We had our child go to camp here and he came back so happy to discuss what happened. He learned so…read moremuch and was excited to tell me about it. We decided to then have his younger brother's birthday party there and it was the easiest birthday party I've ever thrown. All I did was order pizza and have it delivered to the place. Was such a great experience

After a number of years, our family we will not be returning to Stemful…read more This decision is based on my recent interaction with David. During the first day of a holiday camp, the front door was unfortunately vandalized. Not their fault! Was is in their control is how they handled it. 1. We received no communication about the incident until we arrived for drop off. They should have sent an email as soon as they discovered the vandalism so we don't show up in person! 2. When I did arrive for drop off, I asked about the status of the glass replacement, code compliance, and timing for completion. The questions I asked were reasonable and directly tied to safety and planning as a working parent. Instead of receiving clear information or empathy, I was met with condescension and a dismissive attitude. At no point was there acknowledgment of the very real constraints families are navigating--jobs, schedules, and the need for reliable, high-quality educational programs like the ones Stemful provides. The conversation centered almost entirely on David's personal stress in managing the situation, rather than on transparent communication with parents who are impacted by it. He essentially told me to go away and stop asking questions. 3. When I called back later to inquire about the status of the glass, he doubled down on his attitude, said "aren't you the person that was here before?" and demanded the name of my camper so we can "get this taken care of". It was incredibly threatening in language and tone and I didn't even feel comfortable giving my child's name. While we eventually got a refund, I'm not confident that me or my camper will be treated with respect and care in David's presence.

This school is amazing! The warm, welcoming director and staff are really offering an excellent…read morefirst school experience to our 2 yr. old granddaughter. The care and detail in the program is exemplary!

We have been so happy with our experience at Peekadoodle! The teachers and staff are so warm and…read morewelcoming and genuinely care about all of the children. I had no idea what I was doing when it came to finding the right preschool. But after having one conversation with the amazing director, Stef, I knew this would be a great fit. Our son started at Peekadoodle when he was about to turn 3 and the change in him over the past 2 years has been remarkable. His vocabulary and social skills exploded and his little (big) personality really started to shine. He loves all of the teachers and staff so much and really looks forward to school. He surprises us almost daily with the things he's learned! I've also been lucky enough to meet some amazing friends in the parents and staff. We'll be sad when our son is done with his time at Peekadoodle but luckily we're having another one so we get to start over. At least we have their preschool figured out!

My son started volunteering with Sky Kids as a junior counselor for a few camps and then in the…read moresummer from 8th to 9th grade wanted to work as many weeks of camp as he could. He is planning to join in the fun again this summer. He really loved the staff, kids and activities. Miranda and Shelly, the leaders of Sky Kids, treat the JC's with respect and they get to enjoy many outings and adventures. They also learned about being responsible, on-time and reliable. All good things. Would you believe that one night I heard from a 13 yr old, "...Mom, I have to get to bed early. Those kids wore me out today and I am working again tomorrow. It's a lot of responsibility, you know." Highly recommend Sky Kids and I heard they are going to begin an after-school program too. I'm sure it will be a success as well.

Our 5 year old had a wonderful time at Sky Kids camp this summer! I asked him to rate the camp on a…read morescale of 1 - 10, and he told me enthusiastically: "Mom, it's a 30!" He attended the Sky Bots and Paper Art camps. Every day was filled with fun projects (that I'd never dare to do at home for the mess they would create), as well as memorable outdoor adventures. They explored different playgrounds every day - from Rossi to Mountain Lake to Alta Plaza. And yet...my son never came back sunburnt! This is a testament to the fantastic staff of counselors and supervisors. In wrap up conversations at the end of the day, I felt they understood him even after a day or two of interactions. Would highly recommend this camp for the content and the culture.

I am immensely grateful to Katherine and Caroline and their wonderful colleagues for contributing…read moreso strongly and positively to my son's development in every way. Perhaps I can explain it best like this: when I pick him up at the end of an afternoon session, I'd expect him to be cranky and exhausted, like with everything else! But the opposite is true. He is ruddy-cheeked, bright-eyed, dirty, happy, energized, peaceful. This program installs more confidence, courage, and sense of capability than anything else he does. Not to mention nourishing a deep curiosity about nature and wonder and awe. For a kid that grows up in a city, I know instinctively that this kind of program feels necessary for his little human body and soul. I am a cheerleader for these women and their amazing program. One of the best parts is the intimate nature of the program, the facilitators really know, respect, and nurture your child. It is a small ratio much of the time. My son loves his teachers. They listen to him intently, are cheerful, and guide him expertly. And in return he shows them his very best self. It is really amazing. I still can't get over how he doesn't whine about anything here. It's his happy place. And he always has creations he is excited about and brings home. He even tried to guide us on his own hike to share with us his caring creatives experiences, and be a leader! He also surprises my husband and I already by his knowledge of science - botany, for example. We are constantly delighted with the myriad benefits of this program, and I have a strong feeling we are doing him (and our family) a lifelong favor by this early connection to nature in a safe, nurturing environment. My daughter turns 3 this summer and she is soooo excited to go to "cweeatives." She knows what a special place it is. It is a lot of money to spend, and I gulp at it, admittedly, but we know it is possibly the best money we spend. The expense is the only con, however. It is convenient drop off-pick up, facebook posts with pictures of every session, newsletters - even an amazing mothers day card! the program-home connection is so well nurtured, so kudos to the Coleman sisters for understanding how important it is for parents to be connected to what goes on. What your child will gain is immeasurable. We are so grateful.

