What a difference a single year makes..... On my wall is my son's fresh "Camper of the Day" Certificate and in a nearby folder is his "mixed, but improving" evaluation written by Dr. Bob for this summer's Camp. However, it appears that the Director might have some "issues" that require greater treatment than he currently offers at his Camp. Otherwise, I'm unable to explain the complete lack of response when I asked to personally talk with him about my son's progress, inquire about certain "teenager appropriate (or not)" situations along the way, and express my concerns regarding questionable behaviour by some of his counselors. His silence was finally broken by a cowardly and personally insulting "don't come back" email that I received totally out of the blue last Sunday afternoon. And of course he didn't respond when I nicely asked (under Gayle's editing) for clarification. PS. - At no time during this period was my son a physical danger to anyone and at no time did Quest express any related safety concerns. Any safety representation by Quest years after the fact is not based on any factual information. read more

Just got an update from my son's teacher and she thinks that he's doing very well and that Quest Camps helped him this summer! Yay! read more

Quest Camps - Psychologists Near Me - Danville, California

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We requested from Doctor Phil an incident report after my Son came home with a bruise in his leg and no explanation from the Camp. I believe Doctor Phil did not like our request because after that he accused me being rude to one of his staff for a comment that I made regarding asking for lunch money for my Son field trip. In no way I was rude, it is just a retaliation from this person because of our previous request. Nevertheless, he was extremely rude and humiliated us, throwing at our faces that our Son's fees were paid by the State of California. I will copy and paste his Email, he also treated us with blocking our Son for next year's Camp. This man(Doctor Phil) Is extremely rude and short temper and it is not his place to say who pays my Son's fees. How ever we paid a lot of taxes over the years and my Son deserves this services. If you don't want to be treated as a second class Family just because the fees are paid by the State, stay away from this camp and this man. Below is his Email to us. I don't appreciate my staff being yelled at for any reason but certainly not by someone who receives all these services for free. I really like your son but if I hear of another incident of lies and complaints, I will permanently block him from registering. You have the privilege of having the state of California to find your child's service Additionally, I take a significant discount in fees to help kids on the Spectrum Robert Field PhD read more

They kicked my boy out in a week and a half, however camp was paid for a 3 weeks. They did not help us at all. They asked my wife to pick my boy out of the camp in 40 min. after I drop him in, because he didn't want to follow their directions, (they deside to change his team leader) even after my wife told them that she is sick and have a high fever. They can't treat children with real problems. Do not pay top dollar when you can get a day camp for a fraction of the price. They ruined all our summer plans and arrangements. They also told us that they don't have time and resources to provide one to one session during the time when my son didn't follow their directions, which would take them 30 min. or so to come him down. They are only good when everything is in accordance their plans. read more

My whole family has benefited SO MUCH from the wide range of services that are offered as part of Quest. What is Quest? -It's family therapy and educational testing practice -It's once-a-week afterschool social skill program for kids who have a rough time adjusting in peer groups. (Think ADD or shy or awkward.) -It's a summerlong day camp in Alamo that reinforces the lessons learned during the afterschool program -Most of all, it's a place where kids feel safe enough to stretch and learn new social skills and gain confidence. Parents also learn to have the confidence to be directive and structured while still valuing the individuality of their kids. It's best to check out the website for a more cogent explanation of their philosophy and program. What I'm going to cover is our family's experience after 2+ years in the program. When my son started in the summer program in 2006 he was having a very hard time getting along with kids and adults. We've spent years with doctors and meds and diagnoses and nothing really fits. That didn't really matter to "Dr. Bob" (Bob Field is the director) and his team - they took him as he was, and assured me that this is what they've been doing for years. No disapproving looks or judgements about my parenting -- just accepting. With a loving, physically active and structured small group environment, for the first time my son was able to successfully play with other kids and actually build some real friendships. Not only was he with a bunch of boys (90%+ of the kids are boys) just like him, the adults actually knew how to focus and structure his behavior through positive reinforcements, praise AND structure/consequences. I'd pick him up at the end of the day and he'd be happy, tired and content. I also noticed he was happier and more cooperative at home. At the end of the three weeks, he said, "Mama, that was the most fun I EVER had...," so we were sold on the afterschool program. Not a small committment after trekking out to Alamo from Alameda twice a day. Luckily there was a program in Oakland, which has been more manageable. Over the next two years, we started to really see our boy grow and learn and mature. To be fair, we also got a kick-ass teacher and the right meds, but the guy did a 180 and I know that Quest has been instrumental. read more

