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 child attended Monkey Business camp for one week this summer and the only thing I have to…read morecomplain about is that I didn't send him for additional weeks! My child came home oozing creativity, stories, skills, and relaxed (which is rare outcome for a 1st grader). Monkey Business will be on our permanent camp rotation from now on. The counselors (extra shout out to Patrick!) are incredibly caring, the process is smooth, and even having access to a camp that provides a safe, enriching environment in a place like Tilden Park is something I'm super grateful for. 10/10!

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!).

Our granddaughter went to Trackers Camp El Cerrito. Well…read moreorganized Professional staff Fun activities Very positive experience

We've been doing trackers for years. The kids have a good time but I wanted to weigh in on the…read morepricing of late. The price has gone through the roof, but I'm really irked by the timing. Drop off is at 9:30 and pick up at 2:30, so essentially 5 hours (little more than a half day camp). It's already expensive at nearly $750 a week, but then you have to pay substantially more if you want to pick up or drop off at the same time as most other camps. Basically you're getting a half-day camp at more than full-day camp prices. Really annoying to get nickled and dimed this way.

My children have been attending Soccer Together day- and week-long camps for years. Nitzi and his…read morecoaches are superb. They connect with the children, and motivate them to enjoy and improve. Highly recommend!

Long overdue review: We have been doing Soccer2gether for 3+ years. At the recommendation of a…read morefriend, we signed up for S2G after a negative experience with another local soccer program, and S2G was EXACTLY what we were looking for at age 4-5. It's a great introduction to soccer that isn't a "league" where the focus inevitably becomes who wins/loses. As others have noted, Coach Nitzi is outstanding. From the first practice, he knew my name and my son's name, and we immediately felt part of a community. Fast forward to present day and we have done all the S2G offerings -- classes, camps, winter indoor soccer. My son has turned into quite the soccer player and S2G absolutely contributed to both his skill development and his love of the game. It's a great option for families who are pretty serious about soccer (like we are), but also for kids who just want to have fun -- it really is a range and Coach Nitzi is able to accommodate and challenge all skill levels. He has great awareness and is very adept at dealing with a large group of kids with different learning styles and personalities. I say this with great admiration as a fellow soccer coach with much less patience. ;-) All to say, if you are looking for a soccer option that is not a league, or an option to supplement your kid's league seasons, or a great camp option, I highly recommend S2G!

My daughter started attending BHNS this August, and she absolutely loves it! We -- parents and…read moregrandparents alike -- couldn't be happier. The facilities are wonderful and offer so many engaging activities for the kids. The teachers are warm, dedicated, and truly caring; so far, we have nothing but amazing things to say about them. We're also very pleased with the parent community that's beginning to take shape. BHNS has been a fantastic experience for our family.

The teachers here are great - very attentive and supportive yet able to foster independence and…read moreimagination. Our son's language and social confidence has absolutely thrived here!! The staff to kiddo ratio is great, no concerns at all about 1-2 teachers watching 20-30 kids which was one of our big anxieties trying to find the right fit. Also the community events are great like garden planting/harvest with coffee and pastries for all, kids and parents alike. Not to mention the parents group chat that is always active with outside park play dates and birthdays and such. So lucky to have found this community!

There are not enough ways to say how much I love The Coder School's camps. My autistic child is…read morehonored, cared for, respected, and nurtured there. The owner and camp staff see my child (and all of the campers) as whole people and are just amazing. My kid has been going for a few years now and won't be stopping any time soon.

My 8 year old son did their coding hour free session today and he had such a good time, he wants to…read moreget more coding classes as his next birthday present. He did it with a friend which made it more enjoyable as well. The owner and her staff were friendly and the computer area was clean and they put everyone's name on the computers.

