My son had a BLAST at the Apollo Sports Camp in Gilroy! I found the coaches to be professional,…read moreorganized and great with the kids. My son actually came home from the first day wanting to talk to me about the food pyramid and what it means to be a leader. My son loves sports and this was such a great fit for him! I would greatly recommend this camp and the coaches and we cannot wait till they come back next summer!

From the owner: We believe that success in life starts with a few key core values: Respect, hard work, creating a…read morevision and execution. Statistics show that boys with positive role models outside their immediate families tend to stay out of trouble and find success earlier in life. At Apollo, we look forward to being that added resource for your son. In today's world, you have to run just to stand still. At Apollo, we equip your boys with life skills through sports and mentorship to MAXIMIZE their potential as they grow into young men and beyond. Imagine us as the foundation as you work with your son to write the story of his life.

I got to know Bright Ranch and the Bright family. They are all caring. I have known them from when…read moreI was 8 years to when I was 19. I did weekly lessons and learned a lot about the horse and riding. I learned how to ride all kinds of horses from green (not fully trained) horses to the competition horses. It was one of the reasons why I became so into horseback riding. I loved Dennis's deep knowledge on horses and how he worked and partnered with the amazing horses he has in the stable. I also learned to work with cows and learned to do advanced techniques over the years. Dennis teaches you that patience helps you a lot around horses. He teaches you to be safe on the ground and in the saddle. Yes, it takes years to learn to horseback ride. It is the same for all sports and even learning instruments. You gotta understand that things take time. I describe horseback riding is like a tree. You learn the basics or the standard skill. Each basic technique you learn branches off to more advanced skills. Also, repetitions are key! Anyway, I recommend Dennis Bright as a caring and acknowledgeable horseback riding mentor. He has the safest horses to ride compared to the other stables I visited. The biggest thing he makes sure is that you the student is safe. Not many horseback riding teachers do this! - Kathryn K.

My 8 year old daughter did a week long summer camp here and I cannot recommend it highly enough!…read moreShe got a horse riding lesson every day, got to brush the horses and help take care of the other animals on the farm, learned about the garden and helped harvest the vegetables... basically every 8 year old's dream! The camp counselors were all so friendly and the owners were so helpful and seemed to genuinely care about the kids learning and having a good summer camp experience. We will definitely be back next summer! I wish we lived close enough to do riding lessons here on a regular basis!

This was the single most important social outlet for me growing up as an eccentric kid with not a…read morelot of enthusiasm for sports. I really believe that there is no other summer program for kids that rivals the acceptance and nurturing nature of the staff and piers I am so grateful to have grown close with. To this day, the friends I made here are close to my heart and always in my thoughts. If you have a child who doesnt quite know what to be a part of or who to confide in or simply have a very creative and outgoing kid, you cannot go wrong with having them be a part of STAR. I joined the staff after becoming to old to enroll and I hope to return for another season someday. I LOVE S.T.A.R!!! ‍‍‍‍‍

From the owner: Hands on Acting! Kids on Stage and Screen Since 1985!…read more STAR Arts Education [aka The STAR Program] is one of the best summer programs available for young people interested in theatre and video arts, with multi-week, full-day sessions held at Brownell Middle School in Gilroy and at the historic El Teatro Campesino Playhouse in San Juan Bautista. STAR has been a safe place for creative expression. Since 1985, STAR has transformed hundreds of children's lives by helping to boost their confidence and poise; encouraging their creative spirits; and teaching them collaboration, teamwork, and respect. The STAR season includes two theatre performing arts programs and one video arts program in the summer, with Saturday workshops in the Fall and Spring. Join our email list to receive updates with information on how to get involved; to purchase tickets to a performance; or to enroll or sponsor a child in a STAR program. Sign up on our website or join us on Facebook! Check out videos by STAR VIdeo Kids and STAR Staff on our YouTube channels: starartseducation and GavilanCollegeSTAR!

Shannon is an exceptional instructor. She has been teaching my daughter horseback riding for the…read morepast 10 years, and my daughter absolutely loves her kind, patient, and encouraging approach. Shannon has played a huge role in helping her grow and progress through the levels with confidence. My daughter truly loves the horses and the entire stable environment. It's also a wonderful place to spend time while waiting--calm, peaceful, and welcoming. We're so grateful for Shannon and the entire team.

We have been attending lessons at Painted Star Equestrian for 5 months now. We LOVE Shannen's…read morecurriculum for horseback riding. The kids always know what their next goals are and how to level up and what they need to do to get there. My youngest fell in love with horseback riding here. She is often overshadowed by her two older sisters' achievements and she has found her own "thing" here. She has learned a greater level of responsibility and independence. Her confidence has grown both on and off the arena and we couldn't be more proud of her and thankful for Painted Star!

