First, I don't recommend this for children entering K or younger. Our youngest is four (TK), but we kept her out this year because there are too many big kids and not enough supervision and structure. Basically, this place is a free-for-all for elementary and younger middle school students. Also, the bathrooms. Hit or miss. First day, one had ants and another one had poop. Last day, everything was clean and well-stocked. I realize that that's up to the janitorial staff of the host school and not S&K, but that is an area for improvement. With that said, Jenbert Jr 1 (6.5 years, entering 1st grade) had so much fun here. On her first day she played soccer, read in the library, made a bracelet, played interactive games with the counselors, went down the slip & slide, and played on the playground. She came back with an equally big smile on her face after the second day talking about finding Chucky the chicken, all the games she played, and pieing volunteers in the face. Jenbert Jr 1 is usually a fussy eater but she liked a lot of the meals here. She enjoyed the rest of her time here and can't wait to come back next year. As a parent, I love the flexibility, variety of activities (both the core and rotating), and the fact that nut-free lunch and snacks are provided. There are also veg and GF options. I also like that you only pay for what you use. We are looking forward to returning in 2027! read more

My kid and her friend registered for the last week of summer camp. They arrived at 9 a.m., but unfortunately, many things weren't open until 10:30 a.m. Consequently, they had limited options for activities. Even the open activities were completely full. When things finally opened, there were extremely long lines, and they were unable to participate in any activities except for a 20-minute sewing session before being excused for lunch. They were repeatedly told to return an hour later on many activities, so they tried the library, which was closed, and then searched for athletic equipment like balls or anything, only finding none that weren't already being played with. In essence, the kids were left with no options and were forced to sit around and observed other kids doing the same, which is not what we expected from what was advertised. I understand that the camp has a high number of kids the last week of summer, but it should not compromise their overall experience. I had to pick them up early because they literally had nothing to do. I am a working mom and was really hoping this camp would have worked out for them for the next day. Therefore, I requested a full refund but nobody ever got back to me about it. Super disappointing and a fair warning for others who are looking to enroll in this summer camp in the future. read more

This is the first contact I have received from this business since they abused my child 21 days ago. While the director spoke to me initially, she was rude, condescending, and unapproachable. All I got were excuses. I left a message with HQ and NEVER heard back from them. I asked them to review the phone call transcripts because the site director was incredibly inappropriate, spoke to me in a rude tone, and talked over me. I have nothing to hide from the phone call and was calm the entire time she was lying and being rude. I repeat that no one from HQ ever got back to me about my valid concerns or addressed the director's lack of follow-through with on-site protocol. And, after 21 days, it appears nothing was addressed or changed to actually protect kids. My 12 year old is mad they did this to my 10 year old because my 10 yo repeated something another kid said, but said it sarcastically back to the kid. The initial offender who meant the remark never was punished. Instead, they thought the right thing to do was to lock my child in a room by HIMSELF for over 3 hours and not call me. He was screaming the whole time, per my other child and his friends from the camp. Think about that. My child was screaming alone in a room by himself and was not allowed to come out, nor was I called. For a little sarcastic comment he made. I am amazed that the director is still working there. This is a travesty, and she is abuaive and incompetent. We will certainly never return. read more

Someone from the business just responded on Yelp that the kids do not watch television... well this person may not know what's happening at the lower levels, because tons of kids were watching Bluey every morning in the media room every single day when I dropped my child off. And then my child said after awhile they got bored and wandered outside on their own. When I asked what their friends were doing during that time (bc we sent them to camp with close friends), they said their friends were just inside watching TV for a long time. read more

This was my daughter's first summer camp experience before entering first grade, and she had a blast at Steve & Kate's. She already can't wait to go back next summer. All the staffs she interacted with had been super friendly, helpful and patient from day one. They were consistent throughout the summer, so my daughter really got to know them. Kids were allowed and encouraged to explore freely the various activities the camp offered everyday with occasional special activities like the magic show and insect lab. My daughter got to try sewing with the sewing machine as well as baking all sorts of goodies to name a few. We will definitely go back next summer =) read more

My 7 year old had a great time this summer at the Walnut Creek location. She loved all the crafts (learning to sew) and meeting new friends. The staff was always warm and welcoming. As a parent, I appreciated the hours and the flexiability of being able to drop off on any given day. We had 1 unused day at the end of the summer and received a refund a few weeks after camp closed with no issues. Can't wait to go back for Winter Break. read more

