Where to start?! There are just so many positive things anyone who's been to or been a part of the many programs can say! First: Donaldina Cameron House is a faith-based organization. I grew up going to their summer day camp program (Cameron Ventures), which entailed daily trips to Golden Gate Park with the occasional overnight or day trip to a theme park or other cool place around the Bay Area. From 5-7th grade I was a participant in this program. There are so many memories that I've taken away from it and have learned a lot! While the Christian faith is obvious with this program, Christianity is never pushed onto anybody. I didn't grow up with any faith, but made a personal choice later on down the line. Through the Cameron Ventures program, I've forged lifelong friendships. Once in high school, you would become a volunteer leader for the younger kids. For 5 summers I took on this role and saw myself grow exponentially each and every summer. Not only were my social skills improving, but I was learning great leadership skills, communication, teamwork, and planning....LOTS AND LOTS OF PLANNING! From 6th-12th grade I participated in their Friday night youth fellowship program, which allowed me to meet with guys and girls in my age group every week and pretty much.....just hang out! Activities were planned for us by our "leader," who was a college-aged or older mentor. My leaders became really great friends of mine over the years and I can give a lot of credit of who I've become to them. Once in highschool, my peers and I were the ones doing the activity planning. This was where we had to be creative because we were planning activities over a 3 hour period each week for about 15 to sometimes 30 guys and girls our age. These were some of the most fun times in my life! There's really no way to give you my entire testimonial through this Yelp review because the lifetime effects are clear. The people that I've met are my brothers and sisters. You form bonds with people and that can't be replaced. At Cameron House, we have a ton of fun! Often laughing until I'm about to pee in my pants or until I've gotten a full ab workout from laughing too much. If you're at all interested in at least seeing what they have to offer, check out the website! So much good has come out of this organization! http://www.cameronhouse.org/ Shout out to my commission! S.A.C.R.E.D. 4 LIFE!!! read more

The cost of the Cameron House daycamp this summer was $525 for 6 weeks of full day camp. (This is a great deal considering that YMCA will set you $40 a day!) This is my son's first year and he is having a great time doing meaningful things. The kids are divided into small groups by grade, groups are then lead by high school age volunteers. This is not fancy camp where they are going to water parks and movies everyday..Rather they are exploring vaious parts of the city (and mostly by Muni). My son who rarely takes the bus and is pleasantly surprised by his new found independence. The campers participant in a community service project once a week- such as performing at the Self Help for the Elderly, sorting food at the Food Bank, clean-up of an alley way in Chinatown, etc. Cameron House is a Christian based program but my son has not been pushed to attend Church. read more

A very friendly and open environment for all to experience. I've mostly been a part of the summer and Friday night club program so that is what my review is based upon. Summer program: A very affordable and good way for any parents who need a place for their child to go in the summer. The staff were awesome and the level of care along with the bonds I developed with my friends who I met in the summer program seem almost unbreakable (15+ years later some of us are still making efforts to see each other and hang out whenever we can). Not only that, but the lessons and sights a camper are exposed to are to be cherished for years to come. Skills such as learning to cook rice and chicken on a park grill, navigating the SF muni along with developing a sense of community and the urgency to improve it for future generations. Friday night club: It's hard to envision a place where youth are mentored by individuals better than the club leaders that cameron house has. The club program is run by a group of young adult volunteers who dedicate one of the most important evenings in their week to the activities and life lessons they wish to lead and teach the youth in the program. Lessons such as how to behave in a socially acceptable manner along with how to let loose and be yourself. There are many things I grew up to value that I learned in the program which I cannot even begin to describe. Many bonds are formed between the people in your club group, and that is something I've come to cherish most. So if you're in middle - high school and need a safe place to hang out on friday nights, the club program is definitely it. read more

Cameron House (CH) is near and dear to my heart. I spent a significant amount of my high school summers volunteering with summer camp programs and would not be who I am today without the culture, people and now, lifelong memories and friendships! When you're 13 years old there are a lot of activities that you can choose to do during the summer. CH was an opportunity available and I thought, sure WHY NOT. At the time it was an impulsive decision to fill my summer but in perspective, this is probably one of the best decisions I have EVER made as a teenager! Not only was I working with some of the most adorable kids, I was able to grow with them over the summers and they slowly have become like family. My counselor peers/directors/leaders were very influential during this time of my life and I am lucky enough to say that I keep in touch with my Club group. Summer volunteering turned into spending Friday nights with my Club program. At the time, I loved Friday nights at CH for the social activities. I always looked forward to seeing these group of people on Friday nights knowing that there was a full night of activities with some very fun people. But, looking back, I also think these times helped form and influence my ambitions and passions. Cindy, Brian and Alvin were amazing leaders and I will never forget everything they did for us. The people I found good company have continued to play a huge role throughout my life. I also joined CH basketball team which was hilarious because I don't think we won a single game, BUT, because of CH basketball, this encouraged me to play basketball all throughout high school for my own school. Thanks Brian for never giving up on our team! If you're considering whether to enroll your child or become a counselor/leader at Cameron House, you will only gain from the experience. I am a forever fan. read more

