you have on DC children’s lives, I was excited to support the organization,” Constant said.

(View our 2017 Summer Camp photo album)

L’Enfant Plaza will soon be home to the International Spy Museum, and our Truesdell campers had the opportunity to check out the new site thanks to Clark Construction.

The excited campers spent the first part of their field trip hanging out with a couple of Clark employees that gave some fun facts on the new museum. The kids also learned about other notable buildings in the city that were built by Clark.

(View our 2017 Summer Camp photo album)

In a soccer field filled with elementary and middle school kids, one stood out in particular. It wasn’t just his small size or his impressive touch on the ball that grabbed attention, it was his friendly smile.

DC SCORES hosted a two-week long soccer camp at Tubman Elementary School. Rising third to ninth grade students participated in this free summer camp from June 26 - July 7.

(View our 2017 Summer Camp photo album)

Over the course of two weeks, kids from all over Washington D.C. got together at Tubman Elementary School for one of three DC SCORES summer camps.

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The 15th Annual DC SCORES Cup lived up to its billing as the largest in the tournament’s history.

With more than 10 new companies in the mix, 40 teams participated in the DC area’s largest corporate charity soccer tournament and raised $170,000 in support of DC SCORES. The 40 teams was eight more than the previous record number of participating companies and law firms.

The morning of June 12 was special for DC SCORES. By the time staff members walked into the office, our social media channels were blowing up.

We had received two huge honors in a matter of minutes. Talk about starting the week off right.