Not a fan for my 4 year old. It's a free for all, they mixed her up with kids from her age to 13. No extra special supervision or handholding for her age group which is absurd. Maybe good for older kids but avoid for 4-6. On top of that, they don't allow adults to view the interior of the facility to get a feel for what their children will be exposed to "for the children's safety". My kid often complained about wanting to do certain activities but older kids would take her turn, counselors do nothing to stop it. Or other situations where my kid wants to do an activity, asks the counselor for help, but they say "too busy". They claim in their marketing it's a holistic program and let kids choose what they want to do but I just see a business model that gives them an excuse to have high counselor to child ratios with very minimal supervision. read more

Great camp! Our child attended the Walnut Creek camp last summer and asked to return this summer. Kids get to choose activities. Staff is friendly and helpful. I love that you pay for the days you want instead of a week at a time, and they refund any days you don't use in September. Our son is on the autistic spectrum and they have been very supportive and accommodating, even contacting us before camp started to ask they could help him have a great time. read more

Our 7 and 8 year old had a great experience at the Walnut Creek location this summer. The activities were varied and engaging with a lot of self direction (so good for kids this age), the camp was safe, counselors were attentive and sweet, and the included lunches and snacks were amazing from a logistical standpoint (kids liked the food). Kids came home tired and satisfied. Good hours and the Seven Hills location is great. Will be back next year! read more

My son was transitioning from elementary school to middle school and we wanted to try out a real camp instead of the schools summer program which didn't have a lot of daily activities and a lot of the kids always ended up being on their switch or tablets. Let me just say my son loved his first summer camp experience at Steve and Kates. The campus (Walnut Creek, CA) is beautiful and well kept, they have an open layout to the various rooms for activities, a large grass field, lunch area, multiple play areas, and the kids have access to roam the campus independently. My son learned how to be in a new environment and make friends which definitely gave him confidence about what it would be like going into a new school and making new friends. They had so many daily activities here such as sewing, baking, making short videos, 3d pens, sports like soccer and weekly water play/inflatable bouncers. The staff was so friendly with my son and really bonded with my son. The director Marlena was so kind, always was available and answered my emails and phone messages promptly. I loved all the photos they take and include on your individual profile so you can see what your child has been up too. They provided healthy snacks and a daily lunch selection ( salads, pizza, pasta, quesadillas and even gluten free and vegan options) if you like or you can bring your own lunch. My son found some new snack items he loved like sun butter and many lunch items he never tried before. By the end of summer he even had an interest in working at the camp lol. Steve and Kates camp and their staff (Marlena and the crew) allowed me to have peace of mind while I was working that my son was safe/protected on their grounds, well fed, being creative and active and he was making great friendships and memories. Thanks again for the experience and the memories!!!! read more

We are attending Steve & Kate's camp located in Walnut Creek and we returned for the winter break session. After summer camp, our son was missing camp and he could not wait to return. Today, we received such a warm welcome back. We loved seeing everyone again. Counselors have empathy, act selflessly, show compassion, and HAVE FUN! They keep children engaged through so many interesting activities. All the work accomplished during the day could barely fit in his little arms on his first day. I cannot thank this team enough for their hard work and passion for children. We are so lucky to have this great camp in our community! read more

My 6 year old son attended Steve & Kate's Walnut Creek camp the summer of 2022 and we couldn't have chosen a better fit for our family. For us as parents, the long hours, lunches offered, and flexibility of signing up for the summer but getting a refund on days not used made it really wonderful to know we always had a place to send our son. He enjoyed the "choose your own adventure" aspect, and liked that he got to do something different every day. The water days on Fridays were his favorite as they brought in bounce houses and water slides. He had an issue with one kid and bully-like behavior and Marlena couldn't have handled it better. Highly recommend! read more

This camp didn't fare very well for us at all. I'm writing this in case if you are counting on the refund. We did 4 days and my son didn't want to go back. He's never done that with a camp given he's been to the various one's in the area of Dublin and San Ramon. We did the 4 days in July and now I'm waiting for Sep 14 to get my refund. At least I can get a refund as I purchased a package for 20 days. To get my refund I had to call the main director then she told me to call the site director. I talked to both and they handle the situation well, but its a drag having to wait so long for $900 but I guess at least I can get a refund. We returned to the San Ramon Park and Rec for their camps. The issue we had was the counselors couldn't get a handle on the kids' behaviors. My son would be in morning huddle and watch the other kids slap their faces. Or he'd go to filmaking and there wasn't enough equipment so taking turns was a huge issue as once it was your turn the other kids started pushing and shoving to get it from you. He really wanted to learn film making but it was a situation where the counselor just handed him the equipment and felt there were so many kids that he couldn't get the counselor's attention to show him how as he didn't want to take the chance of breaking the equipment as it was good equipment as they've advertised. This just came down to a personality issue and it didn't work for him. Once I sent him back to San Ramon's Pk & Rec camp, he was fine. He said it was just too much drama at the other camp. read more