I grew up attending Cameron House's youth programs, specifically as a participant in their Friday Night Club program and as a volunteer daycamp/Ventures leader. In my personal life, I have used skills learned at CH to help plan parties, lead games/activities, calm cranky children... and I don't even know how I would be a mom without my repertoire of songs/games/crafts/street crossing skills that I learned at CH. Growing up in their youth program was also a foundation for my walk as a Christian. It is here where I experienced deep authentic sharing with other youth my age, a place where I felt safe to be vulnerable about my insecurities-- and there are so many in middle/high school! Also, being part of CH exposed me to people who have a genuine heart to serve. Alumni come back year after year to volunteer at the annual Cameron Carnival, to teach workshops, to cook for youth, to put on fundraisers. If that itself doesn't tell you that an organization is successful I don't know what does. read more

I know this place acts as a community organization now but I came here hoping to see some historical artifacts from its heyday. From reading about this place, I thought they would have put up more photographs and artifacts from its past since there is a rich history behind this place. The people here were really nice. She said I could walk around and take a look but when I walked in, there were no information/posters/pamphlets about this place. You wouldn't have known that this house had acted as a sanctuary for many Chinese women who were escaping prostitution. I asked if I could see the underground tunnel but the front desk lady said they didn't have any time and were all booked up for the rest of the week. The review is for tourists who want to come here to learn about this building's history, don't expect too much. In fact, there isn't much to see. Go to the Chinese Historical Society Museum. You'll learn and see much more there. I think this house is purely used as a space for community work (which is fine). Just temper your expectations. read more

Donaldina Cameron House, or affectionately known as just Cameron House (CH), is truly an amazing non-profit organization. It is rich in its own history, plus an integral part of the history of Chinatown & the City of San Francisco itself. When you talk about San Francisco, you have to talk about Chinatown. When you talk about Chinatown, you have to include Donaldina Cameron House. Writing a short review on Yelp really doesn't do it justice. The only way to get a sense of what Cameron House means to folks is to visit. Walk through the doorways to soak in the abundance of history & tradition, and feel the palpable sense of love & community there. Ask 50 people, who have experienced CH, what their recollection is & you'll probably get 50 different answers, but one common theme - how impactful Cameron House has been on their lives. Cameron House, to me, is a faith based (Presbyterian USA) community organization. However, religion is never forced on you. The focus is more on Social Services, Youth Programs, Young Adult fellowship, and Community Involvement. The core values involve nurturing your physical, mental, spiritual, & social growth. Through the doors of Cameron House, generations upon generations of families have come & gone. Through these doors have come people looking for refuge, a place to belong, a place to call home. Leadership & community involvement is one of the most common result of being involved here, although it is not specifically identified as a "leadership academy." Cameron House is too humble for that. Today, many of the leaders in our community, both locally & globally, have had their life paths begin at CH. Politicians, Judges, Lawyers, Doctors, Actors, Film makers, Artists, Social Workers, Religious leaders, Mentors, and countless other walks-of-life have been part of this Cameron House community that is bigger than a review can justify. The number of relationships & marriages and family trees stemming from this place is beyond effective counting. Check out their affordable summer youth programs, bilingual programs, social services, year round programs, and so much more. Again, writing a review will not do Cameron House justice. It is truly a place you just have to experience. Cameron House has been a guiding light to my core values and internal compass. For that, I am always grateful for this place, its principles, and the people who make it a community. read more

One word to describe this place: Home. I grew up here from my elementary days, and still feel welcomed here, even though I am a senior in college. Definitely a place to visit! On the outside, it may look rickety and run down, but it is far from that. The service that they provide is for Chinese immigrants who need help getting started in the community. They also offer summer camps for children to keep them out of trouble. This place only has everyone's best interest in mind, and is very hospitable! read more

Cameron House provided the foundation for my growth as a professional and person. As a volunteer, and eventually staff member, I developed the confidence and skill that would be the foundation for pretty much all of my future endeavors. As a person, I learned how to develop friendships that would last a lifetime. I am who I am because I dedicated my time and effort to be a part of it. I am thankful that my family supported my involvement and thought it was a good thing that I had a second home and family. I have no doubt that, when the day comes, I will encourage my children to experience it for themselves. read more

