I took the 4-hour stepping stone mosaic class with my 10-year old niece and we both had a lot of…read morefun. First time, taking any class at the Alameda Art Lab but not a newbie to mosaics or the arts. I used to be quite artsy and crafty back in the day and now, it seems like a luxury to find time to do something creative and take a break from adulting! All supplies of cutters, nippers, stepping stone and glass provided with a quick introduction to using the tools with some guidance and instruction to start your art piece. JaYing, the friendly and patient owner/instructor will walk around to assist if needed, check your progress and guide you to ensure you get your item complete. Item is left for grouting and student called when ready. A great class to bond with a friend(s) or family and make a day to get in creative mode and have fun. Personally, it allowed me to take time to enjoy something I really love as I find art very therapeutic along with spending time with my niece. The time flies by... :) The Alameda Art Lab offers a variety of classes from stained glass, mosaics, glass fusing and jewelry making and other fun things. Items are available for purchase for yourself or as a gift. Highly recommend trying out a class!

I absolutely love this place! Both my kids have attended summer camps here and my husband and I are…read moreregulars in her stained glass class on Wednesday eve. JaYing got me my start in stained glass and now I can't get enough! Plus, the community here is wonderful- you can meet some really nice people .

I just can't say enough positive things about Ozzy and his Music Academy. I am so grateful that my…read morechildren landed in such a welcoming and supportive container for them to explore and get comfortable with music and many different instruments. Ozzy is a true visionary in his way of teaching and somehow leads the kids to see the inner rock star inside of them, fearless and powerful. It has been a joy to see my kids perform and with Ozzy's guidance my daughter now writes songs and has even performed at Alameda's Got Talent! Her confidence is soaring~what a gift! I would say to any parent in the Alameda or Bay Area, treat your child to the best music school in the Bay, your child will learn a lot more than music, they will learn inner confidence, breathing techniques and gratitude. Thank you Ozzy and staff!

My son Kailo did the summer camp few weeks ago and he absolutely loove it!! Ozzy and the all team…read moreare amazing! The kids get to try so many instruments, the environment, the level of knowledge of the instructors create a phenomenal learning experience for the kids. We registered Kailo to the kids band classes twice a week and he comes home practicing naturally every night! Every morning he is asking me when he will go to class! He has new friends and we are so fascinated by how Kailo become so passionate about music !! We are so thankful and grateful to have met Ozzy!! He changed Kailo's life!! Thank you so much Ozzy and the all team we greatly appreciate your FUN and intense work!

Working at Gaia Guides Kids Camp is hands down the best way to spend a summer! During the school…read moreyear, I teach art and yoga, so getting outside and exploring the Bay with a bunch of energetic, curious kids is such a refreshing change of pace. There's nothing like teaching them how to paddle or kayak and seeing their faces light up when they get the hang of it--or when they inevitably start a splash fight! This job is the perfect mix of fun, nature, and getting kids to unplug and just be kids. Whether we're paddling, playing games, or just soaking up the outdoors, it's so cool to watch them connect with the world around them and with each other. If you love working with kids and want to spend your summer outside (seriously, what's better than sunshine and water?), Gaia Guides is the place to be. Every day feels like an adventure, and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

My kids and I went to a Tuesday night family paddle night. All of us had such a fun time. The…read moreinstruction was great, the guides were all so nice and encouraging. We have all paddled before but still learned so much. We will definitely be signing up again.

Summer 2025 the staff seemed unqualified to be working with children as they were mostly children…read morethemselves. I am sure the pay scale is low because it was all teenagers teaching my Johnny. I was nervous leaving him every time because it all seemed unprofessional. We will be looking elsewhere next summer.