I first stumbled upon Caring Creatives a few years ago in the Presidio, when my son was…read more2-going-on-3. That summer, he was getting a little restless as we attended many of the activities intended for kids his age, all of which still required parent participation (which I understand). When I saw this small group of kids enjoying the outdoors with 1 or even 2 group leaders who really had them engaged and totally under control, I asked what they were all about. After checking out their website and learning even more about their offerings, I vowed to enroll my son as soon as he was 3 and potty trained (those are the requirements)! That first summer, we started with 3-hour day camp - just the right amount of time for the average 3-year-old. He was tentative at first (he's not the type to dive into new situations - especially not when he was younger). The group leader at that time, Vanessa, was sooooo sweet. She helped him feel safe in this first "away from Mommy/Daddy" activity, and helped him discover many joys of the outdoors. It wasn't all smooth - he didn't want to potty either outside or inside (there are "proper" bathroom opportunities, as I understand it) - but they were patient with him and I really appreciated what this program was exposing him to. I continued to re-enroll him for day camps during the school year and summers, working up to the 5-hour day camps, and this summer, the 6-hour camp option. One of the best things about this program for parents is that it is incredibly flexible. Those pesky days off from school that aren't holidays for those of us who work are often saved by Caring Creatives, with very little advance planning on my part. There are so many scheduling options, it really is considerate of different families'needs. The biggest gift from Caring Creatives has been the progression in my son's comfort not only with an outdoor experience that might challenge his tolerance of the "elements" (yes, there have been a few rainy and/or very cold days - dress them appropriately and trust Caring Creatives to take care of the rest); but his flexibility in new environments. This summer, he truly blossomed with Jaclyn and the rest of the leaders. He was so excited to go to camp every day - making new friends and challenging himself physically and creatively. And wouldn't you know, this is the only program I've found that offers camp the week before many of the schools start this year after Labor Day - so we'll be joining them again! Truthfully, it is pricey. And the cancellation policy is a little rigid (many are), though it's never posed a problem for me. But in this environment of camps that are often very restrictive in their offerings (age and otherwise) and not year-round, they really are providing something most others aren't (not to mention, you can check up on what your child really was doing all day by perusing their daily Facebook photo posts). Bravo!

Easiest review I've ever written, if I could give 6 stars, I would. The educators and the school's…read moreapproach to social emotional development is beyond what I could've hoped for my kiddo. Not only is my son developing and flourishing, I am a better parent because of what I have learned. The element of being in the forest is so beautiful and unique. My kiddo was confused at first "how a school could be closed on the weekend if there are no doors" :), but I've grown to really adore the benefits of a fully outdoor school. From pointing out where sour grass is in abundance to spotting dark-eyed junkos, my son has a beautiful appreciation for the natural world around him that is not something that I would've instilled in him. They have a book station, a "mud" kitchen, and sometimes structured art activities (and I can't speak to what they do in the older classes yet), but I love that the majority of their play is imaginative. There is space to run, climb, and explore. The educators really follow the lead of the kids interests too and bring in books, conversation, art within that space. I am grateful to have stumbled upon such a magical, intentional place. It is a community that we are so glad to be a part of and couldn't imagine life without.

Our family couldn't be happier with Spire School, a fully outdoor forest preschool based in the…read morePresidio. Our son has been in pre-school for two years and we've loved the program's play-based, emergent curriculum deeply rooted in nature connection. Our son was timid and introverted when he started this program and it's amazing to see his physical and emotional confidence build through exploring in nature and experiencing the physical range of weather. What most struck me was the growth in the expansiveness of his imagination through the program which was an unexpected outcome. Watching his ability to play imaginatively within the constraints of the nature classrooms has been amazing to watch. I've also been so impressed by the quality of the educators at Spire. Teacher Kristyn, in particular, is so intentional about how she uses the outdoor environment to develop the various components of early childhood education. She's very clear how she uses various parts of the forest to work on fine or gross motor skills, for example, or how she engages the children in various play-based scenarios and activities to work on cognitive function or various interpersonal skills. The school is also very flexible, inclusive and supportive of families. The lack of rigidity in the school has been a huge plus for us. They are very supportive of each child's individuality and focus their time on adapting to each child's unique interests and needs. The school has a very low student to teacher ratio so the level of individualized support and the depth of relationships is wonderful. I feel very grateful to live in a place like San Francisco where the weather allows for a school like this. I figure my son has years of sitting inside at a desk so why not let him spend as much time outside in his early school years as possible. Nature is powerful and healing.