I grew up going to Cameron House and have so many memories and positive experiences. I attended their Friday Night Club throughout my teenage years where I got a chance to meet a lot of friends and do a lot of fun activities. I also volunteered at their summer camp where I was able to learn how to plan and organize activities, explore this beautiful city, learn about patience, and so much more. I was also fortunate enough to be a part of their summer basketball team where I was able to play basketball, make new friends and learn more about teamwork and leadership. A lot of the things I learned while being involved in Cameron House, I still use today and I'm not sure where I would be if I had never been a part of Cameron House. They also have one of the best views of the city on the upper level basketball court. That view alone is worth a 5 star rating! read more

Cameron House is one of best organization I ever worked at. I was a summer school program coordinator a few years ago for assisting a group of 10 high school aged volunteers/leaders to plan various programs which are beneficial to young children. Comparing to a few summer programs I worked, Cameron House has the best one indeed. I received lots of support from the director and other colleagues who enriched my learning and helped me to develop leadership skills. All the staffs or participants are caring, kind and gentle. In particular, I appreciated the Program Director Lauren Chan who is very considerate and kind. I would highly recommend people, especially children and youth, involve in their programs. read more

I have been attending Cameron House since I was basically born. One of the major programs that Cameron House has is the summer youth program. It lasts for 6 weeks and the children spend about 9 hours a day participating in activities that high schoolers plan for them. They also learn about the morals from the bible to make them a better person in general. When the participants reach middle school, they go on great events including community clean ups and the food bank to learn the importance about giving back to the community. Friday nights are great for middle and high schoolers. There are college or older people that plan events for participants. They can range from making up their own games, watching a movie, or playing sports against one another. The best thing about Friday nights are just being able to hang out with people your own age. My best friends are part of Cameron House and these friendships are for life. Every first Saturday in May, there is a carnival in the yard where people play games, win prizes, eat delicious food, and watch plays. This is also a great opportunity for people to win gold fish easily. read more

Cameron House was so fun back in the day. I went here circa 1993-1997 up until I was too old to attend. Enjoyed every moment of it until the last tear jerking day. There were 2 types of programs being run here. One was more out doorsy, the other more chilled. I went to both the day camp and (BYP)bilingual after school program(though it was not only for builingual peeps). Also, you might recognize parts of this building from when Whoopy Goldburg filmed sister act 2 here. Day camp was literally a day camp where students would travel every day. Students start the day off by playing war ball, basketball, or handball from 8am - about 8:20. At 8:20, high school aged volenteers called leaders, round up the attendees, lead them to parks to play outdoor games, an occasional movie, water fights, free events, occasional unschedualed arcade visit, the beach, indoor/outdoor 1 camping, arts and craft. Every day was an exciting field trip! The BYP program was in my opinion way better than the day camp. Some days would just be pure outdoor field trips. Other days students attend several no stress non-graded short mathematics, history, and writing classes, short recess, up until lunch. After lunch was when the students were split up by grade and gender into clubs. Thats when the fun starts, we did activitys and etc. I loved the field trips, visiting golden gate park, stol lake, pettal boating, fishin, camping, water fights, outdoor flag football, frisby football etc. What added to the fun was the fact that Cameron House was located in old china town and what was said to be a haunted building. It had a nastalgic rustic wood feeling to it and we were always surounded by friends. Cameron house was once a church dating far back to the 1800s. A nun named Cameron saved forced asian prostitutes in this church and led them out of the city through a series of undergound tunnels. It was said that Cameron was burried in these tunnels(highly doubt it though) which have been closed off for presrving history and to protect againts taggers. read more

I have been familiar with Donaldina Cameron House since my experience there as a teen through young adulthood, and now as a parent with a Summer Daycamp/Friday Night Club participant. I never participatedin daycamp as a camper myself, but started there as a camp leader back in the day. I was in HS and being a camp leader entailed a summer-long commitement of training and participation. As a camp leader, we were trained as campers; we 'played' camper as we took bus trips to the various camp sites, went over various activities and songs, were trained by a psychologist on the age group we would be working with and how best to interact with them/what to expect from their age group. As a highschooler new to camp, I felt welcome in this new-to-me community and developed many social ties and friendships, as well as leadership skills. As stated by others, this is a church-based organization that offers many social services. I participated in the Summer Program which interconnected in to the Friday Night Club program and later became a club leader. My son is now a participant and I have even had the support of the youth services staff in assisting me with various issues around my son's learning differences and IEP. Cameron House has provided a place where my son can participate and feel a part of a greater community that I feel good about. read more

