We are HUGE fans of Monkey Business Camp (MBC) and are excited to share our enthusiasm with the…read moreYelp community here. Our daughter (now age 6) started attending this year, and our son (now age 12) started attending when he was 6. For the past 2 years, he has not attended as a "Camper", but as a "Counselor-in-Training" (CIT)... a sort of junior internship role that MBC has created to train select children who are fans of the program and who demonstrate aptitude for serving as a Counselor (formal, paid role) at some point in the future. For him, this role has allowed him to develop and hone his leadership skills (drawing heavily on skills he developed in scouting), and he loves serving as a mentor to the younger kids who are the Campers. He exudes pride and commitment to the role, and that makes us as parents proud as well. For our daughter, she is completely immersed in the curriculum and talks about it over dinner each night when she returns. For both kids, they are genuinely excited to get out the door in the morning and get to camp... it is an organic kind of excitement... not anything that we push. This is the best kind of inspiration and enthusiasm. And finally, for us as parents, we love how MBC immerses the Campers, the CITs, and their own staff members in the middle of nature (for the summer sessions) and in a school campus setting (for the winter sessions), completely without access to electronic devices. "Device detox" is what we call it, and MBC's culture and curriculum are so effective that the kids don't even seem to miss the devices. I can scarcely believe the words I am writing here, but this is a true statement. Finally, we must commend the MBC staff... from the founder all the way down to the senior and junior leaders... for their intuitive ability to excite and inspire children with a captivating, engaging curriculum that nourishes the mind and body. MBC is everything a camp should be. This is why it is a Berkeley/East Bay institution for childcare and early childhood development. If any of what I've written here aligns with your own philosophy, then don't hesitate... enroll your child(ren) in MBC. It will make a lasting and positive impact on everyone in your family!

My kids love it so much that they're already planning their futures as camp counselors!read more

Our daughter loves Camp 510! She always has wonderful time…read morewith her friends and teachers and teens who help camp. I highly recommend Camp 510!

My boys have been attending this camp for several summers and they are always excited to go back…read more I have 3 boys and work full time so my kids have tried ALL of the different sports/arts/misc camps in the oakland/berkeley area, and this little unassuming makers camp is the one they are consistently excited to go back to. We just finished another fun week and look forward to being back next summer!

Quantum Camp is an amazing program. Our children tried both the day program and the summer camp and…read morevery much enjoyed both. They didn't want to return to regular school. This is a bright spot for engaged learners in an area where the public system offers little opportunity for children to stretch in math and science. Lessons are engaging, hands-on, challenging and inspiring. The other students are bright, curious and creative. If we had stayed in the area, we likely would have homeschooled and used QuantumCamp as a math and science resource. I highly recommend it to families searching for a way to help their children reach higher levels of understanding, while generating enthusiasm, for math and science.

Quantum Camp is an amazing resource! When my oldest was in middle school we signed him up for a…read moreweek of Quantum Camp and we were hooked! He had a great time and came away completely inspired. He continued on at QC to explore Algebra, Chemistry, and Biology, each time feeling challenge, intrigued, and motivated to learn more. Now kid number two is having the same experience. He took one class and announced "This is the way I like to learn." Michael and his staff of brilliant teachers are able to take complex subjects and offer them in such way that the kids enjoy themselves as they gain mastery of the concepts. You know the class is working when your kid comes home and starts doing extension experiments on his own. Who knew learning could be so fun?

My son just attended a birthday party in this little hidden gem. The space is inviting and the kids…read morehad so much fun . The instructors were so kind and engaging with the kids . My little boy is already asking to go back again ! Definitely recommended !

We just had our 10 year old's bday here! Every thing was great, and the kids really got in to the…read moreproject we picked (felt succulent gardens). Planning to come back soon for an adult night (or another private party with my girl friends!).

My daughter just completed the Cardiology Camp at Stanford, and I cannot speak highly enough of the…read moreexperience. The instructors and camp leaders were exceptional. They created a welcoming, supportive environment where the kids felt comfortable, connected, and truly bonded with one another. Thanks to this camp, my daughter has gained so much confidence. She made amazing friends and came home at the end of the week excited to share what she learned. A special thank you to Emily, who is incredibly kind and quick to respond to any questions. Dr. D was an inspiring teacher--knowledgeable, patient, and truly engaging with the students. And Julian made a lasting impression by remembering the kids' names from the very beginning and being consistently warm and friendly. Thank you so much to the entire team at Education Unlimited for such a meaningful and memorable experience!

This was an excellent service. They got us two amazing tour guides who were friendly and…read moreknowledgeable in the peak season when all the campus tours were already booked. The company representative was easy to reach and constantly kept us in the loop via text. Highly recommended!