This summer was the first time Steve and Kate's Camp had a location in Pleasanton, and I'm already counting down the days until they re-open next summer. My two kids -- about to be first and third graders -- had the best summer ever, thanks to this day camp. I sent my kids twice a week, which was perfect for our needs. I loved the flexibility. I picked which two days a week to send them, and I chose the days based on the amazing "daily specials" activities. Every day there was something new and exciting to try, plus the everyday activities kept my kids entertained and busy. They were always excited to go, whether to continue working on a sewing or knitting project or to try out the new giant water slide or just to check in and hang out with their favorite counselors. The counselors were all fantastic -- they made sure the kids were engaged, and they were all fun and cool people themselves. I loved that the camp hired only kind, bright, and cool college-age counselors. They're young enough to relate to the kids, but old enough to deal with the kids' problems. I don't have a single negative thing to say about Steve and Kate's Camp. It made summer so much fun for my kids, and the counselors and camp directors were always calm, professional, engaged, and on top of everything. Even the camp tear down was done in a professional yet easy-going way! Seriously, signing up for Steve and Kate's Camp was one of the best experiences I've given my kids yet. read more

HORRIBLE CAMP!!!! My son just attended the camp in Oakland. First off, the staff was bad. One of the staff was arguing with me saying that my son was not at that camp, went through this for a few minutes, had to spell out my name at least a half dozen times, apparently I had to spell really really slow, because finally she realized that she was spelling it wrong. Ok, so the IQ of staff doesn't need to be above room temperature. If this was the only thing, it wouldn't be a problem The really big issue I have with them is this. They were play "banana tag" and another kid collided with mine, he was knocked out and woke up a minute or so later screaming in pain. He was benched and we were called. The phone call consisted of "oh, there was a little accident but he is fine now, he is just going to be benched for the rest of the day". No mention of passing out, no mention of him screaming, no mention of hey you might want to have him checked out. When he was picked, we saw that his face was all bruised, swollen and she found out he passed out (this was several hours). We took him to the doctor where we found out he had a concussion, CAT scan revealed nothing wrong (thankfully) but if a child is knocked out, a parent should know, not just "he had a little accident but He's fine", apparently, they can't spell but they are Drs and can tell a kid is just fine. Lack luster (putting it mildly) staff in the Oakland facility. My son did NOT enjoy this camp (this isn't even taking the accident into consideration). Said the activities we blah and that he didn't really care for it, didn't bother finishing the term we had paid for. Don't give them money, send your child to Galileo Summer Camp instead (my son loves this one). I don't feel my son is safe at this camp, he will NEVER go there again! Not just because of the accident, they don't bother checking ID or verifying who a person is when they are picking up a child. DON'T BOTHER, NOT WORTH IT!!!!!!! read more

I am pleased to highly recommend Steve and Kate's summer camp in Walnut Creek. This is my 7 year old daughter's first time in this particular camp. She enjoys all of the activities that are offered such as bread making, dancing, sewing and crafts and creating music. She is always warmly welcomed by name. I especially appreciate the attention that all the children receive by the counselors. The counselors make an effort to share something about how the child's day went, if they attempted a new experience, they are positively reinforced and recognized for their accomplishment. It is a safe environment that allows children to freely explore their interests. We're already looking forward to next summer. read more

My son went to the El Cerrito location this summer and I couldn't have been more pleased. He is just about to turn 5, so he was in the Kindercamp program, which made all the difference. There was an amazing counselor, Bridget, there all summer who was in charge of the kindergarteners. She made sure that my son was warmly greeted every morning and facilitated his activities every day. When I mentioned that my son loves baseball, she made sure to include him with some older kids who were playing (my son would have been hesitant to join them on his own), and they ended up being buddies all summer. We had a rough week or so when my son started having a hard time being left off for the day, and all of the counselors worked with us to get him back into the groove. They were all very aware of his temperment and could give me detailed feedback on how he had spent his days. And my decidedly non-artistic, uninterested-in-crafts son made a pillow and some music CDs, much to my amazement. The location was excellent--it felt very clean and safe and secure, no matter what the enrollment that day was (and that's yet another thing we loved--the flexibility for attending as we chose, day by day). Last but not least, my son loved the food and I loved not having to make a lunch for the whole summer! All in all, a great experience and I dearly hope that they come back to El Cerrito next year! read more