My son attended Quest Camp last summer and has been in the after school program this school year. He has ADHD, goes to a small school and has been shunned by most of the clique-ish kids. At his school, he is an outcast and can't figure out why no one likes him. Yes, before he was formally diagnosed we had some *minor* behavior problems with him disrupting class or keeping his hands to himself, but the school staff and other adults (supposedly) in charge seemingly could not handle it. Waaay to inspire confidence in our educational system. /end sarcasm In contrast, Quest has given my son the opportunity to fit in, learn to make friends and realize that he's not hyper nor out of control (both labels ascribed to him by the so-called professionals at his school). Rather, he needs a firm hand and guidance, both of which this program offer. They also offer involve parents to integrate key program tenents at home to keep the kids on track in both environments. We've seen a remarkable improvement in our son's social skills in the past year. Yes, it is expensive as other posters have mentioned, but based on the improvements I've seen and how much my son enjoys going, it is worth every penny. read more

My 12 year old son attended the summer program and thrived greatly as we approached the next year. Yes at first he did have some issues adjusting to the program and some of the other campers. But if I were to be honest that is the reason why he and many of the other campers are in such a program...problems adjusting and difficulty in social interactions. When these issues did arise that staff intervened immediately and with the appropriate level of coaching and therapy support for all involved. I also appreciated the support provided by the staff as a parent through the program. read more

I am very happy with Quest camp Has been doing wonder for my son. his behaviors improved a lot Thank you read more

They have excellent after school and summer camp programs. @Quest everyone is valued and respected. Everyone who works at this place really focus on improving ways to help families meet their goals. They are committed to making a difference - It is definitely "A Place for Spirits to Soar". read more

Highly recommend the camps. Great opportunity for kids, challenged or not, to socialize and develop their confidence and interpersonal skills. read more

Our son was in the summer program for 6 weeks all I can say is wow, what a difference it has made. They have a lot of experience and they know what they're doing. My son kept on saying that it was the best summer camp he has ever taken! read more

Run, don't walk, far, far away. 15 yo child, "senior camper" disclosed to our 8 yo child that she was sexually abused and attempted suicide multiple times. Camp knew of her issues, let allowed our child to be unsupervised by her. They dealt with it horribly after our 8 yo told us. 15 yo retaliated against our child and camp staff did nothing. Another child with emotional issues harassed everyone, threatened them and hit them... took weeks to get him kicked out and counselor told our son, "you like the drama" when our child confronted him. Son broke his glasses at camp and he is very blind without them. He kept asking staff to call parents but they refused... so he went 2.5 hours at camp and 1 hour in carpool home not being able to see. Counselor yelled at kids. Finally, they use junk food as reward and punishment (we are talking candy, Doritos, Capri Sun). Camp Director is well-intentioned but they have gotten too big, have taken a Regional Center contract with kids that don't mix well with original cohort of kids with Aspergers and ADHD and Director is incredibly non-responsive. We tried to get $ back as our kid was so upset after these experiences and director just refused to email or talk with parents. Don't waste your $, and this place ain't cheap. read more

Quest has been a great experience for my child. The counselors are excellent: well trained with backgrounds in psychology and very engaged. They teach kids who all struggle with social skills and manage to keep the experience fun. It is challenging to give parent points (it makes me appreciate how tough it must be for the counselors to rate the kids every hour), but the overall program really helped my daughter. We noticed that she became more flexible and got along better with her sister. Parent meetings were held every other week. It was sometimes tough 7:00-8:30pm on a weeknight is difficult, but the meetings were also helpful and important. Overall, for a kid with attention issues or trouble connecting socially, this camp is really valuable. read more