As a Board Member and CH Alumni, I truly call Cameron House my 2nd home. Come visit us 1st saturday of every month! Cameron House Carnival. You know the address: 920 Sacramento St. Hope to see you there! read more

Although I've never attended Cameron House myself, I've been to their Annual Cameron House Carnival and met and worked with many people who have been through their doors. ..and I must say that I am impressed with what this establishment does, their mission statement and vision, the values that they engender, their camaraderie and the number of young lives that they have touched. Working just blocks away, it always makes me smile when I see a group of young children on a fieldtrip led by their group leaders. There should be more organizations like this for our youth. read more

As a working adult professional in education I think back to my years as a Cameron House participant, staff member and volunteer often. lessons such as "leave a place cleaner then you found it", "do not sit on tables" and many more have become foundational in my day to day work. I was enrolled by my mother in the very affordable summer ventures program when I was in 3rd grade. To think back to how such a simple enrollment into a summer program would give birth to life long development of personal social, spiritual, physical and mental development that I am forever grateful for. Youth program over the summer has created long lasting friendships, life lessons and exposure that normal native SF youth would never experience. Experiences in deep sea fishing trips in middle school, grade school cook-outs (life would not even be the same without the invention of strawberry mess), and camping trips to lomo lodge and kirby cove. The friday night club program allowed me to continue building on friendships and year long development with the four square pillars. Serving as a volunteer and summer staff member gave me professional growth and responsibilities at a young age that attribute to my current professional success and passion in my field. If you have not had a chance I highly recommend visiting Donaldina Cameron House and the wonderful staff and services that it has offered the chinatown/telegraph hill neighborhood youth and families for over the last 130+years. read more

I have had mixed emotions about Cameron House. This place knew how to push me out of my comfort zone and also bring out my full potential. I didn't grow up at Cameron House, but know a lot of people who did and can't get away! Cameron House was a great place to hang out, but it did take a lot of time out from being with my family. I volunteered here for two summers in high school as a leader for their summer program. I was placed in a group with 10 other volunteers and 2 coordinators to plan field trips and activities for the kids. We went to places like Golden Gate Park, Kirby Cove, Rob Hill, Lake Chabot and all over San Francisco for service projects or fun with the kids. We had daily devotions to reflect and talk about God. I met lots of talented and inspirational people here. I took away a lot of memories and useful skills that I'd share with my own kids. Aside from their summer program, I also recommend their other programs such as Friday Night Club and their Bilingual Youth Program! I'm sure your kids or yourself will have tons of fun here no matter which program you decide to sign up for. read more

What can you say about such an amazing place, where so many people have been able to call home. Of course, the history of the physical structures contain such a rich culture being over 100 years old, being faith based, being in Chinatown, being in San Francisco, from the Chinese women of the gold rush, to housing people that settled in SF, to the youth which I had the privilege of spending time running thru the wooden lined halls, playing four square in the lower yard, sitting in service where Whoopi Goldberg had a Sister Act or 2, and most recently balled on the upper yard, where Jeremy Lin's Linsanity showcases a true urban schoolyard overlooking the SFC. I can't really sum up the rich history and impact of Cameron House on millions of people thru the last century that found strength, support and communtiy but I can attest to my experience and the profound influence the people of Cameron House had on me. I like many other youth of my generation falied Chinese school, so my folks thought the next best option was Cameron House (although they do also have a bilingual program). You learn many unique things growing up in the city, but growing up in Cameron House you learn life lessons that both expose you to San Francisco but also to what so many of those urban experiences mean, grounding your roots, and giving youth perspective to how small they are in relation to the rest of the world. Those life lessons came from the people of Cameron House, where there has always been the strongest sense of community. Busting myself out here, but no matter if it was the 80s, 90s, or present day, the people and the community at Cameron House have instilled a support foundation that all youth should have growing up. Not only did I get the lifelong lessons, but had fun doing them. Whether it was summer daycamp in Golden Gate Park, to camping in Marin, to Friday Night Club games in Pier 39, volunteering flyering Russin Hill, on and on and on...it was and still is truly one of the best ways to grow up and experience SF as a child. In comparison, I also did a few summers in Hawaii at the Ala Wai YMCA in Honolulu. Of course you can't really compare summers in Honolulu to San Francisco, but I can really remember the differences in programs. I definitely rememebr having fun in Hawaii, but I didn't really learn many life lessons. At Cameron House, I can remember camp leaders that were awesome role models. I remember making lifelong connections with people and for that reason many of us alumni will be lifelong supporters of Cameron House. I was lucky enough to have the privilege as an adolesence to attend youth programs at Cameron House and hope one day when I have children, they will have the same opportunity. read more