Our 6 year old daughter just completed a 2 week summer camp with Tree Frog Treks at the Christopher…read morePlayground location, and we were very impressed with the entire experience! The camp counselors - Najia, David, and Zita - were awesome. The kids were outdoors and active all day, learning about nature and the environment. Our daughter really enjoyed the field trips to Ocean Beach and Marin. As a 2 working parent family, we also appreciated the 9-5pm full day coverage (the only thing better would be an 8:30am start)! I'd highly recommend this summer camp, and look forward to returning next year.

My 6 yo daughter attended Tree Frog Treks at the McClaren Park location for two weeks this summer…read moreand absolutely loved it! She specifically asked to go to a camp where she could look at bugs, climb trees, and collect leaves all day long-- TFT delivered and then some! My daughter came home every day with a huge smile on her face, messy hair, dirty clothes, and lots of new facts about bugs and animals. It is exactly what you picture when you think of summer camp. The camp is well-organized. Good communication before and during camp sessions. The counselors are incredibly nice and you can tell that they love their jobs. I would happily re-enroll her at TFT next summer. Note: my daughter is fairly independent and responsible for her age. She enjoys imaginative play, makes friends easily, and speaks up when she needs help. Kids who need structure or hand-holding may not do as well in this camp.

I sent my daughter here in summer of 2018 to be a counselor/leader in training at age 12. She…read moremostly enjoyed it. She said that being around the young kids was nice because she could help them and also liked the camp's program. I felt that the camp director was very friendly and personal over the phone, and even gave us a small break on the price along with a discounted lunchtime supervision(20 dollars a day). Lets make no mistake about it, this camp is VERY expensive compared to other camps. it was over 700 dollars for a week just to be out in nature for the whole day, which is more than double of what a camp from the East Bay Regional Parks or even San Francisco Parks and Rec would charge. I wanted to give Linda the benefit of the doubt and just assume it would be a great opportunity for my daughter to learn some leadership skills and have fun, while being close to her mom's house, which I am hoping she did. So here is the reason why only the two stars. I requested via email and over the phone leaving a voicemail that Linda provide some feedback on how the camp went for my daughter. She did not even bother answering my email or calling me back. I would have accepted a simple acknowledgement saying she can not do that but would write something up for a fee, but she did not even have the courtesy to do that. For a camp of this price, I am SHOCKED she didn't even bother to reach out to me. I am not sure this is because my ex wife is African American and that my daughter is mixed but I surely hope not. Linda would also not even provide her tax ID so I had to indicate "would not provide" when doing my taxes. I did not have any verbal exchange between her and me that would warrant any ill feelings so it has troubled me to the point that I am leaving this review for yelpers to see. I would say that this camp seems to be a very enriching camp in the Presidio, but is mostly for the elite upper middle class. It does not offer scholarships or is inclusive to the community of children whose parents may not be able to afford such a high price point of a summer camp. I would research other more affordable camps before choosing this one. In the future, it would also help that Linda communicates just as effectively both before and after the camp has concluded.

My 4 year old son did a week with Nature Nurture in the Presidio this summer and he absolutely…read moreloved it! It was a small groups of kids and he really bonded with them. Linda constant and the high school age counselor kept the kids safe. The adventures they went on were all over the Presidio- they rode the bus and walked a lot. They saw parts of the Presidio that I didn't even know existed! My son would definitely do it another summer! Amazing! Linda took photos and posted them in a secure site for the parents to see. She summarized what the children did each day. This was great to see.

Our family had an absolutely fantastic experience with Music Art Adventure! My daughter (13 yo)…read morejoined a 2-week camp as a Junior CIT (Counselor-in-Training), and it was an incredible opportunity for her growth. She gained wonderful, hands-on experience learning how to interact, lead, and connect with the younger children in a warm and supportive environment. The kids made beautiful, creative crafts that they used in the final performance. It was truly outstanding! Seeing the children sing and perform, accompanied by exceptionally talented, professional musicians and singers, elevated the entire production to a whole new level.

Our kids had an amazing week at Music, Art & Adventure camp! This camp is a great mix of outdoor…read moreactivity, arts & crafts, and music! We would get updates via WhatsApp throughout the day with pics or videos of the kids. And every time we would pick the kids up at the end of the day they were tired, dirty, but not ready to go home!! ...a sign that a good time was had . Thank you to the camp counselors who were so friendly and upbeat. You really made the week of camp special for our kiddos!