There's not one review on here that comes from the 1st eye perspective of someone who actually went to this camp. It's mostly just parents rehashing what their kids told them throughout their summer(s). I went to this charming social gathering for 9 years (2003-2012), experiencing every pro and con that this camp delivered. I've seen what happens in the youngest group, all the way to the oldest. If you're considering this camp as a choice to fill in your son/daughter's summertime, here's everything that you should know about this place and how it operates. The camp itself claims to offer a playground of opportunity to children and adolescents that have a hard time coping with a wide range of problems that "separate" them from the rest of their peers outside. Examples of this would be if your children suffer from anger problems, shyness, little flexibility, or maybe just a lack of friends, ect. For most cases, Quest performs an impeccable job at meeting this requirement. I personally came into here not knowing how to behave at the right times. As the weeks went by, I quickly learned how to act my age and meet other kids my age in a more suitable manner. The only kids that you may hear about that have little success rates here are usually the ones who don't cooperate with the system that they're nicely asked to follow. When I was a little kid, I only saw Quest as a place to... have fun! The concept of this camp seems to be specifically designed to feel like well... a quest. You come into camp looking for something, eventually experiencing some life-altering events while learning a few things in between, and come out as a newer, improved you. Only with this camp though, you probably won't notice any of it. With such amenities as the spirit stick, group names and banners, occasional fun themes, deep stories, and teamwork events, your son/daughter will have plenty of occupations to forget about the thought of "focusing on their star goal". When you're a kid, you usually don't see anything wrong with the camp itself. Everything around you seems as amped up as a Beatles concert, especially at the end of the day (You'll figure that bit out soon enough if you decide to come). Nothing but love and toleration encompasses you. You're simply in a place where you feel safe. The same however, cannot be said if you're an adolescent in the senior camper group. It seemed to me at first that in order to be accepted into the group, you had to demonstrate good leadership and a positive attitude. Very rarely (in my case), they would let a younger individual into the group if they could handle the responsibilities that they're asked to follow. As the years proceeded, most of the veterans along with their handy leadership skills disappeared. With a lack of older, more mature kids, they compensated by adding younger, less experienced campers to take the role instead. The result from this is a group compromised of 11-15 year-old kids being asked to act like they're 17+. THIS IS ONLY MY ASSUMPTION AND HOW I FELT OVER THE YEARS. I personally think that if the group is still heading in that direction, then they should rid their status of "senior campers" until they finally receive a group that can maturely handle the responsibilities without griping about it. To clarify, the senior camper group is not a bad group. Some of the kids that I've known throughout the years have turned out to become good lifelong friends. Despite their personalities and different maturity levels, they still compromise themselves to be a substantially vibrant group. Despite the lack of adult efforts that occasionally came from the group, they still presented themselves as a great group of friends, which represents what this camp is really all about. Even though the last couple years were a drag, I still wouldn't change a single moment of what happened during those times. As you probably saw, certain reviewers on here complained about this group in such a way that made the entire camp itself appear unappealing. Most of what they say isn't true at all. As I stated in the beginning, "It's just parents rehashing what their kids have told them throughout their summer(s)", a parent cannot fully distinguish what happens inside their children's group. Even though the group has resembled a strong disapproval to me over the past years, I can't say how different they are now. Who knows, they could be completely different from when I last saw them. You just don't know until you see. This camp is expensive, and you deserve to know the smaller details of how it works. Whether or not your child is 6 or 16, they'll probably have a blast there. It's just that there's a large difference between being a "camper" and "senior camper". If you have any questions, look no further than asking the staff there or Dr. Field himself. His devotion for the camp and job as a therapist still remains to be unlike anything that I've seen from anyone else before. read more

Both of my children, 12 and 13, improved their communication skills at Quest Camp this summer. Not only that, they woke up early to go to Quest Camp every morning. In fact, they looked forward to it every day. The staff members are not just highly energetic teenagers, but they are professionally trained to accommodate the wide range of emotional needs of the young children. As a parent, I liked that some counselors are close to my children's age, who are great role models to my sons. Thank you, Quest Camp! read more

Dr. Bob is not friendly to parents.. I sent him the Email and he didn't find a chance to respond it at all. I had a few very important questions about my son's behavior. I was hoping that he as a very experienced doctor who sees my child every day can give my any ideas. They was keep changing the leader to my son that he was getting attached to.So, my son was loosing the interest. Finally my son got very upset and they couldn't handle him any more... Where is their passive reinforcement ? ? ? Yes, my son is not easy however he would be very happy with thepeople who care. They called me for my son's dismissal and even didn't prepare his staff to go.. In that case the whole lunch box was missing.... They didn't take even a single moment to explain anything what happened... . Something was triggering my son.. from the early morning nobody couldn't find a good approach to a child ... I asked the Regional Center to request the money back for the whole week that they kicked the my son out. It would be fair enough. read more