So far just one class with my 5-year-old son, but I'm very impressed on multiple fronts. After the…read moreinitial drop-in class yesterday we purchased weekly classes with the full expectation this initial great experience will only be surpassed. Husband & wife team Matt and Chelsea (owners) and Matt's sister Stephanie are lovely. It's a really great space and Matt is preternaturally good with younger kids. I shadowed my son for a bit in the studio to observe both my son's behavior in a structured environment and the instructors' teaching style. My son is both young and inherently independent (and often distracted) so this was bound to be revealing. Matt and Chelsea's approach to teaching is closer to informed guidance and it seems to work very well with my son and the other kids I observed. They let the child initiate their creative intent and then equip them with the technical information they need in a manner that is both empowering and not overwhelming. As for my son's proclivity to essentially 'not listen,' Matt in particular was excellent at focusing my son's attention on the task at hand and contextualizing what needed to be done so that he could 'own it.' It's clear his forthcoming studio experiences will be about so much more than learning and enjoying ceramics. This isn't 'OK class today we're going to make a coil-built pot. First I want you to take your clay and...'. Not at all. In an hour and fifteen minutes, my son made two objects in distinctly different techniques: a bowl thrown on the wheel and a slab-built shark. In the course of building those two pieces he was exposed to: centering clay on the wheel; managing the clay to expand, compress, elongate and widen his bowl; keeping his eye on his work; keeping the clay moist; the effects of various pressures applied to the clay on the wheel; scoring and attaching separate pieces with slip; scribing; use of various tools; under-glazing; clean-up, and more. I imagine he'll have to revisit every one of those lessons in subsequent classes but it's a gentle teaching style that works well here. Matt and Chelsea always had an eye on each of the kids and were great about transitioning between them to give guidance in a way that seemed very natural. The space itself is wonderful and can only be described as luminous. Well, that and clean. This is not a stereotypical 'mad potter's studio,' nor is it an anal 'everything in its place mausoleum.' Instructors have a clear view of everything going on in the space at all times. There's a front seating for parents/nanny's to hang out (WiFi available) and get some work done if you want to wait. Parking in the neighborhood doesn't seem to be a problem. The most critical measure of Kids-n-Clay is the reaction from my son, who really didn't want to leave and spoke of it more or less non-stop the rest of the day. Looking forward to what's next here. If you attend a drop-in class, be aware it takes about 2-3 weeks before pieces cycle through the process and can come home with you. But that's just ceramics. Highly recommended.

My kid loves this place! The kids can use the pottery wheel or just mold clay on the table. There…read moreare assistants there to guide the newer sculptors, and the owner, Matt, encourages the kids to design what they feel.

My daughter has been to KC Summer Day Camp many times over the past few years and she absolutely…read moreLOVES it. The counselors are truly wonderful: fun, caring, and creative and each week the camp has a different theme lead by local experts or artisans (from carpentry and engineering to jewelry and gymnastics) so the kids are never bored. My daughter also looked forward to their weekly field trips which took them on various adventures throughout the Bay Area.The cost is extremely reasonable for a camp of this caliber and the location is picturesque - nestled in the Kensington Hills near Berkeley. Also, a huge plus for this busy working parent is their early drop off and late pick up on those days when I need it. We'll be there again this summer!

How refreshing. If you, like me, have a whole spreadsheet full of summer camps lined up for your…read morekids, you, like me, might get cranky about how many of them have short hours, high prices, longish drives, complicated drop offs and pickups. KCC Camp is so simple. So easy. It's all day, so great for working parents. Each week there's a different theme and specialized classes with a teacher--carpentry, say, or gymnastics. There's a field trip every Wednesday (on an actual bus--no parent driving required! Yay!). There's always tennis and structured play, but also plenty of downtime if that's what your kid wants. It's not the most coddling camp ever, but the kids have fun and come home happy.

Dan's been just the instructor I needed. I played in high school and recreationally as an adult,…read moreand had taken a hiatus due to some health issues. He's helped me get my strokes back in just a few lessons and has awesome tips. I'm looking forward to getting into tournaments soon thanks to Dan.

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.