My son attended the Park Day location in Oakland, just for a couple of days. The staff seemed nice. They have tons of very cool activities but unfortunately one of them is video games. My 6-year-old played video games as much as possible (not sure exactly how much time this is, maybe a couple of hours?). I had asked in advance about this and they had told me that only dance dance revolution was going to be at that site, which turned out not to be true. They had some Wii adventure game, and the main takeaway message my son got from this camp is that we should buy a Wii. Maybe he's right. Buying a Wii would keep him busy all summer and be much cheaper than camp. I could just plop him in the living room and go off to work, and he'd still be there staring at the screen 8 hours later. The 2nd day we went I asked one of the counselors to please check in with my son about keeping his sun hat on, and also to encourage him to try some of the other activities. At the end of the day -- no hat, and no other activities. I asked my son and he said that the counselor had not encouraged him to try other activities. Maybe just one irresponsible counselor, who knows? Might be a better camp for older kids with more self-discipline. For my son, I was much happier with Monkey Business in Tilden. I would give 2 stars but I felt that would be mean, considering my guy only went for 2 days. read more

Really good camp for those who are looking for flexibility. Our 8 year old enjoys his days here, and mostly has positive things to say about his days at pick up. Because of the nature of "drop off-no reservation" style camp, he never knows if he'll have friends there that day or not know anyone. But the flexibility is why we chose this camp so I feel this is an expected negative. Overall I would recommend read more

This Camp is absolutely amazing! My son has attended three years in a row now and can't wait to go next year. The staff is extremely attentive and you can tell they truly care for the kids. The best part is they have so many different activities that each kid can truly find what they like. My son always comes home with projects he's proud of and the best part is the camp post digital media such as movies and music and pictures that the kids were involved in. Highly recommend this place! read more

My 8 year old daughter attends Steve and Kate's camp in Danville. We are new to the area, and although both my kids (8 and 16) have been to different summer camps in the Bay Area for many years, I have never been so impressed, nor has my daughter had such an awesome experience. Flexibility for parents, Structure, Fun, Safe, AWESOME!!!!! The camp is structured very well with numerous ongoing daily activities, as well as exciting weekly activities that change each week. Meals and snacks are healthy and delicious!!! The counselor to child ratio is really low and everyone is incredibly kind and friendly, attentive and fun. ***Scott, the Danville site Director and Mandy have really been incredibly warm and supportive to my daughter, as well as myself. They always stop to share with me a special moment about her day. Each child is really seen and engaged with. They create a family fun atmosphere of adventure and laughter and I trust that her every need is met. There is video equipment, computers, sound studios, music, video screens, and games, crafts, materials to create and explore...... and a multitude of safe and exciting outdoor activities that keep her stimulated and active. My daughter loves the "Style Studio" where she sews with real sewing machines, and creates wonderful things. She comes home with homemade bread every day that she makes too. She is most often in the "Dance Studio" dancing and singing, which she loves!! When needing to decompress, she will sit in the Lounge and plays games like Foosball, Mancala and chess or read books and colors. The real Steve visited the site and my daughter felt like she met a celebrity and I was given a photo of them together. She thought that was super cool. I really cannot say enough wonderful things about the staff, or the camp. I am not just a parent, but also a former Early Childhood Educator and believe that there is nothing quite comparable to this camp. She is having the BEST summer. I am incredibly grateful..... and you will be too. read more

My daughter went to Steve and Kate's at Park Day in Oakland last year and we are definitely going again. I was uncertain at first because of the parent reviews that suggested it was especially hard for shy kids. Mine is but I needed the flexibility that only Steve and Kate's offers and she loved it, learning to make new friends every day that built her confidence so much. The camp felt safe, clean, and really creative. I felt good about the staff. They knew her name quickly and greeted me every day. She's been to camps where the staff didn't know her name after two weeks. If I had a question or concern, they responded right away--It is a great balance of fun and structure in a very nice outdoor/indoor environment. I highly recommend Steve and Kate's and would encourage every parent to attend an open house or contact the staff directly. As a parent, nothing beats knowing that she will have a great time, learn lots, meet new people, learn new things, play outside, and I can go when and where I want! Thank you. read more

