“Teach the children…
Rejoice as they learn to love this green space they live in.”
—Mary Oliver, Upstream
What We Do
The Aubry Center offers classes and gathering spaces for children, youth, women, and families, presenting opportunities for participants to strive for excellence in all they do.
Strong motivators to action in every human being are attraction to beauty and a desire to explore and understand the world. Our work is dedicated to tapping into these sources of motivation through three main areas of action:
Strengthening the power of expression through reading, writing, and eloquent speech.
Appreciating music, art, global food, and excellent comportment.
Learning about the natural world, protecting it, and loving it.
Past Program:
"Seeds of a Bright Future" Children's Camp
July 13–18, 2026
This past July our fourth annual summer camp in Columbia Heights was a great success! Children ages 5–9 and junior youth ages 10-12 explored the theme of "Seeds of a Bright Future" - and built a small garden.
The camp focused on Community Unity, and used music, storytelling, art, cooperative games, and uplifting lessons to explore how children can contribute to positive change in their communities. The purpose of the camp was to welcome children into a joyful environment where they learn to strengthen qualities they inherently possess—such as kindness, joy, truthfulness, justice, cooperation, and compassion—and are able to increase their understanding of these qualities and build strong character.
Dates: July 13 -18, 2026
Time: 1:00–4:00 PM daily
Location: Quebec Place Bahá’í Training Institute Home in Washington, DC
(near Raymond Recreation Center)
Cost: $8 per family (includes snacks & materials)
This camp is part of an ongoing character education initiative rooted in the belief that every child is a "mine rich in gems.” The program helps children discover their strengths and contribute to their communities with joy and purpose. Classes are offered throughout the year.
Past Program:
Community Unity Children's Camp
Last July in Columbia Heights, a special week-long camp offered children ages 5–9, and junior youth ages 10-12, an opportunity to explore the theme of Community Unity through music, storytelling, art, cooperative games, and uplifting lessons. The purpose of the camp was to help children learn about the qualities they inherently possess–such as kindness, joy, truthfulness, justice, and compassion—and to give them an opportunity to increase their understanding of these qualities and build strong character.
Dates: July 14–19, 2025
Time: 1:30–4:00 PM daily
Location: Quebec Place Bahá’í Training Institute Home in Washington, DC
Cost: $5 per family (includes snacks & materials)
This camp is part of an ongoing character education initiative rooted in the belief that every child is a "mine rich in gems.” The program helps children discover their strengths and contribute to their communities with joy and purpose.
A Living Tribute
In March of 2019, The Simone Aubry Center of Excellence for Children was formed in honor of Simone’s 80th birthday and her life-long commitment to beauty, learning, and the well-being of the planet.
The Center is dedicated to nurturing young people by creating joyful learning spaces that inspire individuals to strive for excellence and develop a love for the world around them.
We Look Forward to Connecting with You
The Aubry Center works in Washington, DC. Whether you'd like to participate, volunteer, or simply staying informed, we'd be happy to hear from you!
If you are interested in having your child join any of our camps or classes, please send us a note and we will respond to let you know what is currently being offered.
“Teach the children. We don't matter so much, but the children do. Show them daisies and the pale hepatica. Teach them the taste of sassafras and wintergreen. The lives of the blue sailors, mallow, sunbursts, the moccasin flowers. And the frisky ones–inkberry, lamb's-quarters, blue-berries. And the aromatic ones–rosemary, oregano. Give them peppermint to put in their pockets as they go to school. Give them the fields and the woods and the possibility of the world salvaged from the lords of profit. Stand them in the stream, head them upstream, rejoice as they learn to love this green space they live in, its sticks and leaves and then the silent, beautiful blossoms.”
— Mary Oliver, Upstream