My son is currently finishing up his fourth week at Quest Camp in Alamo. My boy is seven and in February I started researching camps for him to attend this summer. He was offered summer school through our district, but, since he needs aren't academic, I decided to look for something to support his social and emotional development...I am so thankful that I found Quest Camp. Quest Camp has been amazing for my boy. It's funny because although he's quiet and reserved at camp, he's taking it all in and using the skills he learns there at home...and out in the world. Just in the past four weeks, he's really blossomed into a more social being. He's been a non-stop talker at home for a while now, but just last year he started to engage with his peers. Now, it's hard to believe he's the same kid. When we go to the park, he seeks out other kids, finally wanting to engage and play with them. We've had a lot of play dates this summer and my son has been SO much more interactive than he was before he started the Quest program. Everyone is noticing the changes in him and it's exciting to see him settling into himself. Why is Quest so great? The counselors and therapists are wonderful. They really take the time to get to know each child. They work to figure out how far each child can be pushed and still excel...and they push. They expect great things from our kids and they get it! The program is personalized for every camper; they each get ten goals designed just for them. I get a daily report in my email, letting me know how my son's day was and how he did with respect to his goals each hour of the day. Every other week there is a parent meeting where I get a "report card" on how my child has been doing in camp, and I get to ask lots of questions! In addition to all this therapeutic, important work...Quest camp is fun. They go on amazing field trips (6 Flags, Chabot Space and Science Center) and they swim twice a week. My son has thoroughly enjoyed Quest Camp (except for the heat..."Mommy, I do not want to go to Quest Camp when it is too hot" but we can hardly blame Quest Camp for that!) and I look forward to continuing his Quest journey next summer. read more

Both of my kids have attended Quest Camp over the past several years. It has been life affirming and life changing for both of them. My older son has mild autism and Quest has offered a safe and supportive place for him to learn to be social and to understand and interact with his peers. My younger son has ADHD and Quest has offered him a place to learn how to control his impulses. I've know Dr. Field for almost nine years and have been extraordinarily impressed with his knowledge, compassion, and understanding of my children and the family dynamic. read more

My son attended QUEST camp in the fall. He enjoyed going every Thursday and was very happy to tell me about camp when I picked him up. He has autism and usually has a hard time fitting in. Middle school has been very hard for him socially and he tends to seclude himself when given the opportunity. Since attending camp he has been more open and optimistic. We look forward to attending another session. read more

This is the 3rd year that my son attends Quest Camp, during the summer. He truly enjoys coming to the camp every day for 4 weeks in a row. The progress, that We see are great improvement in his self confidence, leadership and socialization. We are looking forward for the next year and great expectations to see how much more progress He will make. If you send your son to this camp you rest assure that Will be one of the best investments you can make in your children. read more

After struggling to find help for my elementary school daughter so she could fit in with others better, I finally found Quest and Dr. Field. He was the first to correctly diagnose my daughter after 3 other psychologists did not. Attending camp was life saving for her. She found an accepting group, many of whom are still friends today (years later). She gained confidence & fit in much better at school. The first few days were challenging for her because she needed the extra pushing they provided. Once she gained more confidence she pushed herself and gained so much. She would wake up early each morning with excitement and it was a joy for me! I can't speak highly enough about the camp and the benefits. My daughter wouldn't be where she is now if not for this camp and Dr. Field. read more

My (now) 12 year old son has been to Quest the past two years. He went for four weeks each summer. We are just finishing our last day of the summer session tomorrow, and I'm so sad that it is over! My son has learned so much and has been accepted for who he is. He has benefited from the social skills sessions, friendship, and leadership at Quest. It was a lifesaver for me as a mom last year ... and my only regret is that I only found out about it last year. I will send him to Quest as long as he is within the age limit. He loves it and he has grown emotionally and behaviorally as a result of his time with the Quest team. read more

My son's behavior is less than typical for children on the spectrum, but he has found a place to help him grow and find friends. He finally has some friends! This place may not be for everyone's child so ask question and express concerns in the interview. The counselors and leaders listen and want to help. They are full of energy and food vibes. They really put in effort to understand the individual's needs. My son is very happy and for the first time at a camp sad that it will end in a couple of weeks. He will return! read more