I like this camp. My daughter seemed to like it too. She didn't know anybody but she usually makes friends pretty fast. The security is good at check in / check out. They provide lunch (yeah), they made bread, had a lot of activities. She enjoyed the movie making the most. I can't commet on the counselers at the camp other than the check in / check out. They all seemed involved and engaged. My favorite part about this camp is the flexibility of the days you purchase, drop in any day any location. Works for me and our crazy schedule. read more

Our 1st grader is having The Best time at Steve and Kate's Camp in Walnut Creek this summer. There are many activities he can choose from every day, he always participates in the sports activities but I was blown away when he brought me home a "scarf" he had sown for me and he bakes bread daily to snack on. He makes real movies (approx 10-20 seconds but still a movie) using their iPads and special app, is always so excited to tell me what went on when all the kids are together and playing the games like antlers up. The counselors are energetic, the food is delicious and healthy, the activities are endless. I feel like he is very safe and well taken care of there, we will definitely be going back next summer! read more

This review in on the Pleasant Hill/Walnut Creek site only. This last summer, our family had a terrible experience with this camp. My son, who's is in 1st grade and just turned 7, was expelled from this camp. He and his best friend were caught playing/being silly in the bathroom on 3 different occasions within a 2 month period. I was told that due to the safety of other children and the staff members that he and his best friend would not be allowed back to camp. Not one time before he was "kicked out" was I advised that playing/being silly in the bathroom could lead to being kicked out of camp. What was SOOOO serious about what they were doing in the bathroom you ask? 1. Daring each other to walk out of the bathroom with their shorts down (underwear up), 2. Sitting on a urinal fully clothed, 3. Being part of a group of kids who stood on the top of a toilet and watched another child go to the bathroom in the next stall, 4. Knocked loudly on the bathroom stall while one of them used the bathroom and shouted "Let me in?" 5. While changing from water clothes to regular clothes, trying to be funny by running around naked the bathroom while making funny sounds. Does this sound like they might have needed some supervision? YES. Does it sound like something a 6-7 year old would do? YES Does it sound like something to be expelled for? NO After he was expelled, I spoke with the East bay Director, she apologized for this occurrence and said "this is a learning experience" for her staff. I think Steve and Kates needs to do a better job to evaluate their staff, make sure staff understand child development and that they have the ability to discern the difference between a severe behavior issue from normal childhood behavior. I would caution parents that just because this camp was voted Best of the Bay, Best of East Bay, etc. Not all of Steve and Kates sites are created equal. read more

My daughter attended Steve and Kate's camp in Walnut Creek this summer. Several parents from our daughters school recommended the camp so we decided to give it a try. As it was our first camp experience I did not know what to expect, I was completely blown away. The staff at the camp are completely amazing. They are organized, knowledgeable, committed to each and every camper and fun. My daughter had the best time at camp and is asking to go back next year already. As a parent I can not wait to sign her up again. It was engaging and fun while be structured and flexible for parents. Kudos to Sarah and her staff for running a top notch camp! read more

This was the first year sending our three (very eclectic kids) to Steve & Kate's camp. Almost immediately, we wondered why we didn't do so sooner? What a fantastic quality experience for our kids (6, 8, and 10), and us! The program is so well run, and the counselors are wonderful. They adapted to each of our kids' interests / personality, were fun, positive, helpful, kind... all of it. The flex schedule is convenient and with so many options for activities it was super easy for each of our kids to enjoy their own idea of fun. We expected our son to love the sports and our older daughter to take up singing - and they did - but their love of zip lining, rock climbing and the other weekly specials were perfect added bonuses. We also found that we have a domestic diva on our hands. Our six year old spent many hours baking bread and learning to sew (two activities that we would not have introduced otherwise!). On one occasion, our son was feeling insecure, wanting to excel at playing with older kids. I reached out to Sarah (dir) who very discreetly kept an eye on him and encouraged his comfort in that game and any others. As we winding down our summer break, we asked our kids to pick the top three highlights of the summers - and wouldn't you know it - without prompting S&K's was at the top of their reports out (tied with a visit from cousins and a trip to Yosemite). Thanks very much to all involved. We'll see you again next summer! read more