This summer my son already attended a few great high energy adventure and play camps, and I had…read morealways wanted to try a Reggio Emilia (RE) approach with my son. He normally attends a Montessori preschool, and for many committed reasons I won't bore you, I always felt that RE may better fit his learning style. Camp Doodle is RE-inspired with projects based on a weekly theme. My son participated in "Light and Shadow" and grasped complex concepts. He is constantly paying attention to where a shadow lands due to light source(s) and stomping on my shadow as a form of chase and tag. The last day the camp counselors put together a gallery of all the campers' projects. Given identical materials and theme, each child's creation reflected a wide range of creative and conceptual development. I could see my child's personality projected in how he constructed his project pieces like a kaleidoscope. This was the only summer camp that gave me a glimpse of how my son's mind works. I give props to his counselor for being enthusiastic and welcoming. She was so warm and inviting each day. Her energy was unwavering throughout the day. The brief drop-off and pick-up updates were informative and insightful. She had previously taught preschool and now teaches elementary school, and thus she is experienced with working with young children and effectively communicating with parents. I was impressed by the caliber of the head counselor. I appreciated that the summer camp has 5 different weekly themes, and so I can pick and choose which weeks to send my son. Camp Doodle is also one of the more flexible camp registrations that takes in consideration the ever-changing family schedules. This is also one of the camps that has a later regular pick-up at 4PM, and my son still did not want to leave. As a side note, this is the only camp where my son had zero bathroom accidents. This only happens when he has zero anxiety. There is something to be said about Camp Doodle's calm environment that helped my son modulate his energy & focus on projects & activities, and he also could initiate and pivot to address his primal needs without being distracted or too absorbed into his environment.

Our daughter's favorite camp this summer…read more Lots of creative projects. She really enjoyed having a choice of activities. (As parents we enjoyed not having to pack lunch.) Will be doing it again next summer.

Best summer camp experience I could hope for my child who is now a counselor there. It was one of…read morethe best choices I've made as a parent.

A couple of my friends moved to Madison, Wisconsin this year and they said there is only one thing…read morethe kids really miss in Berkeley, and that is Camp Kee Tov. My daughter and two of her friends from her school are so excited to be going to camp here this year. They have so much fun everyday! If I was a kid again, I would beg my parents to send me to Camp Kee Tov too.

We had a pretty terrible experience at Bandworks but I didn't want to trash the program because…read morethere are some great people associated with it. That said, my kid just told me that their instructor once said to them - in front of all the kids - "I'm certain you have a learning plan." My kid denied it (they, in fact, did not) and the instructor continued to insist that they did. Who the hell talks this way to a child in this day and age, in front of their peers?! It was humiliating for my kid and extremely insensitive of the instructor. I could follow up with a list of messed up things this instructor said or did along the way, but this one put me over the edge and really just sums up why we now steer clear.

My son first attended a BandWorks summer program in 2007 (age 8). He was in the Intro class and got…read moreto play drums, guitar, sing, and generally get the full band experience. He liked it so much we signed up for the next year and he really focused in on drumming. Loved drumming so much he got a private instructor and took drumming for quite some time after that. Then life got in the way for a few years and now we've returned....and it's the daughter who's doing the workshop sessions now! Came in for the September 2012 session and was put in a band with 3 boys and had to learn how to negotiate want she wanted. Great experience in self-empowerment for a 7th grade girl. She, too, loves drumming. She played one song on drums, and the other songs on keyboards and vocals. She had kicked and screamed about not wanting to do vocals before joining (just got out of 6 years of chorus and literally did not want to open her mouth again) but the instructor convinced her to give it a try and the boys were supportive and she actually loved it. To hear my daughter sing a Red Hot Chili Peppers song and love doing it, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven LOL. Anyway, she's back for this session....decided to bring in her girlfriends.....and now is giggin' in an all-girl band as the drummer. What I've always loved about BandWorks is their ability to work with whatever your nutty schedule may be, and whatever level you are as a musician, and whatever your musical taste is, to create the right experience for you in your band.

I made a gorgeous sf giants baseball themed bracelet at an oracle park event! The staff at…read moreDrangonfly designs made it super easy, explained how to do it and did the hard work of the clasp and finishing. They have oodles of pretty beads and charms, even a choice of silver or gold hardware. On the way out several tween girls asked and ran off excitedly to make their own. Highly recommend.

Nice art Studio and the staff! My Daughter was really happy to create some of bracelet with them…read more We are would recommended them.

My son has attended the summer camps, weekend tournaments and a weekly chess group. My son is…read moreenjoying the challenges and education. I value this local business.

I sent my kids here a few years ago and even though my son is now in high school, he would…read moreoccasionally drop by in Walnut Creek class to say hi to his teachers. The chess school was a large part of his earlier years and I attribute his high school success currently to chess and a few other activities. Great teachers, great tournaments, and they care about your kids succeeding in chess and beyond. I recommend them to any young parent wanting their kids to have a hobby that doesn't involve devices.