DPR Camp Lottery is a random lottery system used for DPR summer camp registration. DPR introduced lottery registration for summer camps in 2023 to create a more fair and equitable system to allocate the limited number of camp slots.

DPR Summer Camp slots are allotted via a random lottery. The DPR Summer Camp Lottery is designed to:

• Create a more equitable and fair process.
• Simplify and streamline the process for families to select camps.
• Provide adequate time for families and caregivers to consider and rank all the camp options and locations.
• Allow households to link siblings' registrations so they are only placed if both siblings meet the chosen criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How does the DPR Camp Lottery work?

A: Customers have over two weeks to make their camp selections. After the lottery registration window has closed, the registration system will randomly select participants from those who have registered.

The DPR summer camp lottery opens on Friday, February 14, 2025, at noon and closes on Monday, March 3, 2025, at 5:00 PM.

Customers will register for up to 4 choices of camp type and locations per child per camp session. There are four camp sessions.

Registration for the Lottery DOES NOT ensure your camp slot. 

After the lottery closes, DPR rosters for each camp will be randomly selected from those who are registered for the lottery. This random selection of camp slots is made entirely and exclusively through our Recreational Management Software System.

Customers will receive their lottery results starting on March 4, 2025, at which time customers will receive an “enrollment offer” via email if they have been selected. In the email, there will be a link to sign on to your DPR account and view the enrollment offers for all children in your household. Customers will then “Accept” or "Reject” the offers for camp placement(s). When a customer accepts an offer for placement, payment is due, the child is enrolled into the camp, and a receipt for that enrollment is emailed to the customer. EACH camp slot and session offered will need to be accepted. If a camp slot is "Rejected," the intended slot will be offered to those on the waitlist that were not originally offered a slot, and the camp slot is no longer available to this original customer. All initial enrollments and payments are due by March 16, 2025.

Those not selected for a camp slot will receive a receipt indicating either "Canceled Non-Winner" or "Waitlist" as a result of lottery process for their selected camp. The receipt STATUS will indicate Enrollment Offered, Waitlist, or Canceled Non-Winner. 

Q: Will I have a better chance of getting a slot if I submit earlier? 

A: No.  All Lottery registrations have the same chance of being chosen for enrollment. The Lottery will be open for two weeks.  This will ensure ultimate equity and fairness in our process. You do NOT need to rush and sign up as soon as it opens, but we recommend you do NOT wait until the last minute to account for any questions or errors. 

Q: What are the daily times for camp? 

A: All camps operate from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Before and after care is available to all camp families, and registration occurs AFTER the summer camp lottery process is complete. Before care begins at 8:00 AM. After care ends at 6:00 PM. 

Q: Will DPR offer a way to link siblings camp registrations together?

A: Yes. DPR will employ a system to facilitate siblings attending camp. In the registration process, customers can "Link" sibling registrations within each age bracket so one child will only be accepted if the other is also accepted. The lottery is broken into two age brackets, ages 3-10 and 11-13. Siblings CANNOT be linked if they are not in the same age bracket. Parents can choose to "Link" their children's choices together, or they can choose to NOT link their children, and those children can be separately enrolled in the lottery if having siblings together in camp is not necessary.

Siblings MUST be in the same DPR Household Account. DPR Accounts are accounts for your entire family.

Q: Do I pay for my camp option when I register for the lottery or when camps have been selected?  

A: There is no cost to enroll in the lottery. If chosen in the selection process, participants will be notified via email to visit their DPR Account to accept their enrollment offer and then pay for their enrollment. All accounts will be updated and ready for payment by March 4, 2025. All initial enrollments and payments are due by March 16, 2025.

Q: How are the participants selected for each camp?

A: The selection process is entirely random and automated within DPR’s Recreational Management Software System. As each customer enrolls in the lottery, they are assigned a random number by the registration system. After lottery enrollment has closed, DPR will then initiate the automated process of randomly selecting from the numbers assigned at enrollment.

Q: Which camps are most popular? Should I avoid applying for the most sought-after camps?

A: Going back many years, all DPR Summer Camps are in high demand, including signature camps, specialty camps, and boost camps. DPR is offering flexibility by allowing families to make up to four camp choices per child per session to give families the best chance for success.