My daughter has attended Steve and Kate's camp the last two summers in Pleasanton and is anxiously waiting for summer to be able to attend again. The first summer she attended, I was a little worried because my daughter can be on the shy side and take awhile to warm up to new settings. I didn't need to worry. From day one, the staff was warm and friendly. My daughter was engaged in many different activities and got to explore new things at camp. I was impressed with how quickly the staff knew not only my daughter's name but also my name. The first summer, my daughter's favorite activities were making friendship bracelets, videos of stories a group of kids made up, pottery, and cooking. She even came home and wanted to make dinner after learning how to make summer rolls at camp. Can't tell you how much fun that was to have a "kids make dinner night", a tradition we still do about once a month, all because of what she learned at camp. The second summer, her favorite activity was learning to sew. She loved it so much, we bought the sewing machine at the end of camp. My daughter sewed pillows and bags for Christmas gifts and had so much fun doing it. As a mom who works part time, I love the flexible structure of Steve and Kate's camp. I was so relieved to learn they will be back in Pleasanton for another summer. read more

I'm typically pretty hard to satisfy - but I love this camp. Both of my sons love this camp and look forward to the start of the summer, solely for the return of Steve and Kate's. This is our 4th year going, and we wouldn't consider ever going anywhere else. The hours are nice, it runs the entire summer, and there is enough diversity that my kiddos can do something different and fun every day. Even when I have work-from home days, or days off - they beg for me to take them to S&Ks, if only for a few hours. My oldest son (9) is very outgoing, and loves the freedom to plan his own day. He spends quite a bit of time in the studios. They have film studio where he can do Lego stop-motion animation every day (which I love to watch from my account) or live-action filmmaking, which is quite cute as well to see where their imaginations take them. My younger son (5) is a little more introverted, but is flourishing at S&Ks - and maybe coming out of his shy guy shell a bit. I can see his self-confidence blooming a bit. He loves music studio, and is quickly becoming a fierce DJ/mixer. They both like bread-making and style studio (sewing), and I have more homemade pillows and cat toys than I can count. Not to mention, the gifted creations from friends. I can't wait for them to discover coding studio, because I'm super impressed that a camp even offers that - but for now they're excited about other activities. I can't even think about picking them up before end-of-day activity "Antlers Up" - as it's a daily favorite for all of the campers where they win cool prizes. Yes, thank you for the oversized stuffed moose that my son has been sleeping with for 3 years now, Steve and Kate's. I don't know what our nighttime would be without Moosey. Or the drone that my youngest won a few weeks ago, or all the wristbands, ball caps, plastic cups, totes - we love the constant prizes. The camp counselors are top-notch, quality and fun people. And they return every year, so you know the organization must be doing something right. The directors are everything you would hope for and expect out of leaders and run the camp locations like a well-oiled machine. Patrick, the director at Walnut Creek, is super-engaged, always visible and available to parents, smart, diplomatic, respected, always fun to talk to - and he knows my children well. I feel super comfortable with them under his guidance. My youngest son has a peanut allergy - which scares me to-no-end, but the camp is peanut-free and the provided lunch and snacks are healthy. They're never hungry and have opportunity for food and drink throughout the day. My youngest just asked if we could buy celery at the store because he snacks on it at S&Ks... um, okay. :) This has been a great summer, as expected - and I honestly don't have anything negative to say. They're doing it all - right, as far as I'm concerned. I refer all of my friends here, and they love it as well. Can't wait to see what next summer holds, S&Ks! read more

My 2 girls attended steve & kates 2013 for the first time. They were ages 5 and 12. We liked the Walnut Creek and Danville sites, but had a horrible experience at the Fremont site. The Fremont camp was disorganized and my little one got ran over by the older kids. We attended their last week of camp, and the counselors were all so nonchalant, sitting seemingly uninvolved with the kids. Will not go to that site again The Danville and WC site was enjoyed by both my kids. The rules and play were very different at all 3 camps. I was a bit shocked that there was such a nonconformity between the sites. It took a bit for my girls to get used to. Danville seemed better established, while WC seemed to be just finding their way as they kept changing their rules. I think my younger was able to get more out of the camp then my older daughter. My older daughter resolved herself to helping out at camp to try to win better prizes (which they kept changing rules on how much she had to do in order to earn something; making promised prize often no longer obtainable because rules changed by the time she earned enough points for it) Sewing machines were impossible to get to even though they promised to add machines if there was high demand. I have my daughters at a new camp this year, which they both agree is much better but is a lot more money. My older daughter preferred Backyard Explorers in Concord for younger grade (K-3rd), which is equivalent in cost but further away (and no lunch provided). read more