After attending camp we couldn't believe the huge changes in our son. He was taking interest in more things and connected with other campers which extended into the school year. Dr. Bob has also been with us when we needed support during the school year. What a wonderful program. read more

My son has gone to Quest camp every summer since 2011. He really loves it. I like their point system, which really motivates him to work on his goals-at camp and at home. The counselors are excellent, and I appreciate that they have a lot of male counselors, which is so great with the boys. Not only has Quest helped him improve within his behavior goals, he has fun and I know he is in a safe environment. Thank you, Quest Camp!! read more

Our now 11 year old son Chris (not his real name) has attended Quest camp and the afterschool program for the past 3 1/2 years. Attending Quest has truly been one of the best things that has ever happened to him. Chris has issues that no other camp he has ever attended in the past has been able to handle (including a disastrous summer at another camp I had enrolled him in the year before for special needs kids). To give you some background, Chris had been kicked out of two preschools and two summer camps prior to Quest because of disruptive behavior. At school he required a full time aid. Unless we hired a full time nanny to sit and be with him all summer (and that would have been risky given his behavioral problems) we were at a loss as to what to do with Chris over the summer breaks. But I wanted Chris to have a normal summer camp experience like his siblings even though he was clearly not a normal kid. Also, I had to work and could not take the time off over the summer. Dr. Bob and his staff have been nothing but highly professional, patient, skilled and competent when dealing with our son, and we have been nothing but impressed and grateful for their care of him. The first summer Chris attended Quest he made a huge improvement in his social skills, so much so than many people who have know him for years were impressed with his improved behavior and told us how much better he was doing, unsolicited. Of course we really noticed the improvements as well and we have had him attending Quest ever since. Dr. Bob's method works. I think the best results can be obtained for your child in this camp if you communicate frequently and candidly with the camp counselor's on a daily basis. I found the evening group therapy/communication sessions every other week over the summer, and every 5 weeks in the afterschool program to be extremely important in terms of helping Chris progress. I got excellent advice regarding how to deal with very difficult problems I was having with him. The points system and store is also a great motivator for the kids. Quest is not a cure for your child with ADHD or other behavior problems, but if there is one thing the Quest program does extremely well is offer a structured supportive environment for your special needs child. Also, my son got to go to exciting places like Six Flags which I would never have dared take him by myself. Dr. Bob and his staff take a whole busload of special needs kids every summer to exciting places like this without incident. Amazing. Quest has given our son the opportunity to have a real fun traditional summer camp experience with the appropriate structural support that he needs to enjoy himself and learn social skills at the same time. We truly would be at a loss without Quest, and I give this program my highest recommendation! read more