I owe much of my success and the opportunities I am now presented with to Cameron House - the people I met there, the skills I developed, and the experiences I had truly made me who I am today. I began going to Cameron House when I was in 3rd grade - my Mom sent me to Cameron Ventures, because she also went to CV, and was a volunteer leader there in high school. She and all of my aunts had participated in the program, so it was natural that I would follow suit. I spent 3 summers in Cameron Ventures, and don't remember too much of my first 2 summers, but vividly remember my 3rd as fifth-grader. I'll never forget being so tired and so happy at the end of every single day - I always had a story to tell my mom or dad when they picked me up, and each day brought new surprises and amazing memories thanks to my leaders! :) Cameron House truly became alive to me, and essential to my development when I entered high school. I became a volunteer leader, because I remember that I had a ton of fun in the program as a kid. As a leader, I met some of the closest friends I have ever had in my life - we worked together for so many hours, and were united by a very unique goal - to, at the ripe young age of 14, provide a group of a children a safe, enjoying summer, while being responsible for their safety and development. I learned about very practical, targeted skills such as first-aid, public speaking, and planning. Additionally, I also feel that I developed a TON socially - I developed a vocal filter (which I can safely say I did not have before haha), learned to work together with many different kinds of people, and take initiative to accomplish tasks. My summers as a leader rank as some of the best summers of my life - they were fun, rewarding, and cannot be put into words on a Yelp review. I also attended the Friday Night Club program. I was exposed to so many games and experiences that I had never thought would be so much fun, and yet so enriching at the same time! I learned some great lessons at camp at Westminster woods, through devotions, and through fundraising/service projects that my commission took on. We made a Haunted House for no real reason, other than because we thought it would be cool for the other kids to have to enjoy! We were a small group, but I love my commission and the things we accomplished. The experiences we had at our weekly gatherings with our club leaders really brought us together, and I am confident that my commission members and I will be life long friends. Even a couple weeks ago, we got together for drinks and games at someone's house! I am thankful to have met these people and shared these weekly adventures with them, and wish that I could go back to relive it again! OH WAIT! I HAVE! I served as a Club leader for 5 years, and found that experience to be amazingly rewarding as well! Because of the skills that I learned at Cameron House, I have gotten several other youth work jobs. Namely, I have now taught in the classroom as a Teach For America Corps member, and been successful there thanks to many of the skills I learned as a volunteer and summer staff member there. I have so many doors and opportunities open to me, and would recommend the programs to any youth today! read more

I used to be in the summer camps during 2006 & 2007. I was in elementary-middle school during that time. I have a lot of memorable memories at the summer camps. I met new friends and I got to go to places I've never been to before. The leaders were awesome people and I miss them dearly!! I remember I was in BYP and Solid Ground. My favorite was BYP!! we got to do so much fun stuff!! Solid Ground started to get too mature but it was fun as well. There is schedule of the whole summer camp. The schedule contained what we would do on a day. I remember we went to this park near Golden Gate park a lot (I forget the name). Activities I remembered doing were having BBQ's, cooking at the Cameron house Kitchen, playing leadership/self-development games, buying ingredients from Chinatown and making sushi, Treasure hunt around the city, going to the park ALOT, playing basketball at cameron house, having water fight, playing four-square and handball, learning about Cameron house, going to the beach, doing crafts, going to that church near Little Paris, going biking at another city, camping and performing at the end of the summer camp. The stairs going up to the top roof will always terrify me because it feels like if I miss a step, I will fall down and immediately die.!!! Cameron house is very much like a friend-bonding community. I really enjoyed my time at the summer camps. Now the negative stuff... - Cameron House is a somewhat religious place. I remember we had to pray/thank god before our meal which was weird to me because I didn't believe in a religion. I remember we were picking who should say the prayers and I got picked and I had no idea what to say. I also remember when we were reading the bible and singing gospel music. But the cool thing is that Cameron House is a respectful place even if you do not believe in God so this isn't all that negative. - The cost was kinda expensive for me ($500-$600). - The only transportation are Muni and your feet. Muni is the worst when it's REALLY full. Walking was a pain after looking back at the past. Especially after a long day and you have to walk up that hill back to Cameron House!! Dx - You have to bring your own food. From the bottom of my heart, I really enjoyed my time at Cameron house because it brought me new and memorable experiences. :) read more

Cameron House has been a place of solace for me and my family. From the various youth programs for kids to the support groups offered for adults, Cameron House has welcomed me with open arms and I cannot think of a better place that offers unconditional love and support. if you want to meet new friends or just looking for some direction, spend some time here, it'll change your life. read more

