So today I was here for my 1st graders field trip…read more Funny story, I found this amazing science center, while googling the words, "inexpensive science field trips." Lo and behold the science center was super cheap to attend for two classes, and the exhibits are very engaging and fun! Anna, Bradley, and David, made our experience fun and exciting! I've done a lot of field trips, in 27 years of teaching, but this one is one of my absolute favorites! I feel like their spot is totally slept on and underrated, we need to usher in more educators to take their kids here for their field trips! They're a non-profit and need our help to stay open! So spread the word and let's keep this learning gem, open longer! Science Exhibits: 20/10 Customer Service: 20/10 Quality of the Programs: Amazing! Overall: 20 out of 10!

We are members and absolutely love this place. My kids have taken camps here over summer and…read morethroughout the school year and we also had my five year olds birthday party here...they always want to return for more. They recently re did the science center and it is such a well done space. The kids enjoy all the interactive stuff as well as the animals. The membership is really great bc you get access to free events - like private times, meet Santa / holiday party, and discounted birthday parties and camps.

I've enjoyed my time at this facility. My mare is very happy, I enjoy the community, and I…read moreespecially appreciate the flexibility this barn has to offer. I am allowed to bring in and store my own food (orchard grass from Higby's) with the standard stall rate and have arranged for fan service for a fee (Matt graciously installed the fan in my mare's stall) so my mare gets TLC when it is hot. The stalls (x-small wood chips covered + matted paddock) are kept very clean, with someone coming to remove manure at least twice a day. It is a busy barn with some boarded horses and a many lesson horses, so it is easy to arrange for someone to help blanket and provide grain to my mare, daily. The owners live at the barn so there is someone keeping an eye on horses 24/7. I have learned so much from my trainer CeCe who has a background in eventing. I feel safe during our sessions, and she takes the fitness level and soundness of my horse into consideration. Pine Trails offers large number of lessons weekdays after school and weekend mornings, so it can become a very busy during these times, but my mare enjoys the higher level of activity at this barn and would be bored otherwise! I generally ride during the late evenings and there are usually at least one or two people out and about for company. During the hot days of summer, there is the option of riding your own horse at the coolest hours of the day. As mentioned before I truly appreciate the flexibility Michelle, the owner, offers. Arena lights are on until 10PM. The footing in the four arenas is sand, crushed walnut shells, or a combination of both, watered once a day and dragged a few times a week. Ivan, a local farrier, is wonderful and comes to the barn every week, so arranging appointments is easy. The barn-cats, dog, geese, ducks, and many other animals are a fun bonus to the experience.

My daughter had an amazing time on her first riding lesson here. Meghan was great with her, patient…read moreand very informative. She showed her everything from the beginning like brushing, feeding and treating a horse before the actual riding. She honestly exceeded our expectations. We will surely be coming back whenever we're back in Davis.

This place is amazing. I have been a student there attending classes ever since I was 6 years old…read moreand have never once wanted to quit. Classes are fun and the instructors are knowledgeable and friendly. Personally, some of my favorite memories have happened here.

I come to their kickboxing class once a week in the evenings. They have different instructors in…read morewhich I have taken classes with and they are all great with different teaching styles. They motivate you and the class is so much fun. Bumping music, moves and sweat! It's a mixture of everything and best believe, you leave your class huffing and puffing, feeling great. My 5 yo daughter is in their tiger class twice a week. At first, I was expecting the class to be all physical but to my surprise, they teach amazing life lessons like building confidence, self discipline, hard work, control, and respect. This made me commit. We've also taken this class with multiple instructors and every one of them are so kind and amazing. They are so great with kids and I love them all so much! My girl enjoys this class and it's nice parents can sit in the class to watch. Towards the end, they have you interact with your child in helping them develop their skills which is a nice way to bond. I think of all the places in Davis, this place is probably the best in terms of quality for adults and children. They also offer camps which I've heard great things about.