Our daughter who will soon be turning twelve years old attended phase 1 this summer on the…read morerecommendation of a friend who attended phase 2 this year. It was her first summer camp and her first time away from home with people she hadn't met before. She had a wonderful experience all around. She mentioned that the meals were great and the camp songs and activities were fun. For her, the week picked up in intensity on Wednesday when they went for an overnight backpacking trip. It was her most challenging experience but also the highlight of her week. She experienced home sickness the first day, but that faded away by the second day. She made good friends with some of the girls and boys in her group. Everybody seemed to be helpful and supportive of each other. As a parent of an Eagle Scout boy, I remember attending his first two summer camps as an adult troop leader. So I felt a little anxious not being able to be there with my daughter at her first summer camp. The weather in this area was in the high 80s in the morning and mid 50s in the evening for the second week of July that my daughter attended. A two person tent and a warm sleeping bag and pad with an inflatable pillow were perfect for her. The campsites were under trees and their shade made for a pleasant stay even during the warmest part of the day. The warmest it got for my daughter was on the backpacking hike up a hill, but she also forgot to wear her hat. Kids were constantly reminded to drink water. They also made frequent stops to rest and hydrate. My daughter showered twice in the six days she was there and that along with some wet wipes she took were enough for her. They were required to wear their swimsuits when they showered. I must say that my daughter has always been a scared-y cat when it comes to bugs (spiders, bees, mosquitoes, ants) and splinters. Nevertheless, none of these seem to have been an issue, or not enough for her to notice. She only used the insect repellent once, and even though she said she got bit by mosquitoes a couple of times, we couldn't find any signs of bites, rashes or scratches when she got home. In all, it was a positive growing experience for her and she is very likely to return next year. On the night she came home, she cried before going to sleep because she missed the friends she made and the songs they sang. The possibility that they might not see each other again made her sad. We told her that is part of growing up. I wrote this review because my daughter wanted me to share her experience so that it may be helpful to others. I agree that every person is different and have different reactions to similar situations. Being away from home or sleeping in a tent for the first time is not for everyone ... you can ask my wife, who is definitely not the outdoor type .... she is the glamping type :) As another reviewer posted, phase one had the largest group of kids, followed by phase two and then phase three. Middle school and high school academics, club and school sports, and online and extracurricular activities give teenagers so much to choose these days. As they grow their interest change and they opt to purse other activities. Still, it is amazing and commendable to see some of them continue to do summer camps and return to mentor the younger children.

I attended White Stag as candidate recently and I had so much fun. The people I met during the week…read morewere so kind and considerate to me and even 2 weeks after the camp we still keep in contact reminiscing over the fun times we had during the week. The staff did an amazing job helping me throughout the week, and I will definitely use many of the skills they taught me. I really recommend you send your kids to White Stag. It is a wonderful experience that helps your child grow and have fun.

Lynda is a great art teacher, who also teaches at my sons school. He took her art class this…read moresummer, and had a wonderful time. Came home with some lovely pieces of art! Will definitely be doing this again next summer! Reasonable pricing, and great location in San Martin.

Lynda is a skilled art teacher, attentive creative coach and valued member of our community. My…read moreson has been taking classes with Lynda for five years, starting in kindergarten. She has provided him a safe forum where he combines his natural talent with her instruction and he creates true pieces of art. Our family participates in Project Cornerstone and two themes from PC are alive in my son's relationship with Lynda--she allows him to hone his *SPARK* & Lynda has become one of my boy's "caring adults." Lessons/Skills: Lynda teaches the elements of art (traditional) along with stimulating her students' personal creativity (exploration.) Because she can meld these two dtyles, her students end up loving art, both the creation of and the final product. Value: As parents we must consider our budgets when looking for lessons and extracurricular activities for our kids. The time she takes with each child mixed with the time spent on task and the product that is crafted, LBArt must be the best value we have found.

I have only taken my son here once but I have already signed him up to come back. I paid $120 for…read morethe day. It sounds like a lot but when I'm given the security of his safety and knowing throughout the day he is enjoying himself, that $ is well worth it. I was nervous having never even visited the place and only going off of another parents recommendation but the staff gave me direct communication as I continuously checked in (shout out to LuLu) and she provided me the comfort of knowing he's having fun and he told me he wasn't ready to come home until the last min of his day. He is excited to go again. He talked about the fun he had that days for several days after. I would def recommend trying it out even if it's just for one time. I'm sure your kid will talk you into coming again.

This is our kid's second year attending the GrowFit sports camp at The Plex. It's a great program…read morefor a kid with ASD to stay active, be around peers outside of academia, and learn with a group of kind coaches and directors to help lead. With the high temps this summer, this was a plus to be indoors but active staying cool and safe. Thanks for another great summer GrowFit!!!

We've had such a wonderful experience with this barn! My son is taking horseback riding lessons…read morewith Johnny, and she is absolutely amazing. She's incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and clearly passionate about what she does. She has such a special gift for teaching children--making them feel confident, safe, and excited to learn. My son looks forward to every lesson, and we've seen so much growth in his skills and confidence. Highly recommend to any families looking for a positive and supportive environment for their kids!

We love riding horses, and this experience meant so much to us. My daughter has special needs, and…read moreJohnny and Amanda treated her with genuine respect, patience, and kindness from the very beginning. Johnny took the time to understand her riding ability and encouraged her in just the right way, pushing her enough to grow while making her feel safe and supported. Because of that, she not only excelled but continues to build confidence every time she rides. We're incredibly grateful for such a thoughtful and inclusive experience. We look forward to our next session. We Highly recommend Johnny 6 Stables!