Welcoming Summer: Camp Albatross

Creating a space where every child belongs, plays, and thrives.

Welcoming Falls Church will host a vibrant summer camp experience in late June specifically designed for immigrant, refugee, and local children who might not otherwise have access to summer programming.

What began as a pilot has grown into Camp Albatross—a weeklong journey of friendship, discovery, and community belonging.

History & Leadership

Credit for the development of this program goes to two fantastic young leaders:

2024: The inaugural camp was organized and led by Ariana Lehrer and Maya Dycanico, co-founders of the Welcoming Falls Church Club at Meridian High School. That first year, the camp was held at the Falls Green Apartments and was specifically designed to serve the children of refugee families we had recently welcomed to Falls Church.
2025-2026: The program evolved into Camp Albatross, under the leadership of Roshan Mawji-Ragland, who secured a Lighthouse Project Grant to provide a completely cost-free experience. We are deeply grateful to Falls Church Presbyterian Church for providing a supportive "home base" for our campers, and to Roshan’s school for the critical financial support that makes this possible.

Adult volunteers play a critical role supporting planning and administration of the camp and are onsite of course at all times, but we love, appreciate, and support the initiative that young people take to build a community of neighbors including through our summer camps!

Why We Show Up

Summer can be a time of isolation for newcomer families. Camp Albatross turns that "void" into a season of exploration. In 2025, the impact was tangible:

A "First" for Many: For 90% of our campers, the program provided their first-ever visit to one of the Smithsonian Museums - the free educational resources of Washington, D.C. - through our visit to the National Museum of Air and Space.
Tactile Adventure: From navigating the Metro with the group headed to the museum to the joy of a bowling alley and ice cream treats, we shared the quintessential childhood experiences that build confidence and social "scaffolding."
Bridge to Resources: We also served as a hub for parents, setting the stage for them to better navigate the often-confusing world of extracurriculars and “opportunities” in a new country.

Get Involved: Summer 2026

We are currently recruiting campers, teen counselors, and adult volunteers for our June 2026 session.

Register a Camper: We serve children who lack access to traditional summer camps, with a special focus on refugee and migrant families. Email us to register your child - we welcome rising 3rd to 6th graders.
Become a Counselor (Teens): We need dedicated mentors to help lead activities and ensure our field trips are safe and fun. Last year, our 1-to-1 volunteer ratio on trip days made all the difference! Sign up here to serve as a counselor.
Adult Volunteers: We are looking for adults to support Roshan, especially during field trips. Your presence allows us to "dream big" and take the kids on more local adventures. Sign up here to volunteer for one or two days, or all week.

New for 2026-2027: Deepening the Vision

As we look ahead, we hope to expand our reach, to offer more summer experiences to newcomers:

Sleepaway or Other Day Camps: Have you ever wondered how it is that summer camp registration starts in January, in Northern Virginia? That is baffling (and challenging) to all families - and all the more for newcomers. We have helped to arrange scholarships for students to attend sleepaway and day camps, and we’d like to do more of this in 2027.
Afghan Community Outreach: We are collaborating with local leaders to ensure the benefits of summer camp reach as many of our newest Afghan neighbors as possible.
Year-Round Connection: We are exploring ways to keep the families we reach connected to extracurricular resources long after the final day of camp.