Music class is always the highlight of our week! My daughter and I absolutely love going and…read morewatching Teacher Adam and Corey work their magic. The classes are always super fun and interactive! We have loved it so much that we signed up for auto renewal and are looking forward to our next semester with the crew. Thanks so much for all you guys do -Ashley and Isabella

I've been incredibly happy with our experience at Music Together! The classes aren't the boring…read moremusic classes that I'd normally dread but crafted with children's development in mind - our teacher once noted how 'clapping in rhythm' or doing a 'call and response' should be considered just as important milestones as the first step or first word. All the teachers are fantastic and I was impressed by how they even made the occasional Zoom-class entertaining and fun for the kids. My kid LOVES the classes and it's such a delight to overhear the humming and singing of songs and really starting to get the rhythm - definitely due to nurture, not nature, on that one! Their website is a little more complicated to navigate than necessary but the customer service team has always been quick and pleasant to help schedule make-up classes. Overall, I plan to send my kid there for as long as possible and given how they structure the program, it will be for many years to come.

My son (20 months) has been taking JAMaRoo classes since he was 6 months. He enjoyed all of them…read morethoroughly, he gets so excited to attend the classes and love the teachers and the space. I think the best thing about the classes is to see how far ahead he is in his development stages I would like to give the credit where its due.

I came here for a networking event and had the incredible pleasure to meet the owner, Jamaica…read more Wow - what a powerhouse of a woman and one of the kindest and most passionate person I've met in a while. Jamaica has the ability to bring people together and every person I met in this networking event had only beautiful things to say about her. You can truly tell she cares about kids and no doubt in my mind when I have kids I'd be bringing them to Jamaroo.

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!

We have had such a wonderful experience at TuTu School West Portal! Enrolling a toddler in ballet…read morecan always feel like a bit of a gamble, but this studio makes it so seamless and magical. A huge part of why we love it is Teacher Brianna. She is absolutely incredible with the little ones. Toddlers aren't always the best at following directions, but Brianna's patience is unmatched. She has a natural way of keeping the class engaged and making sure every child feels included and encouraged. The classes are pure fun--filled with imaginative play and movement that perfectly captures a toddler's attention span. If you are looking for a warm, whimsical, and low-stress introduction to dance, I cannot recommend this location (and Brianna!) highly enough.

I've enjoyed the Tutu School for my daughter so far. The first class we did together, she hated it…read more But ever since then, she has really enjoyed going and doing the ballet. For her age group, she's not exactly learning ballet, but it's more of a developmental learning for her age group, and fun activities. They do different things each class, but usually there's a round of bubbles, wands, ribbons, circle time, coloring, story time, stomping, tip toeing, and lots of twirling. The teachers are great (Crystal and Marissa are the ones I've met so far), accepting of kids being kids, especially when they're not having it. I really appreciate their incredible patience! I love the policy for their ballet classes too. You buy monthly subscription, and for every class you can't attend, they will just add it to your makeup session, and you can come attend (choose online) a make up class with your child's age group. So easy! Unlimited classes the first month, which was great. The school itself is pretty clean, and cute. They have a cute store which the occasionally offer discounts for their nicely curated leotards with tutus, and ballet shoes. I ended up just buying some here because they were so much cuter than ones I could find at Target or Amazon. They also have cute little chairs here for the little girls to sit on to help them put on their ballet shoes! Adorable.

My daughters have attended ADTC for many years. They were so scared to go the first year and now…read morethey cannot wait. They have made life-long friends through this camp and they have grown into confident young women. The dance skills they learn and practice are challenging and the teachers really get the best out of the campers while making it fun. The opportunity to "disconnect" from technology for a week and interact with other girls who have similar interests is priceless. My daughters have continued on to the CIT program. My oldest was an instructor this year and my youngest will join her next year!

My daughter attended ADTC in 2024 in Wisconsin. She is neurodivergent. She functions well in social…read moresituations, but sometimes needs prompting for showers due to sensory issues. I asked the ADTC staff to make sure that she showered throughout the week. While returning from an outing, on the bus, one of the instructors decided to prompt my daughter to take a shower by announcing it to the entire bus. This lead to embarrassment as well a ridicule from her fellow campers for the remainder of the week. Before this camp my daughter loved dance more than anything. I thought dance camp would help her self-esteem, but instead it destroyed her spirit. I gave a two instead of a one because the dance camp did seem to be well organized.

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!

My daughter has been attending Dance Garden for five years; I can't say enough wonderful things…read moreabout this place and Ms Marian. My child has absolutely thrived. The environment at the Dance Garden is nurturing, encouraging, and full of genuine care. Whether acro, sewing, dance, tour (they perform at a few schools in the area- like 'on tour') or summer camp my daughter is ALWAYS excited to be there. DG has helped shaped her love for movement and creativity, while also teaching discipline, teamwork, and self-expression. If you're looking for a place where your child will not only learn to dance but be supported, celebrated, and inspired -- the Dance Garden is it!

My daughter started at Ms. Marian's Dance Garden at the beginning of 2024 and absolutely loves it!…read moreWhether it's acro, tap, or ballet, she always has an amazing time and she can't wait to go back each week. The teachers are so kind, patient, and encouraging--they bring out the best in every student. The studio has such a welcoming atmosphere where kids are supported to grow, express themselves, and gain confidence through dance. It's been wonderful to watch our daughter develop new skills, make friends, and truly shine. We're so thankful to Ms. Marian and her team for creating such a joyful and inspiring space for young dancers.

My kids LOVE Ucamps. The camp motto is expectance and inclusion. EVERYONE can express who they are…read morewith no judgement. The theme is always about exploring yourself and there is an opportunity to do this through performance. However, no one has to perform. None of my kids are musically inclined but (three of my four kids) joined "rock band" and played the guitar, drums and keyboard for the first time. The fourth had a blast with all the other activities. There are kids from all walks of life, with every hair color (and piercings) but that's ok. Everyone is welcome and my kids (although very conservative) loved this idea and being friends with and accepted by kids of all different backgrounds. All four of my kids are so excited to go back each year. This summer will be three summers in a row. The counselors are exceptional. I have a very challenging bunch of kids and they really understood how to bring out the best in my kids. In fact, my oldest loves this place so much that she plans to become an counselors at Ucamps. Send you kids...they will LOVE it too!

I'm so sad that this amazing camp is now closed. It was beautiful experience of complete…read moreacceptance, love, creativity, and joy for my teens. I have so much appreciation for Bald-E (Doug) and all the staff and counselors who created this slice of heaven. I hope someone will be inspired to start up a camp like this again. (And please, have a separate camp for parents! We need it, too!)