I am an alum of the Cameron House Friday night youth program in the 1970's. CH provided me with a great way to meet kids from around the City in a setting where we had fun, learned about service to the community and developed leadership skills. Fast forward 40 years, my son and 2 daughters are attending the CH youth program and it is as good as ever. My 9th grade daughter brought her classmate with her to club last Friday, and the girl said it was the most fun she can ever remember having: all of the kids there were incredibly warm and welcoming and made her forget about all of her troubles. Kudos to the folks running the club program: you guys rock! Cameron House has delivered services to women, families and youth in Chinatown for 140 years. Amazing. read more

Horrible customer service, these people couldn't even lift their feet and hands to help someone. They'll just look at each other on who's gonna do something. Needs new management!!! read more

Cameron House is an amazing organization and a place that has shaped who I am today. I started going to summer day camp in the 3rd grade. I still remember and treasure all my experiences there from cookouts, exploring Golden Gate Park, singing, camping at Lomo Lodge, annual performances, preparing for carnival and much more. As I grew older, I went every Friday to "Club" to hang out with friends. As an adult now, my group still hangs out and we bring our kids. I have met life long friends and thank Cameron House for all the fond memories! read more

We came across Cameron House when our now 14 y.o. son was in kinder. We suddenly realized that since he was no longer in preschool there was no summer program! In a panicked frenzy I started on my quest for an affordable and safe summer camp. Along came Cameron House! I'd done my research and since the program was based out of Chinatown I figured it safe to ask some of the Chinese families I know if they'd ever heard of CH. "Ever heard of CH? OF COURSE - I spent my summers there!" As it turned out almost every person we'd asked, regardless of nationality or what neighborhood they grew up in, if they were over 40 they'd heard of CH and if they'd gone they loved it and wished they could go back. The final thumbs-up came when a long-time trusted friend told me he'd know the then Director since middle-school. Yahoo - we'd found our camp!! Fast forward 9 years and our son is still involved. Over the course of the years he's traveled through Cameron Ventures (K-5), Solid Ground (6-8) and spent time at Westminster Woods. This year, since he's headed off to high-school, he's enrolled in the Leadership Development Program and is working to become a Leader for the lower-grade camps. You see, that's why it works so well, the Leaders who are taking charge of your littles have, for the most part, come through the program themselves. Over the course of the years we've seen Leaders progress through the program, finish high school, go off to college and graduate - all the while returning the CH in the summer to work. A few have gone off to complete their educations and come back to work FT at CH to continue the good work and fight the good fight - providing quality, safe and affordable care for families from far & wide (we've met some who travel from the East Bay and down the Peninsula!). As mentioned by other reviewers CH is a faith-based organization and while it is apparent in their program and teachings it is never forced or pushed. And I can wholeheartedly say that the care and guidance our son has received from the staff at CH is unparalleled. Check it out - you won't be sorry!!! read more

Cameron House is definitely a life changing, eye opening, and amazing organization. I started going to Cameron House as a kid in their summer program when I started middle school. I fell in love with Cameron House instantly. Everyone was welcoming and friendly. So I continued to become a leader for Cameron House's summer program when I entered high school. Being a leader really was one of the best moments of my life. I became extremely close with my group. Every friday night we would meet up and do fun activities. However, I will never forget going on mission trips with my group. I had the most amazing experiences. Going to help build houses in New Orleans after hurricane katrina and learning how to make adobe in New Mexico, I can certainly say that these experiences have changed my life. It felt good spending time with my group, but it felt even better knowing that I was helping others while having fun. I would never trade any of these experiences for anything in the world. Cameron House is a great place to be. You meet great people. Have a great time. 5 stars do not even come close to describing how great Cameron House is. read more

An awesome place that's been around forever. Excellent youth/mentor ship programs, fantastic social services program to assist those in need. I've participated and my sons are active participants. A rare breed of faith based help in a non-judgemental setting. read more

I must say be careful when introducing your child to Cameron House, it's quite possible they will never want to leave! My parents grew up in the Cameron House community and introduced me to it during my freshman year of high school. While I was nervous at first, I found Cameron House to be welcoming place that fostered my growth in a well nurtured environment. I participated in two of their programs; Friday Night Club and the summer day camp program, both of which are fantastic. Let me break it down for you. Friday Night Club is opened to children grades 6th - 12th and it's led by college graduates (and beyond). Here you get to hang out with friends in your age group with activities ranging from exploring the city in safe environment, playing games that emphasis social skills, playing new and exciting games, and actively participating in community service. It's a great way to meet new people and to spend your Friday nights away from the keyboard. From my own personal experience, I've made lasting friends from this program and we continue to hang out even though we've graduated from the program 5 years ago. The Summer Day Camp Program is divided into two parts: a day camp for children K- 8th grade and a volunteer leadership program for young adults 9th - 12th grade. Lead by an experienced coordinator, these young adults create curriculum that is engaging and exciting for the young participants. As a leader you learn how to interact appropriately with children and to develop skills in leadership, thinking on one's feet, and creativity. As a child you get exposed to all types of games, critical thinking activities, field trips, cookouts, and learning opportunities all while building friendships that carry on way after the camp has ended. This program also ends with an annual trip to Westminster woods where your child has a chance to get away from the city life and experience a trip like no other. I would go on to list everything that Cameron House has taught me but the list is far too long to put on a Yelp review. tl;dr sign up your kid for one of these amazing programs and watch how much they learn and grow! read more