This was a pretty disappointing experience. We tried this camp for the first time this summer…read more We're pulling our kids out early and will not be returning. The most minor problem is that "because of COVID" they're asking all kids to register as if they were in last year's grade, not the grade they will be in at the end of the summer. I don't think most parents followed this instruction. Thus, my 10 year old is in a group with absolutely no kids his age. When I brought up my concern, I was told there was no way to fix this. My older kid has been bored out of his mind. My younger kid has spent the week thus far being bullied by another camper. This other camper has kissed a girl without her consent, filmed this same girl on his phone without her consent, kicked my kid in his shins, and in numerous other ways physically assaulted him. This has occurred all week. On Thursday, at 11:53am I had to step out of an incredibly important work meeting to take a call from the camp. They informed me that this problematic camper was getting into it with my son and they wanted me to talk to my son about staying away from him. When I spoke to the camp director, she told me she wasn't aware my son had been hit repeatedly by this other kid. And she didn't feel she had the ability to keep them separate. Needless to say, my husband is on the way to retrieve both of my kids because we're concerned about their health and wellbeing. They will not return for the last day of camp. All and all, this was a total waste of money. I was nervous they weren't safe all week, and today my fears were confirmed. They cannot keep kids safe and healthy, therefore, we will not be returning for the last day of camp.

We reserved the Busy Bee space for a 3-year old's birthday party, and it was perfect. The place is…read morevery clean, has a ton of activity options for small kids. There is a separate room to serve snacks, drinks, and cake; bathroom is clean and convenient.

I hosted a birthday party for a toddler at Busy Bee. Would definitely recommend! A couple of things…read morethat stood out: - Booking/ planning/ prepping all went without a hitch - The play area is great, fun, and spacious. The party room where you would have food/ drinks is right nearby, so it's super easy to monitor kids and transition from one are to another (unlike other places where party room is more disconnected from play) - the center is located in a large shopping area. Which meant easy parking for guests and tons of options to order snacks/ food etc nearby so you wouldn't have to lugg stuff from home - I called several similar places in East Bay, and Busy Bee was by far the most uncomplicated wrt managing guest lists, number of attendees etc. Most importantly: kids LOVED it and were super tuckered out after that!

My little one just joined, and I had the chance to sit in and observe. Right away, I noticed all…read morethe kids were truly living their best lives. You can clearly see how much they love and respect Mrs. Dee. My daughter jumped right in and instantly felt at home, which meant everything to me. If you're looking for someone who genuinely cares about the children in the community and pours her heart into what she does, you've come to the right place. It's an amazing environment, and your little one will absolutely love it!

My kids have loved being a part of the fall and spring musicals with Mrs. D. I'd highly recommend…read morethese classes for kids getting started with and expanding their theater experience.

AYN seems like a great outdoor day camp. Our 6 and 9 year old daughters went to the President's…read moreWeek camp near Krusi Park. They enjoyed spending the week outdoors, at the park and in the camp's backyard. From what they told me about their days (which is never much), they played a lot of group games, and enjoyed the trampoline and feeding the animals. They seemed worn out (in a good way) at the end of the day, but not too tired from sun exposure like at other outdoor camps that they've attended. We've signed the kids up for Water Week and Survival Skills Camps in the summer, which the kids are very excited about!

Super happy to share an awesome review after the camp we had our kids in. The counselors were…read moreexcellent, the space is perfect for kids, and the only reason why our kids were sad is because they wanted to spend more time there!

