Best area summer camp!…read more Camp Crystal, run by the Alachua County School Board, gives Alachua County kids the opportunity to attend a semi local sleep away camp. Area parents will love the shortness of the sessions (Sunday- Friday for one week campers, or Sunday- the following Friday for two week campers.), the short drive there (30-55 minutes depending where you live in Gainesville), and the lower cost (under $600 a child.) Kids will love the beautiful grounds, fun atmosphere, and the awesome classes (kayaking, paddle boarding, water sports, wake boarding, art, frisbee, newspaper, soccer, lacrosse, yoga, and so much more!) Because it is such a desirable summer camp, registration is not easy. Those who have attended a session can continue attending that session without much effort (with just a commitment and later payment) vs others (first time registrants or those looking to change sessions) who must be online at a precise moment and move quickly to try and snag the few available spots. Registering for the first time can be a stressful hassle, but it's absolutely worth it! Once your kids have attended this camp, you 100% understand why everyone is so desperate to have their kids attend. My daughter just completed her fifth year, while my son just completed his second year. Both absolutely loved it! My husband and I enjoyed the short week of no kids life, but loved being able to see and hear how they are doing through the Camp Minder email system, and the photos published nightly. Camp Crystal is truly the perfect taste of sleep away camp for us lucky enough to live in Alachua County!

one of the nicest summer camp's in the area…read more nice cabins nice counselors nice grounds, layout, and lake

Our experience with Camp Laurel South has been incredibly positive in many ways. Our two daughters…read morehave gained independence, confidence and life-long friendships there. Roger and Dagni care genuinely about each camper; they truly love and support each of their "children" at camp. The staff members are professional, always smiling, cheering and hugging. Their enthusiasm and spirit is contagious. Our children became better tennis players at camp, their swimming skills improved and their endurance levels climbed; but more importantly, they developed new passions, friends for life, and an incredible sense of spirit and adventure that I know will never fade. The variety of activities on A and B days is diverse, and always improving; from sports to arts, nature to science, cooking to fishing, there is something for every type of child. The field trips are highlights, the food is delicious, and the facilities are breathtaking. Camp Laurel South is a magical place that exposed our children to experiences and friendships that simply cannot be replaced. Best parenting decision we've made!

From the owner: Camp Laurel South is a private, co-ed summer camp located in Maine…read more 200 boys and 200 girls attend each four-week session during the summer to learn, laugh, play, make friends and have a great time! Children come from all over the country and enjoy a full spectrum of activities in a family environment featuring more than 40 programs in six core areas: Athletics, Waterfront, Inter Arts, Tennis, Adventure, Equestrian.

Love this place my daughter went last year for the 2week July 4th session and she had a blast and…read moremet some really awesome friends, this place is the real deal you sleep in what looks like little houses but it's more like a screened in porch so you get the experience of real camping without the mosquitoes and the girls are completely unplugged. Sending my daughter back this summer as her request she wants everything just like last summer, and this year her little sister wants to go too

From the owner: Are you looking for a dynamic Christian camp for girls in North Florida featuring a fantastic…read moreaccredited equestrian program? Dovewood is one of the top summer camps for girls where each camper has fun, develops self- confidence and grows spiritually, physically and mentally while selecting from over 24 activities to enjoy.

Scouting is in my blood- I love nature, kids almost always love me & I am not afraid to get dirty!…read moreI am a new volunteer to this council and this was my first time at one of our local camps, located in Orange Park, this camp had to be here long before any of the neighborhoods! Great waterfront access & there is a pool. A climbing tower! I didn't explore too much- there was a leader training I was popping in to show my support for a friend who was teaching the course. She was set up in campsite 8 and unfortunately the campsites need some serious maintenance- poison ivy is overgrown in most of the sites! Fire pits have not been raked and cleaned. In my old council, our Order of the Arrow helped the Camp Rangers every year to clean up and do service around the camps. I have no idea if that is done here, but it needs some tlc. I can't wait to see more of this camp!

I lived next door for years but today was my first experience at the Boy Scout owned facility…read more Founded in the early 1920's the large parcel of land has 8 huge campsites and several halls. It has a sparling blue pool that is next to the beautiful waterfront area and dock. I saw a a chery area and even a climbing wall. The place was well kept up and the restrooms were clean. Great place for fun activities. For the kids and family.

This is a great program and kids would love the summer camp. Kids build confidence and learn so…read moremuch.

From the owner: Get ready for a fun-filled summer where creativity takes center stage! Campers will build…read moreconfidence, make new friends, and explore imagination through engaging drama games, acting activities, and performances. Perfect for all experience levels, this camp is all about expression, laughter, and unforgettable memories.

My 10-year-old has been enrolled at Urban Youth Park for several months now, and he absolutely…read moreloves it! He's really into parkour, and the weekly program gives him a great mix of structured learning and active play. The instructors are friendly and knowledgeable, and I appreciate that they break the kids into smaller groups of about eight, which helps keep things more manageable. That said, with so many kids in the gym at once, it can get a bit chaotic. The instructors rotate frequently, which makes it harder to track individual progress, but on the plus side, it means my son gets to learn from different coaching styles. The staff is on the younger side, but they bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm, which keeps the kids engaged. One thing I really like is how they change up the course and layout every week and focus on different themes to keep things fresh and exciting. Overall, it's been a great experience, and my son always looks forward to going. A little more consistency with coaching would be nice, but if your kid is into parkour, this is a great place to train and have fun! They also offer a paid trial class and fee for open gym if you're interested in checking it out. They also have themed special events such as Fortnite Night, Minecraft, Ninja Warrior Night, etc. They also offer options for camp and focused clinics.

My kid loves coming to his mini ninja class! He looks forward to it all week and it's such great…read moreexercise. The coaches have all been really great, especially Coach Addison and Coach Nick. They are all very patient with my 4 year old son and work hard to keep the kids safe. The facilities look well kept and clean, especially from all the classes they have. This is a place I hope to bring my children to for a long time!

I strongly caution any parent considering Castle Brook Academy. The environment often felt…read morestressful rather than nurturing, and some staff interactions with children were rough or inappropriate. Screens and videos are used everyday with children of all ages, including infants. The facility does not have cameras, making it hard to know what's happening throughout the day. Since transferring my kids to a different daycare, their entire demeanors have changed. My heart aches seeing how much my children are thriving in a healthy environment now. I only wish I had realized sooner how harmful Castle Brook really was.

We love everyone at Castle Brook and are glad we found them. Ms. Stephanie and Ms. Eisha are so…read morewelcoming, friendly and helpful every time we arrive. Ms. Peggy and Ms. Nora are great with the VPK4 kids. Both are great with fostering an amazing learning environment while encouraging the kids to have fun together. I was able to witness Ms. Peggy and Ms. Stephanie handle a behavior issue with my child and both were very firm yet loving while helping my child understand the appropriate and expected behavior in the future. Ms. Pam is always friendly and does a great job with preparing great meals for all of the kids. We would recommend Castle Brook for anyone that is looking any of the childcare services they provide.