Quest Camp has been completely LIFE CHANGING for us. I can't say enough positive things about the program, and how much Quest has positively changed our life. The respect we have for the program, Dr. Fields, the counselors and staff, is beyond anything I can write in a review. We went from having a kid who was an explosive, sometimes hurtful to himself, anti-social little person, to a wonderful, kind, funny, confident, social butterfly. And yes, I'm giving all that credit to this program. I am so shocked by the negative review on here that I felt I HAD to comment. First of all, as a parent, we all know our kids can embellish or tell their interpretation of what goes on. That being said, we have to, of course, look into what they say, and search for the truth. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the situations being described in the negative review are completely blown out of proportion. As the adult, its on US to find out what really happened. And knowing the counselors and the set up at Quest, the scenario as described is completely impossible. I have had my son at Quest for the past 3 summers, as well as the after school program. The ratio of counselors to kids, is at most, 6 to 1, and sometimes even 3 to 1! There is no time for "private conversations" and the counselors are completely present at all times. I find it hard to believe that a senior camper had the opportunity to chat it up with an 8 year old camper about being sexually abused. Even if by some crazy chance they sat near each other on a bus ride to the pool, or a field trip, a counselor is sitting in every single row of the bus- wouldn't he/she have heard this conversation? Especially since the primary job of the counselors is to facilitate the interaction?? I highly doubt a counselor would just sit there, and allow that conversation to happen, and not only that, the counselors I've experienced would immediately contact not only a Therapist, but Dr. Fields immediately so he could address the situation. In addition, the counselors assigned to the senior campers have been with Quest for YEARS- we're talking 7 - 8 YEARS. They aren't ignoring the campers texting their buddies- they are extremely involved, and CARE. If they didn't care about helping these kids be better people, and just wanted to collect an easy paycheck, they would be working at Baskin Robbins, or doing something mindless. THIS STAFF CARES. These counselors are cherry picked, and grouped together strategically. Counselors who have more experience are paired with newer counselors, so the newer counselors have mentors. In addition, there are FOUR therapists involved, so backup reinforcement is never far. These counselors adore our kids, and spend the entire day reinforcing positive behavior, and when issues arise (and of course they do!) they are trained on how to handle them and always have a therapist a walkie-talkie away to help. They address EVERYTHING. And yes, I've emailed Dr. Fields with a comment or question, and haven't heard back immediately. If you don't get the response you need in the time you need it, then take the initiative since it's for YOUR child, and pick up your phone and CALL! There is office staff- and they DO call you back! Do you expect to call Bill Gates and have him pick up your call? Didn't think so. Call the office and go through the proper channels- I guarantee you would have had a different experience. So clearly not getting a response about the issues the negative reviewer had weren't too important if he didn't properly pursue it. If that situation was brought up to me, I would have showed up at camp at drop off or pick up and would have been in someone's face. So, since that never happened, I question the validity of the review. Dr. Fields is PRESENT on site, so not being able to get a hold of him is impossible! Back to the good stuff..... Quest is hard to describe. But, I can say that the program works, and is worth every penny. We are able to do things as a family we were NEVER able to do last year- and its all because of Quest. They provide the tools to help us- and I think its on US as adults and parents to advocate for our children. I can honestly say with 100% confidence, that the Quest Program works, they care, they respond, they help, and they have changed our lives exponentially. read more

Our family is getting ready to move out of state and I thought it would be a good time to leave some feedback about the Quest Program and therapy services provided by Dr. Bob Field. I am floored with the negative comments that some others have left here. As a former Special Education teacher, I have dealt with many challenging children (and their parents) and wonder if some of the comments do not reflect the whole story. I cannot give enough accolades to Bob Field and the staff of the Quest Program. We have two "tween" kids, a son and a daughter, who attended the Quest Summer Program for several weeks last year. Our son was a "senior camper" and our daughter participated in one of the girls' groups. The way the counselors provide theraputic services while maintaining a fun, camp-like atmosphere is astounding. Our daughter DID NOT want to go to Quest and after one week, begged us to attend for the rest of the summer. When she learned that we were moving, she asked if we could fly her back here next summer just so she could go to Quest. The counselors take a personal interest in the kids, get to know their individual strengths and weaknesses, help them set goals and the program holds parent meetings to keep parents updated and give us a chance to connect with other parents and share in a safe and meaningful way. The counselors are just that- counselors. Most are are MFTs, some are working on PhD's while a few are college students or teachers. There are always going to be personality clashes and my kids liked some more than others, but we felt that all were very qualified and most certainly dedicated to the kids and the program. In addition, we received daily email updates and could contact Bob Field, the director on his cell phone or email anytime. I share all of this because, in my many years of teaching and few years as a parent, I often sought a program like Quest to recommend to families and they just aren't out there. This program is as good as it gets. Bob Field is committed to doing what's best for kids and you will see measurable progress if you invest your time, energy and money here. read more

This our daughter's second summer at Quest and I am super happy with it! She was with the camp for six straight weeks this summer and seemed to really grow. She is shy with developmental delays and has had a tremendous struggle making meaningful friends...not so at Quest! She came home daily talking about her new friends and I just could not put a price on how much that means to me. I appreciated the daily feedback charts as it helped me understand her triumphs and struggles each day.....super awesome. She loved the counsellors and Dr. Bob is a treasure. How incredible that this man's life's work so positively impacts kids who need this support the most. read more

My son has been attending quest Summer camp for the last 7 years and I am so grateful for the program. They set goals, work individually with campers and ensure my son is motivated and engaged. The counselors give so much energy and care to the campers. Very happy parent here! read more