Our Three Years at YYY -- A Full Journey Review…read more This review reflects our complete experience watching our son grow from a shy two-year-old into a confident, bilingual kindergartener, all within the walls of YYY. Choosing the School When we began touring preschools in Alameda, YYY stood out immediately. We loved the structure -- the cleanliness, the balance of learning and play, and the Montessori-based approach. The fact that they conduct live scan background checks on all hires gave us added peace of mind. Our only hesitation was the bilingual curriculum. Neither my husband nor I speak Mandarin -- we're an English-only household -- and at two years old, our son wasn't talking much yet. We worried that introducing a second language might confuse him. Still, something about YYY felt right, and we decided to take the leap. Year One -- Group 1: Finding His Footing When our son started at YYY, he had just turned two. He was still in diapers, not very vocal, and still getting steady on his feet. The first three months were the hardest. Every morning brought tears -- he didn't want to be dropped off, and it was the first time he'd ever been away from home in a care setting. By month three, however, something shifted. The crying stopped, and in its place, we began to see a little boy growing more independent and comfortable each day. The first year, we measured success differently. It wasn't about academics -- it was about care. Were the kids safe? Were they being guided toward potty training? Were they learning to feed themselves, follow simple directions, and transition between routines? On every count, YYY delivered. Our son became especially fond of his teacher, Ms. Emily, and that bond told us everything we needed to know about the warmth in that classroom. Year Two -- Group 2: The Emotional Roller Coaster Around the time our son turned three, Ms. Emily pulled us aside with exciting news: he was ready to be potty-trained. We were thrilled. We reinforced the process at home, and within a short time, he was fully trained. Shortly after, he moved up to Group 2, where Mandarin learning began in earnest with Ms. Du and Ms. Chen. At three-and-a-half, a new challenge emerged. Our son was struggling to manage his emotions -- when he didn't get what he wanted, he had a hard time expressing himself, likely because he was still working on his verbal communication. We found ourselves questioning again: was the bilingual environment too much for him? Were we doing the right thing? But the teachers met him exactly where he was. They worked with him patiently -- teaching him to speak up, take a breath, drink some water, and step away to calm down. We mirrored these strategies at home, and gradually, the tantrums gave way to something better: self-regulation. The turning point came in October. The kids were asked to talk about their Halloween costumes in both Mandarin and English, and when we watched the video of our son confidently describing his costume in both languages, we were genuinely amazed. We checked in with Ms. Du, who reassured us: he understood Mandarin well -- he might not always speak it aloud, but he could follow along and even sing songs. That was enough for us to commit. We stayed, and we're so glad we did. By age four, our son was singing songs in Mandarin, making friends, managing his feelings, and coming home to tell us about his day. Year Three -- Group 3: Exponential Growth The final year at YYY brought it all together. The focus shifted toward English readiness for kindergarten, and the growth we witnessed was nothing short of remarkable. One of our most memorable moments came when the kids performed on stage at a church. Our son -- the same boy who once cried every morning at drop-off -- stood up there without a trace of stage fright, belting out a Mandarin song at the top of his lungs, complete with all the dance moves he'd learned from Ms. Pearlie, Ms. Du, and Ms. Chen. My husband and I looked at each other in disbelief, the proudest we'd ever been. The rest of the year unfolded in the same beautiful way: daily journal writing, reading his first books, learning to count, drawing, coloring, and deepening his bonds with every teacher and assistant in the school. The graduation performance was the crown jewel -- every child had memorized speeches in both English and Mandarin and performed choreographed dances with joy and confidence. Talking with the other parents that day, it was clear we all felt the same thing: these teachers had given our children something extraordinary. Not just academic skills, but a foundation -- emotionally, socially, and linguistically -- that will carry them far. We couldn't be more grateful for everything YYY gave our son, and our family.