2 weeks ago, I lost a very close friend of mine to an ugly battle with breast cancer. I have been trying to do whatever I can lately to support her husband with their 7 year old daughter and 3 year old son. I know that with everything going on, securing a fun and engaging summer at camp just didn't happen . I reached out to Steve and Kate's via email and shared what happened to my friend and her daughter who has been attending Steve and Kate's for the last 2 years. Patrick called me right away and immediately told me he knew my friend and her daughter and spoke so fondly about them. It was clear to me that Patrick had made a true connection to my friend and her daughter while she was a camper at Steve and Kate's.He spoke of the other counselors that knew her and how much of an impression she had made on the other counselors. In a time like now, speaking to Patrick made me feel so much better about things for my friends daughter. I knew Steve and Kate's would be a place to have fun, be herself and to be a kid, surrounded by caring adults and staff who genuinely have her best interest at heart. I could not ask for more for her, this is exactly what she needs right now. I shared with Patrick that things took a turn for the worse and quite frankly the last year was very difficult for the whole family. My friend's husband lost his job during this time due to the time off he took to be with his wife and my friend was not able to work while getting treatment. The kids have felt the affects of so much loss in their lives, it is critical that they are able to begin their life without mom in a kind and caring environment and be in a place that centers around a child's interests. After Patrick helped me secure camp for her for the summer, I feel that I can rest easy knowing that I am able to follow through on the wishes of my friend. Due to Steve and Kate's and especially Patrick, I can rest assured her daughter will be well taken care of! read more

This is my daughter's second year at this camp and at this location. I felt the need to write a review due to recent changes my daughters have noticed in comparison to last year. They have done away with the electronic games such as the WII and X-Box., which I must say I was pleasantly happy about this. If I wanted my children to play video games then they can stay home. This year I've noticed that my girls are coming home starving which is not something that was an issue last year. Now my girls are above average and are big eaters so I wasn't too concerned at first, however by day 3 of this "I'm starving', I decided to investigate. I called the counselors who told me that this was a particular busy week and that they had been running out of food and they had a meeting and they decided to increase the amount of food. I'm glad the counselors had a meeting concerning this issue but does it need to take 3 days to figure out that kids are starving and food is running out. On to week 2, my daughter and her friend were taunted at camp and sand was thrown into their faces and hair. I understand that this is not a reason to call me but it would have been nice to have been informed of these events when picking up my child and her friend. The counselors never mentioned anything. The only reason why I was made aware of said events were do to finding sand in my child's hair right before bed! I am still a fan of Steve and Kate's, I just feel they need better communication among the counselors. I would like to know my child is not starving nor are they getting bullied on the playground read more

We'll be back for our third summer at the Pleasanton campus. Every summer (prior to Steve and Kate's) I dreaded the "What do we do with them this summer?" question. We signed up after attending an open house two years ago and never looked back. I love it because it works with my part time schedule and I'm not charged for unused days. PLUS the kids get healthy lunch and snack included in the price and are completely engaged in activities with young adults with a whole lot more energy than I have. Knitting? Check. Video Production? Check. Rock wall? Check. Duct tape flowers? Check. And that's just Monday. Where was this camp when I was a kid? read more

My 8-year-old is a pretty introverted kid who would have been happy sitting in front of his computer playing Minecraft all summer, so when I picked him up on his first day I would have been satisfied with a grudging "it was fine" from him, or at least a willingness to give it a few days. I certainly did not expect that he would be positively bubbling over with enthusiasm the whole way home about everything he experienced - the coding program that really challenged his skills, the inflatable jumpy, the antlers up game, even the delicious food. He spent the entire first day in the coding lab, which I expected - what REALLY surprised me is that, by day three, his favorite activities switched to movie-making, dancing, and karaoke, of all things - activities he is still participating in regularly at camp. I love how this camp has allowed him to stretch himself and his own skills and interests by allowing him the freedom to try all sorts of different things at his own pace. As a parent, I think this camp works best when you "get with the program" and trust your child to self-direct and make his/her own choices. There are some activities I am sure my son would love that he hasn't seemed to even consider, and there are days when - per his report - he spends the whole day in the lounge talking with his new friends and or or playing pickup basketball, instead of partaking in all the carefully crafted and elaborate studios the camp offers. But that is what he loves about this program - he doesn't have to do what everyone in the group is doing on a strict schedule like other camps, he has the freedom to try new things, stick with old favorites, or just hang out and socialize (which itself is kind of a new thing for him)! There are so few situations where a 3rd grader has that kind of autonomy to direct his/her own time and schedule, and I think it has been a powerful experience. My son has had a great experience so far, and the flexibility has been perfect for us as a family with 2 working parents. We will definitely be back next summer! read more