I just came back from attending two days at the Quest Camp in Alamo, volunteering as part of my coursework for a graduate program. I was blown away by the quality of the camp. As an educator,I have been in many different educational settings in the past 25 years and what I saw there was by far one of the most well run programs, ever. The counselors were stellar, the environment felt safe (both emotionally and physically) and the way that the campers were respected and redirected was awesome. All interactions were observed and used as learning opportunities. There are specific goals for each camper which are reviewed and feedback is given by the group and counselors to facilitate the integration of the goals in "real time". There were therapists available for those situations that required their expertise, available to be called on at all times. The campers clearly respect the entire staff and the staff clearly respect the campers. If I could give Quest Camp 10 stars, i would. Thank you all for offering this opportunity and working so hard to make it what it is! read more

My son has been going to Summer camps two years in a row. The staff is excellent and professional. They identified my son's needs and set appropriate goals. They meet with parents once a week to inform of child's progress. At the end of the program my son was happy and willing to challenge himself (amazing)! - Honestly, I feel Quest Camp is another member of my family who cares for my son's well being and success. Thank you so much for this wonderful job you do for our kids. read more

My son has attended Quest Camp for the past two summers, and is excitedly awaiting the start of summer #3...we've also done the Quest Afterschool Program for the past two school years. My son has epilepsy and delays in speech, communication and social cognition, and over the years, we've tried just about every social-cognitive program out there. Many of these other programs were very good in terms of content, but my son always tired of them (and stopped cooperating/participating) before we could see any real results. Quest has been dramatically different. Like I said, we've done Quest for pretty much two years straight, and my son still looks forward to every session. I can't really tell you why, because he's often pushed to do things outside his comfort zone (like sports, group activities, group therapy) -- my only explanation is that Quest is fun enough and has enough "good stuff" happening for him that he's OK with the work (at least most weeks!). One key for my son, I think, is that he feels that Quest is a place where he belongs, and for us, those "safe" places have been few and far between. Also, the programs meets kids where they are and seeks to make them successful first, then push them ahead, which helps with the feelings of failure and inadequacy that so many kids like my son experience in many settings (esp. when it comes to sports and group activities). From my perspective, the difference between Quest and some other social cognitive programs is that they teach the concepts in real time, in real-world situations that kids will encounter every day at school, home, etc., such as sports, games, and arts and crafts projects. Many other programs (like Social Thinking) start by teaching concepts in a very school-like way (children seated at a table, material presented by the therapist, reviewed with worksheets, etc.). This wasn't very appealing to my son after a while -- he just couldn't sit and absorb the information, esp. after an already long day at school! Quest "packages" the lessons in fun, at least most of the time -- the group therapy sessions are sometimes just talking about feelings and behaviors, but again, it's more of a discussion, and less of a "lesson." When I explain the difference to other parents, I say, Social Thinking was like taking the lecture class; Quest is like taking the lab: more hands-on, more action. If your child is a kinesthetic learner, Quest might be the right solution for social cognitive work. Also, Quest offers tangible rewards that children truly value. The store system is a real motivator for my son, as is the opportunity to go on really great field trips. The summer camp is pretty much non-stop fun (sports, games, swimming, field trips, skits, songs, banners, science projects, art projects, and animal visits). My son really likes that at Quest they "do things" rather than just "talk." And yes, those tangible rewards do include some junk food "treats." The reason my son values those Oreos so highly is because he doesn't get them anywhere else, and so he's willing to work for that treat! And since I know he's not eating those kinds of things at home or school, I'm fine with it in the camp context -- any registered dietician will tell you that if your kid is eating healthy most (80-90%) of the time, treats are OK (as long as there are no allergies or food sensitivities, or other special-diet considerations). So, I let Quest be the "treater" in our lives! My bottom line is this: no therapy works at all if a kid won't stay engaged. Quest keeps my kid engaged, and the all other programs we've tried have failed to do that. Progress is slow, but steady, and the fact that it's a place my son *wants* to go makes all the difference. read more

Our rising seventh grade son has been attending summer and after-school Quest camp since the third grade. He LOVES Quest camp and we do too. He has come a very long way because of Quest. Because of his work at Quest, he has much greater self-awareness than his neurotypical twin sister. We use the keywords (lingo), the goal-setting and the point system derived from Quest at home and at school. Quest is a wonderful program with a great staff and a fabulous ethos. In a perfect world, mental health insurance would cover programs like Quest because they do SO MUCH in helping the kid who needs that extra, hands-on help with executive functioning and social skills, delivered with abundant positive reinforcement. Quest is, simply put, brilliant. read more

Great camp, and Dr. Fields who runs the camp is a smart, capable counselor who has helped us a lot. Highly recommended.

