(Washington, DC) - Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) announced that 2026 DPR Summer Camp registration will take place via a lottery system opening on Monday, February 2 and closing on Monday, February 16. Ahead of the lottery opening, Mayor Bowser and DPR are also encouraging eligible residents to confirm their DC residency and apply for reduced rates for DPR programs, including summer camps. Families must confirm residency by Monday, February 2 and, if eligible, apply for reduced rates by Monday, February 2 for the purposes of summer camp registration.

"We have so many amazing opportunities for our young people to learn, grow, and have fun all year long - and DPR Summer Camps are a great way to keep our kids and teens safely engaged in positive activities while they're on break," said Mayor Bowser. "So, apply for reduced rates if you're eligible, mark your calendar for the lottery, and let's have a great summer."

The DPR summer camp lottery is designed to be fair and equitable for all families. Applications may be submitted at any time during the open lottery period, and placement is determined through a random selection process. Applying earlier does not increase the chances of selection, as all applications received before the lottery closes are weighted equally. Information on summer camps will be available at dprsummercamp.com starting Monday, February 2.

The DPR reduced rates program is designed to remove income barriers, making it easier for more families to access DPR's enriching, fee-based programs. Families who qualify will receive a 50% or 75% discount, depending on income level, for all DPR programs in 2026-including summer camps. To qualify for reduced rates, applicants must be DC residents and provide proof of residency and proof of income. The reduced rate income qualifications for FY26 are below:

Families can find the reduced rate application and additional details at dpr.dc.gov/reducedrates. Applicants will be notified of their eligibility status via email.

DPR is encouraging residents to verify that their DPR account accurately reflects their DC residency. All accounts must be verified by Monday, February 2 to receive resident pricing and eligibility for DPR programs, including the 2026 Summer Camp lottery. For more information about confirming residency on your DPR account, visit the DPR account webpage.

DPR is hosting a series of information sessions-both in person and virtual-covering essential topics, including online account setup, reduced-rate eligibility, residency verification, and an overview of the lottery process. Sessions will take place:

• January 21, 6:30 p.m. | Sherwood Recreation Center (640 10th Street NE)
• January 22, 6:30 p.m. | Emery Heights Recreation Center (5701 Georgia Avenue NW)
• January 26, 6:30 p.m. | Deanwood Recreation Center (1350 49th Street NE)
• February 3, 12:00 p.m. | Virtual Session (Online via Zoom)
• February 3, 6:30 p.m. | Chevy Chase Community Center (5601 Connecticut Avenue NW)
• February 5, 6:30 p.m. | Rosedale Recreation Center (1701 Gales Street NE)

Visit dprlottery.splashthat.com to RSVP and access recordings of previous sessions.

Residents who have questions about reduced rates or DPR programs are also welcome to contact DPR's Customer Care Center at (202) 673-7647. The call line is open during regular business hours, 9 am to 500 pm Monday through Friday, and is closed on weekends and holidays. Residents can also contact the Customer Care Center via email at [email protected].

Mayor Bowser has long been committed to offering high-quality, low- and no-cost programming for DC youth, providing positive avenues for learning, growth, and opportunity. In Fiscal Year 2025 alone, DPR offered more than 1,700 programs for kids ages 3-17, serving more than 21,500 participants. DPR's Roving Leaders Program hosted 61 special events for at-risk and hard-to-reach youth, engaging with more than 25,000 participants. And DPR's teen and family-focused late-night events-Late Night Hype, Holiday Hypes, and Late Night Drips-served more than 14,000 participants. Additionally, DPR's Rec for All Grants, which fund other organizations to do programing to reach youth who do not come to DPR recreation centers, funded 87 grants at almost $1.7 million in FY25, serving more than 3,500 youth.

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