When we first moved to Davis, we assumed our kids would go to one of the great public schools here…read more-- that was part of why we chose this area. After the first few months, with 27-30 kids in our son's class, we observed that it was hard for him to get individual attention, and during our first parent-teacher conference, it felt like his teacher didn't really know him. A friend mentioned Peregrine, and at first we weren't sure -- especially because of the tuition. But when we visited, the campus immediately stood out. There were tree forts, gardens planted by students, zip lines, hay bales, and ample space to run. It just felt alive. Our son absolutely loves it there. Every morning he sprints onto the playground before we can even say goodbye. The teachers know him -- really know him. Within the first two weeks, they even noticed he was having trouble pronouncing certain words and suggested we check with our pediatrician about a speech evaluation. That early attention made such a difference. We've also been amazed by how intentional the academics are. He has one-on-one reading time twice a week, small group literacy sessions, and a class library full of graphic novels like Dog Man and Zita the Space Girl that keep him excited about reading. His progress has been incredible. He learns outside -- rain or shine -- with teachers who guide gardening, cooking, ceramics, and project-based lessons. The school celebrates different cultures through music, food, and dance, and the meals are cooked right on site and actually healthy. What stands out most is how much the teachers care. They communicate proactively, notice social dynamics, and address things right away. It's clear that he's seen, supported, and surrounded by people who genuinely care about his growth. After his first week there we received a detailed assessment of his reading and math levels with handwritten notes explaining areas of improvement and where we can help him further. This sort of detailed individual feedback really showed how they truly took the time to get to know our son. We also really appreciate the weekly class emails we get from his teachers. They summarize what the kids learned that week in reading, math, and other subjects -- along with photos and little anecdotes. It's such a thoughtful touch, and it makes us feel connected to what's happening in the classroom day to day. In addition the teachers are always accessible before and after class for us to discuss concerns and questions that arise. As the more financially cautious one in our family, I wasn't sure how we'd feel about private school -- but seeing how happy and curious he is now, it truly feels worth it. Watching him grow, ask questions, and grow his love of learning has been such a gift. One thing we've learned is there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to school. Davis has so many great options -- I'm just glad we found one that fits our son so well. We ended up enrolling our daughter there at the preschool as well!

This is our forth year at the Peregrine school: my daughter started at 3 years old in their…read morepreschool and now she is in their elementary school. I wanted to share our experience from this most recent school year. The school's full-day kindergarten program has small student-to-teacher ratios, a nurturing environment, a terrific teaching team, and an immersive project-based curriculum. My daughter was in a classroom of 12 children and three teachers. Two of the teachers swapped places depending on the subjects that were taught that day, so there were always two teachers with the kids. The school created a trilingual program where the kindergarteners were learning a bit of Spanish and Mandarin in addition to having the core curriculum in English. What I particularly appreciate about the language component is how the teachers wove in cultural literacy into their lessons along with language instruction. There are many things that set apart this kindergarten program from others. Six hours of daily programming allows teachers to create a rich experience filled with language arts, math, science, gardening, cooking, music, and movement. The program allows you to drop off your kid at 8:30 am and pick them up by 3:15 pm with before and after school care available to those who need it; instruction takes place between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Children are served healthy, nutritious, and well-balanced meals that are prepared on site and given at snack time and lunch. The food is so good that my child begged me to get a recipe from the school chef for a "lentil dish that is better than candy." The school's acre of gardens and play space allows the children to learn and play while being surrounded by beautiful nature. Kindergarteners spend at least an hour outside each day. Additionally, the school has three teacher specialists who work with the students weekly in the areas of gardening/cooking, music, and movement. The incredible food program coupled with the gardening lessons exposed my child to lots of new food that she was resistant to try before. My daughter particularly enjoys the kale and peas she gets to eat straight from the school garden. This past year the class got to go on five field trips to visit the Davis food co-op, a farm in West Sac, and attend three events at the Mondavi center. (This does not include many smaller trips to the playgrounds and parks near the school.) The Peregrine school also arranges for performances around Chinese New Year and other holidays on the school site. Towards the end of the school year, as part of their science unit, the class got to watch caterpillars hatch out of eggs and transform into butterflies. Children also witnessed the entire lifecycle of silkworms ending with moths laying eggs. I feel lucky to have this kindergarten program available in our town and I wanted to share our experience in case this may be a good fit for other families in this group. The Peregrine school offers instruction at all elementary grade levels through sixth grade in case you have an older child and you are interested in their program.

We signed up for a backpacking trip in the spring scheduled to take place in August. Five days…read morebefore the camp was to start it was cancelled, reportedly for low enrollment although their website listed the camp as full. The administrative office was a mess and could not give directions or set up a meeting well. Avoid this place or your child may be sorely disappointed and parents may be in a fix with no child care that week lined up. Too bad as it looked really good!