My kids love and enjoy the Cameron House programs. They look forward to returning each and every year!

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!!! What an awesome summer program, my kids have been going to Cameron House since they were in 5th grade and now one of them is going to high school next year. This program is especially good if you grew up in the city and have moved out to the urbs to raise your family and would like for your kids to experience living and being in the SF. That's what happen to me, I grew up in the city and really enjoyed everything that the city has to offer. I tell you, after living in the city for 30 plus years and I still learn something from my kids about the city. It's an all summer program, leaders are high school, college students and people who wants to give back to the city. Your children will ride in the public transportation to (parks, beach, academy of science, zoo, museums, and some of them even go on camp grounds in the city and learn about the wild. Also, when your child is ready for high school, they have a problem to train them to become leaders. These kids will learn leadership skills at a very early age. Gotta say they need to have more other nationalities in the program as they are really heavy on "ABC" american born chinese... I can use one word to describe their programs .. "AWESOME" oh, I for got about family night, this is a night of great fun for all, all the kids each group will create their own play and perform to their parents.. "PUBLIC SPEAKING" too at a early age.. read more

I grew up spending summers and Friday nights at Cameron House, and owe all of my confidence and leadership skills to my friends and mentors there. Now my kids go to summer daycamp (Summer Ventures) and my younger one, very shy and reserved, came home from his first day and said, "I had the best day ever!" Normally, he absolutely hates trying new things. I love how the kids come back year after year to the summer and Friday night programs. For me, these were my closest and best friends, and I hope that Cameron House will provide a community unique to anything else my kids will experience. Ventures leaders receive a full week of training every year, and the ratio of leaders to kids can't be found anywhere else. You know these leaders are committed, as they are all volunteers, most of whom went through the youth programs themselves. My son is already planning on volunteering his summers as a leader when he is old enough (he's 8). They spend their days outdoors, at the park and other venues around the city. They play games, have community building activities, do crafts, cookouts, etc. They have been especially receptive to communicating with me regarding my food allergic children. For many of these kids, Cameron House will be their first experience at overnight camping at various local sites like Kirby Cove at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge, and Rob Hill in the Presidio. They learn to be polite (eg. quiet on the bus) and treat others with respect. They learn cooperation, trust, and teamwork. And they learn how to spend long summer days with other kids and nature, instead of in front of the tv and video games. I can't say more about how Cameron House changed my life. Giving my children a similar experience is a gift I now share with my children. read more

Cameron House is a faith based community organization serving the local Chinatown and Tenderloin communities and beyond. The center offers social services such as family counseling and several youth programs which I have particpated in such as summer daycamp and the Friday night youth group. There are multiple opportunities for children and young people to play, learn, and grow physically, socially, and spiritually, from volunteering for community service to playing on the basketball teams to working as a summer daycamp coordinator. read more