Our son has been going to the after school program since TK and he loves the STEAM program (STEM +…read moreART)! He enjoys the van ride from Bay Farm to the big island with the other kids and now that he's in K, he spends about 2-3 hours after school there - playing with new and old friends, learning more coding, math, reading, and science and experimenting with art methods. It definitely fills in the gaps of public school with the stronger focus on academics. We are very happy with his progress. And of course, he loves his STEAM teachers, Ms. Yuan and Ms. Jamila, as well as the coding, art and math teachers (Mr. Francisco, Mr. Patrick, Ms. Emily, etc.). That being said, this school isn't for everyone and parents have to be open to finding the right school for their child (which can change over time). For our family, I appreciate that this school respects the learning environment best for kids who are ready and motivated to learn on their own. This means that the kids are ready to learn and appreciate the lessons prepared (not yelling, standing on tables, napping, or other disruptive behavior), responsible/sensible to sit in a van full of kids and listen to the teacher, get along and be respectful to others, etc. To keep the kids on schedule with the van and different subjects requires tremendous patience, planning and care from the teachers, staff (Mr. Long) and Director Sunny - we appreciate you! If your kids can focus and manage at YY, they can sit through movies, dinners, airplane rides, etc. - self-managed discipline is what I appreciate the most. The staff communicates well in advance and also is very responsive and accommodating (e.g. if I have to pick up early, miss school, have another parent pickup, etc.). They also have parent-teacher conferences twice a year with a newsletter about your child's class with photos. Also, when we first signed up for TK when my child was 4, I was worried about the transportation, but that's one of the best part that our kid looks forward to when he goes to YY with his friends - it's safe and the van is there early for pickups (and the fee is very economical for us working parents!). We also have friends in the Mandarin program whose parents are very impressed with their children's language and writing skills and enjoy their class performances! We also have a friend who moved their child here due to allergies. Our kid also has a mild allergy and Yuying is very good about keeping everyone safe with allergies (making sure there's no nuts in anyone's lunchbox, no sharing, educating kids about allergies and keeping everyone safe, etc.) and also keeping up with the parents for updated EpiPens and meds.

Love this place! I was looking for a camp for my kiddos during Thanksgiving Week and found Kids…read moreElite Club. They had great offerings and were more affordable than other options. When I signed my kids up, I added that I had a few concerns since my kids have special needs, and the staff were very understanding and communicative. My kids had a great time here--they baked, did arts and crafts, baked, etc. The camp is located across the street from a park, so they had plenty of outside time. After the camp ended, I even received a Google photo album with pictures of my kids. Really appreciate the extra touch!

Our daughter has been going to after school at Kids Elite since the start of the school year and…read moreshe has nothing but good things to say about her experience. In fact, she looks forward to going and is most excited for Wednesday's where she has more time here and consistently asks to be picked up late every day. The tech class, cooking class, and more provide such a fun learning environment. Kiki, Caesar, and team provide a great space for curious minds, all while having structure, discipline, and fun.

10 stars if I could add more stars here. My kids have been attending Alameda Community Sailing…read moreCenter's summer camp for years and it's honestly the highlight of their entire summer (and maybe the whole year). They're obsessed in the best way possible. Rain or shine, windy or calm, they wake up excited to hit the water. They started when they were 7 and 10 and 3 summers later they still love love love it! I pick them up and they jump in the car excited to tell me all about their sailing adventures on the water. The instructors are phenomenal and super knowledgeable, kind, encouraging, and safety-focused without being overly rigid. You can tell they genuinely love sailing and want to pass that passion on. My kids come home beaming, sun-kissed, full of stories, and with way more confidence than when they started. And let's talk life skills...this camp teaches independence, teamwork, problem-solving, resilience, and respect for nature, all while they're having an absolute blast on the water. It's not just a camp, it's a community. My kids have made real friendships here and look forward to reuniting with their "sailing crew" every year. We feel lucky to have ACSC in our lives. If you're even thinking about signing up just do it. Your kids will thank you, and you'll be amazed at how much they grow (and how fast they learn to sail!). My son (now 12) and I rented a Feva boat (12 foot boat) this past weekend and he took ME sailing out on that gorgeous bay. This place is a total gem.

Our 13 yo son just finished his 5th year of sailing and he still loves it. It's all day working…read morewith another sailor planning a goal, assessing risk, going for it, trouble shooting, dealing with challenges and failure and working together to get back on track and successfully navigating to your goal. Feeling the breeze in your hair, going fast and getting wet. Last year he sailed to Treasure Island, I couldn't believe it! This year he sailed to SFO. There's always a motor boat nearby. The teens though have to make most decisions on their own and execute their plan. My son said he felt like he conquered something looking at the map and seeing how far he went. He gained a confident understanding of his ability to learn and apply his skills to a challenge that he had previously thought was out of reach.