A Christian adventure camp that not only accommodates church groups, but mens/womens retreats,…read morehomeschooled kids, and families of any faith. When leaving for camp, don't leave in the afternoon like our group. Due to an accident on the road, we were stuck in traffic for HOURS and had to set-up our tents in the dark. Bring a headlamp. Canyoneering - Although I recommend this activity, here are caveats: no bathrooms available and travel time is an hour each way. Emergency bathrooms are in the bushes. During our return, I saw a reservoir that the bus should stop at for bathrooms before and after. Know your group's limitations. Because we didn't know any better, our high school group went on the 6 hour LadyBug trail which I liken to Navy Seal training or somewhat like a heartier version of the Kalalau Trail in Kauai. Included in the hike are about 10 jumps into the very cold water and an optional high jump 10+ feet high, and lots of slippery rocks to navigate which is where many people fall. Do not do the LadyBug trail unless physically fit. With teens/kids of varying fitness levels, I highly recommend a short time of canyoneering and more water play. Canyoneering becomes no fun after hour 3. Perhaps the Evergreen trail is best for students of varying fitness levels as it has some canyoneering and lots of waterplay which our students couldn't get enough of. A couple of people in our crew fell off the trail due to soil erosion. Wear clothes that dry fast. Slow drying clothes mean your clothes remain wet and you become cold. High performance clothing is best. If you sun burn easily, wear long spf 50+ pants, a long sleeve shirt, and fast drying socks with shoes that you can hike AND swim in. Also, if your face burns, consider wearing a fishing face mask. Having a laundry line for clothes to dry on was useful to me. I wore Keen Uneek sandals which worked out well. If balance is poor or you do not do regular cardio/strength work, I don't recommend canyoneering. Beware: Lots of Poison Oak. If prone, bring Calamine lotion or vinegar and baking soda for relief. White Water Rafting - Guides are all about safety and provide not only a safety lesson on land before you get in the boat, but a safety lesson in the boat. Even with a class 3 rapid, several students and a chaperone fell out of the boat which may be scary to some, but you do get a lesson in "if you fall out of the boat". While experienced, our guide was thrown forward into me on one of the rapids. No need to wear any socks with your shoes, but good water shoes/sandals are recommended. For adults/chaperones, there's coffee and tea, and electrical outlets which was helpful to me as I needed to re-charge my battery that powers my CPAP machine. Having a solar powered fan was useful to me in the evenings when the air was warm and still. Providing food that is good and healthy must be one of the values of the camp as they do not allow junk food. Additionally, the camp will try to meet dietary needs like gluten-free. Dismissing tables is random and not fun when you're constantly picked last. I'm guessing the food tends to be saltier to prevent dehydration? For the in between times, apples and oranges and water are located in the kitchen. Lunch is provided on the hikes. For White Water Rafting, lunch timing is logistically poor because you start at 11:50am, then you have to hurry to the boats by 12:05pm. I don't like the rush to wait method of timing. Although the camp has a canopy for "sleeping under the stars", most of us brought tents which helped keep the dust out of everything. Camp is super dusty. If you do a 3 night trip, there's not a lot of down time, but when there is a couple hours, you'll want to be able to rest in your tent instead of the open. Moreover, there's a swing and a volleyball net, After dinner, there is an evening devotion centered on the Bible and don't forget the mosquito repellant AND a relief ointment. There's only 4 showers and four faucets in a trough sink for the whole camp so plan according.

The workers were so kind, and the activities I did, such as rafting and canyoniering, were great…read moreand were such a fun experience. The veiw was beautiful and amazing. I had Hannah as a guide, and she was so fun and kind and definitely deserves a raise! She just made the whole experience so much more fun, especially with her enthusiasm for everything. I could tell all of the workers knew what they were doing, so I felt very safe and like I was in good hands!

Beautiful school, nice teachers, happy kids. Looks good, might enter my new kids hereread more

I have been taking riding lessons from Amanda for 18 months. I've had nothing but positive…read moreexperiences with her and have grown, as a result, to absolutely love horses and the sport of horseback riding. Safety is a primary concern along with an enjoyment of each lesson. I am 65 and had never ridden before my lessons with Amanda. She has never made me feel that I am too old to learn and her teaching style is wonderfully catered to each individual's needs. I highly recommend Amanda and Jarose Training.

Amanda is a very sweet, patient horse owner with a kind, gentle horse named Buckwheat. Buckwheat…read morewas calm and easy for my 3- and 6-year-olds to ride (with Amanda's assistance!). It's a nice way to ease kids into feeling comfortable with a horse. The facility is huge and has a covered area to ride on hot days.

My daughter attended Little Friends Montessori School for year and half. We really liked the school…read morefor couple of reasons. I really like all the teachers. They are caring and easy to talk to. Whenever I want to talk to them about kid or anything, they're available to talk. And most of the time they worked with me and the issues. There's two groups. One for 2-3 and the other older kids till they go to kindergarten. My daughter started from little kids classroom to big kid classroom. Little ones are more for daycare type and big kids one is more for getting ready to kindergarten. She learned letters, numbers and other things like arts and crafts as well. Lots of free playtime for the creativity! Price is really reasonable for the area. Drops ins and outs are flexible so it was perfect for my schedule. I highly recommend.

My son loves it here. I think they do a great job. My son gets hugs and attention, every day. We…read moremade a good choice.