my experience with Cameron House was priceless. as a teenager in high school, i had nothing to do over summer break. a few of my friends who were already a part of CH (as we called it) couldn't stop talking about how much fun they had there not only as summer camp counselors, but also in the CLUB program. a friend and i decided to join as part time summer camp counselors to break the monotony of being summer time couch potatoes. first, let me say that the people at Cameron House are super warm and inviting. there was never a moment i felt like i wasn't welcome or stared at for being the "new girl." everybody was super accepting which made jumping right in very easy. there's a huge sense of community and camaraderie within all aspects of CH. i also noticed that lots of people had been a part of CH for years and years. whether they were the first in their family to join or they had a family history of participation in CH, people just loved to be a part of it all. and i couldn't blame them, after a while, it felt like home. as a summer camp counselor you really grow a lot as a person. it teaches you teamwork when you partner with other counselors to make up new games or lessons. you have to work together cohesively in order to keep tens of children of varying ages in order and sharing the same park. and lest forget working as a unit to keep all of those kids safe and together on those Muni bus rides through the city during crowded hours. counseling encourages creativity as you have to find ways to entertain and teach children in a way in which they are having fun at the same time. counseling also inherently makes you a more responsible person overall. it also makes you feel like you have a purpose and are a part of shaping people's lives (even if just for a summer). but enough about what counseling gives you. counseling is also a LOT of fun. you spend your day playing games that you thought you'd left behind in your adolescence. tag, red rover, etc. sometimes there's a bbq and sometimes there are sleepovers. it's all an invaluable experience. ironically, Club is sort of similar to summer camp, except think of it as a youth group or something of the like. you're separated into age groups by grade and essentially hang out with the people in your group. like the summer camp, you play games and plan activities. you even have Club leaders. but the difference here is that you, as a whole group plan things to do together. you meet every friday and sort of just build a friendship with these people over time. you share in something that not everybody gets to be a part of. Club also brings a sense of camaraderie. lots of lifelong friendships are built through Club. my group was called S.A.C.R.E.D. and we were AWESOME! lots of lessons are learned as well. some of my most fun life moments happened at club and i wouldn't trade that time for anything. so whether you want to become a summer camp leader, join Club, or put your children in one of Cameron House's many programs, know that the people behind it are legit. they're all in it for the sole purpose of building a better community and whatever your role/your kid's role is in Cameron House, they are guaranteed to build a ton of character, learn to work as a team, and experience a positive time in their lives that they'll never forget. p.s. i just hung out with one of the S.A.C.R.E.D. guys and another person i met at CH is now my roommate! read more

One of the best summer programs in san francisco. it is not expensive and i have been there in 2007 and 2008 summer but now i am too old so i have to be a leader. from my expirience it is really fun and they take you to many places. cameron house is also haunted :P read more

I had the most wonderful time volunteering at the Annual Cameron House Carnival this May. In the time that I've spent in San Francisco, I've met so many wonderful people who have roots at Cameron House. While perusing through their website, I've learned about their long-standing commitment to supporting and helping the under-served communities in Chinatown as well as residents of other neighborhoods in SF. Having an outstanding character and integrity seems to be a commonality of all those I've come to know from CH, which I believe is a testament to the wonderful morals and ethics that this program promotes. I believe that Cameron House is a great institution, and I wish I had the opportunity to grow up in a positive and nurturing environment like the one that CH provides. However, I am glad to have come to know so many wonderful people who grew up with the influence of Cameron House and their wonderful mission. read more

I was very active in the Cameron House program in the late 60's until the late 70's. I joined initially as a club member, primarily to meet girls, but learned as the years went by that there was much more to Cameron House than that. Through the summer day camp program and Friday night club, I learned to put my faith in God into action. That summer, working side by side with my co-daycamp leader and caring for our group of 15 boys, was a summer where our patience was constantly being tested along with long hours. But, we got through it and we're forever better people because of it. I can honestly say that those were some of the most memorable summers I have ever experienced in my life. Even though I don't get to Cameron House often, I still have fond memories of "CH" that will live on and the life long friendships that were made. I firmly believe in the work that Cameron House does today in the community and continue to support it financially. I would encourage all those that have school age children to send their kids to their youth program. I am now married, have two adult children and have lived in San Jose for over thirty five years. My hope is that our children were able to get a taste of the Cameron House way of life through my wife and I. BTW, I did meet my soulmate at Cameron House. :-) read more

I started going to Cameron House back in 2005 as an 8th grader because a friend brought me and ever since that first day I continued to go back every friday for club. Not only did I attend club, I became a summer leader for every year of my high school career. I absolutely loved it and found such a joy and reward in volunteering and going to club. I made so many friends who now today are my second family. Cameron House helped me shape and figure out who I truly was and I am so thankful that my friend brought me. As a summer leader I learned a lot about leadership, patience, and working with other people and during friday night club I got to hangout with people my age and grade and do activities, play games, and plan for trips/events such as the mission trip my group took to Boston. Cameron House offers so much and is such a great place to be. Not only is it fun but it is a great learning experience whether you are a camp kid, leader, or just a friday night club attendee. read more

Great programming for all. Older kids, aka "daycamp leaders", get a real opportunity to give back to the community and to learn great life lessons. Younger kids, aka "campers," get a chance to enjoy GGPark, cook outs, field trips, and MUNI!! I love the emphasis on service learning and building community --- especially with kids that have different backgrounds and family histories. I also love that they spend time in Chinatown --- not as tourists, but as kids of the neighborhood. We send our kids to Cameron Daycamp every summer to reinforce our cultural ties to Chinatown, and to the Asian community! read more

Grew up going to CH. Many fond memories and friends. I wish a program like this was available to my kids on the peninsula.