My son Nikodem attends Quest Camp and after school program for many years. This year he was so happy. He said: I wish the camp would be always instead of school. This was the first time he was so happy. He asked me to ask if the same counselors are coming back next summer. The camp is not only camp but the family. Everyone is helpful and dr. Bob is there when you need help in school with IEP. Everyone is professional, kids engaged and working on their goals. Thank you team read more

My 10 year old son attended Quest Camp in the summer of 2013. He is a Regional Center client and diagnosed ASD. I had heard great things about the camp from others and was able to have my son attend because they are vendors with Regional Center. For our son, it was a great experience. He was able to have a place he felt comfortable, act like a regular kid and not be judged for his "irregular" behavior. The camp sets goals for each participants and kids are rewarded with points they can use at the camp store each week. My son's goals were social in nature, getting him to participate in group games, pushing him to try new experiences, speak up, make a new friend, etc. He had success in meeting some of those goals, had fun and wants to go back this summer. Finding a place he can go and be supervised by staff who understand his unique needs AND have fun is not easy and for my son, Quest is the place. '[]]]] read more

My son has been going to Quest since he was 5 years old. This will be our 8th year going to Quest. Not only do we do the Summer program, he also attends the after school program. The counselors are GREAT!!! Dr. Bob Field is Wonderful!!! They take great care of your child and work on their goals. My son loves it!!! It is the only camp he wants to go too!!! It is nice to know that there is a camp that actually HELPS the kids on their issues and make it fun. That is what brings us back year after year. read more

Just finished our 3rd summer with Quest. Our son has always enjoyed his time at camp. He has developed an awareness of himself that he did not have before attending. I would highly recommend it to anyone whose child can use help with social/emotional skills or with how to self monitor their ADHD. read more

My husband just came across an article in the SF Chronicle (http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Yelp-reviews-privacy-laws-hamstring-doctors-9975030.php), bringing back unpleasant memories for both of us. The article portrays Bob Fields (the founder of Quest) as the innocent victim of a few whiny parents who have used Yelp as a springboard to unfairly criticize (and victimize) this poor honest psychologist who is simply doing his best to help out disabled kids. No doubt the concerns described in the article are legitimate in some situations, but based on our own experience with Quest in 2013, nothing could be further from the truth. When we sent our then-7-year-old son there, the camp billed itself as working wonders with behaviorally challenged kids, especially those with autism/Asperger's. In our initial meeting with Bob, he assured us that his staff had tons of expertise and experience helping boys like our (autistic and behaviorally challenged) son learn more adaptive coping skills. Bob also emphasized that his team was very skilled and experienced at obtaining reimbursement from Blue Shield. (As others on Yelp have noted, the camp required that we pay the entire bill upfront.) I am not doubting the truthfulness of at least some of those who posted positive reviews at Bob's behest. For all I know, the camp might actually be helpful to kids with relatively minor behavioral challenges who respond well to simple, one-size-fits-all point systems like the one they used back then. But all I can say is that for a more complex kiddo like ours who requires more sophisticated (and individualized) behavioral techniques, the camp was a colossal headache and total waste of money. First of all, the staff had no earthly clue how to handle our son's behaviors. When he got behaviorally escalated, they just called us up and demanded that we take him home early. They finally kicked him out, forcing us to shell out extra money for emergency back-up childcare. They offered no reimbursement or rebate for the times he was not permitted to attend. Secondly, they made no effort whatsoever to seek reimbursement from Blue Shield on our behalf. When we referenced their initial promise and asked for their help, they kept giving us the runaround, saying they hadn't gotten around to it yet. This went on for months, until they stopped replying to our e-mails, leaving us little choice but to cut our losses and give up in frustration. In retrospect, the only thing that surprises me about Quest is that parents with experiences similar to ours have not yet, as far as I know, brought a class action lawsuit for what we felt were highly unethical and misleading business practices. Sadly, I suspect that families like us are so overwhelmed by the day-to-day challenges of parenting their highly behaviorally challenged kids that they lack the bandwidth to do more than warn other parents away from a program that felt to them (as it felt to us) like a total scam. read more