This camp is for kids that are comfortable self-directing their activities. The first year my daughter attended, she was not that comfortable with this concept. The kids truly pick what they want to participate in; which means shyer kids might miss out on activities they want to try if they are not "brave" enough to join in. This problem dissipated the second year, when my daughter was a little older and had a blast! She loved the dance studio, huddles, bread-making studio, animation studio, spontaneous shows, etc. She also loved the lunches, which are tasty and included. I loved not having to remember to pack a lunch every day. The program is so flexible, which I love, and you get a refund for days you do not use. This is a no-lose situation! read more

I was surprised to read the negative reviews, though I may understand where they are coming from. This camp is for kids who can self-direct and keep themselves entertained with many options at hand. It is not as rigid in its instruction as Galileo, etc. As rambunctious as my kids are, they always found to do and were very happy. The reason for my review is the staff. Young as they may be, I found them personable, professional and, yes, accountable. It so happens that our billing was mishandled. It took a couple of phone calls, but was not a big deal and was remedied effectively. To my big surprise I got a nice gift card in the mail yesterday with profuse apologies for their mistake. This was long handled, we did not have any grievances over it, and they clearly did not have to follow up in any way. I think it is this type of service that sets this camp apart. Sarah was outright amazing. Thank you for a great experience and see you next summer! read more

You get what you paid for. Minimally trained kids taking care of younger children. For the well being of your child, stay away. When my kid's face was horribly scratched by another kid, the staff initial reaction was akin to "too bad." When I insisted, the procedure called for a chat about feelings. If your child loses an eye, you may get an "oops". read more

This is my 7 year old son's first time at Steve and Kate's Camp in Walnut Creek and he loves it! We were a bit concerned at first because our son didn't know anybody at camp, but that has not been an issue at all. In fact, on the first day we were informed that another student from my son's same grade and school was also attending. Now he has a new friend for the fall. The staff have all been friendly, kind, and quick to learn the campers names. The camp activities are fantastic and they have so many to choose from. My son has brought home sewing projects, baked bread, and even made a mini movie. We love the flexibility to pick our own schedule, the safety and security of drop-off/pick-up, and the recognition of food allergies. My son is allergic to nuts so it really helps me have piece of mind that the food served at camp takes this into consideration. Snacks and lunch are provided and my son can't stop raving about the delicious food he eats! .They have weekly specials such as a climbing wall, water slide, and go karts which have been my son's favorites so far. I am totally impressed and would highly recommend Steve and Kate's Camp. Sarah and her staff do a wonderful job! My son is already saying he wants to go back next year. I wish they would have had a camp like this when I was young. I can't blame my son, I would want to go back there too! read more

My kids attended Steve and Kate in Walnut Creek. I have a kinder and a 3rd grader. The 3rd grader was ok, he played sports the whole day, some of the other activities were too crowded and he didn't want to wait. He bumped heads with another kid on the basketball court and got a bloody nose. Wasn't a big deal and in gross boy fashion he wiped it out with his sleeve and continued to play (he had blood on his face, hand, tshirt when I picked him up couple hours later and the staff didn't even make a comment at sign out, I had to sent him to wash). My issue was that nobody noticed and checked on him and send him to wash, and he was out in the sun playing on a 90+ degrees day. The other issue I had was that even though they told us the Kinders have a dedicated counselor and are more supervised, that seemed to be true for only couple hours, the rest of the day they roam around like older kids and there is not much guidance to get them involved in activities. Except for the bread making that she enjoyed, my daughter ended up watching her brother playing sports most of the day. She is not a shy kid, makes friends easily but she does need some guidance, after all she's only 5. I guess they rely on the friends you make there to get you involved in activities, not guidance from the staff. The counselors seemed very young, I didn't get the feel that they had much experience and they were more or less following a playbook. I loved the flexibility of dropping off when you want and not being tied to a specific schedule you need to commit in advance. But for the money it costs, I did expect more than just few rooms with gadgets, I expected a bit more involvement from the staff. read more