Q: How can I be sure this will be a random selection?

A: This is a fully digital, automated process. The process will be initiated by DPR staff and the random selection takes place within our Recreational Management Software System.

Q: Does DPR maintain a waitlist for camps?

A: Yes, DPR will maintain a waitlist for camps. After the initial run of the lottery is complete and customers who received summer camp offers have accepted and paid for their selections (by March 16, 2025), any available camp slots will be offered to those on the waitlists for each camp and location.

Through this automated process, customers will be notified via email if they are chosen from the waitlist. The email will contain a link to their DPR account, where they can sign in and "Accept" or "Reject" their waitlist offer. If the offer is accepted, the system will require payment to complete enrollment. If the offer is rejected, that camp slot will immediately be offered to the next person on the waitlist for that camp.

When customers move off the waitlist and are offered a camp slot, they will receive a notification email immediately. CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE 72 HOURS FROM THE EXACT TIME OF THE AUTOMATED EMAIL TO ACCEPT A WAITLIST OFFER. To view your spot on the waitlist, please CLICK HERE. It is critical that patrons monitor their emails at this time should they be offered a camp slot. Email communication for camp offers and waitlist updates will come from the email address [email protected]. Make sure your email in your DPR account is updated and correct so that notifications will come to your inbox. After the waitlist is exhausted for any particular camp, available slots will immediately become available online for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis.

Q: Which camps have Before and After care?

A: All Little Explorers and Discovery camps offer before and aftercare. Children MUST be enrolled in camp to attend before and aftercare. Beforecare begins at 8:00 a.m., and aftercare ends at 6:00 p.m. Before and aftercare requires an additional fee AND an additional registration through the DPR registration system. Before and after care registration occurs AFTER the lottery process has been completed. 

Q: If a camp session shows in the system as full, can I still enroll?

A: No, once a camp session is full, we cannot over-enroll. Please continue to check our website to see if space becomes available if families withdraw.

Q: Can I only register and pay for one week in a session?

A: No, you must pay for a full two-week session regardless of how many days or weeks you plan to have your child(ren) attend. For example, if you register for a two-week Little Explorers session but your child(ren) can only attend one week, you must pay the full fee to register. We do not prorate our fees.

Q: What is DPR’s refund policy for summer camp?

A: Refund requests are processed within 21 business days after we receive the Refund Request Form from individuals requesting a refund. Credit/debit card refunds are usually credited back to the card issued within 14 business days after we process your request form. There is a 10% non-refundable processing fee for all camp registrations. 

Q: When is the last day to cancel a session?

A: You can cancel at any time; however, to receive a refund (minus the 10% processing fee), a Refund Request Form must be submitted by May 16, 2025. 

Q: Does DPR offer reduced rates based on income?

A: Yes, information on reduced rates and a link to the form can be found here. In order to have enough time for DPR to process all the applications and to be eligible to receive a reduced rate for summer camp, you must submit the reduced rates application by February 24, 2025.

Q: I have not filed taxes for this year yet. Can I still apply for reduced rate?

A: Yes, you can submit your tax forms from the previous year.

Q: My child(ren) will reside with grandparent(s)/relatives in DC during the summer. Would I qualify for a reduced rate?

A: No, the child must be a permanent DC resident to qualify for a reduced rate. Children who live outside of DC will be charged the non-resident rate and do not qualify to receive a reduced rate. If any slots are still available, non-residents can register for summer camp at a TBD date in the future. 

Q: I want to apply for the reduced rate, but I am not employed. Can I still apply?

A: Yes, you can apply if you can provide proof of income/assistance. We will accept the following government assistance as your income: TANF Statement, Unemployment Statement, Social Security Benefit Statement, Disability Benefit Statement, Child Support Statement.

Q: I share joint custody of my child(ren). Do both parents have to reside in DC to qualify for the reduced rate?

A: You can qualify for a reduced rate if the child(ren) and one parent are DC residents. Please provide documentation to prove residency and income, as mentioned above.

Q: Can I still enter into the lottery while my reduced rate application is pending?

A: Yes, you can still enter into the lottery while your application is being reviewed. If approved, your reduced rate status will be automatically applied to any spots you win in the lottery when it is spun in March.