We are HUGE fans of Monkey Business Camp (MBC) and are excited to share our enthusiasm with the…read moreYelp community here. Our daughter (now age 6) started attending this year, and our son (now age 12) started attending when he was 6. For the past 2 years, he has not attended as a "Camper", but as a "Counselor-in-Training" (CIT)... a sort of junior internship role that MBC has created to train select children who are fans of the program and who demonstrate aptitude for serving as a Counselor (formal, paid role) at some point in the future. For him, this role has allowed him to develop and hone his leadership skills (drawing heavily on skills he developed in scouting), and he loves serving as a mentor to the younger kids who are the Campers. He exudes pride and commitment to the role, and that makes us as parents proud as well. For our daughter, she is completely immersed in the curriculum and talks about it over dinner each night when she returns. For both kids, they are genuinely excited to get out the door in the morning and get to camp... it is an organic kind of excitement... not anything that we push. This is the best kind of inspiration and enthusiasm. And finally, for us as parents, we love how MBC immerses the Campers, the CITs, and their own staff members in the middle of nature (for the summer sessions) and in a school campus setting (for the winter sessions), completely without access to electronic devices. "Device detox" is what we call it, and MBC's culture and curriculum are so effective that the kids don't even seem to miss the devices. I can scarcely believe the words I am writing here, but this is a true statement. Finally, we must commend the MBC staff... from the founder all the way down to the senior and junior leaders... for their intuitive ability to excite and inspire children with a captivating, engaging curriculum that nourishes the mind and body. MBC is everything a camp should be. This is why it is a Berkeley/East Bay institution for childcare and early childhood development. If any of what I've written here aligns with your own philosophy, then don't hesitate... enroll your child(ren) in MBC. It will make a lasting and positive impact on everyone in your family!

My kids love it so much that they're already planning their futures as camp counselors!read more

Camp Chrysalis is an incredible camp. The director Lee is very responsive and passionate about…read moreproviding a wonderful experience to the kids who attend camp. It was my kids first time away from home & one of the first things they said when we picked them up after a week long camp was that they would love to go back next year, no hesitation. They are still singing the songs that they learned and talking about the experience. It is obvious that the staff love what they do and outdoor adventures are an integral part of their lives.

My teen and pre-teen had the time of their lives backpacking and swimming in mountain lakes during…read morethis year's Sierra Session. It was a TON of fun. So many lakes to swim in and so many nights solely amongst the trees and the stars. They made new friends and reunited with old ones from the previous year (pre-pandemic). Many counselors and trip leaders attended Chrysalis as youngsters and have astonishingly returned. It says a lot about the camp, its director Lee Tempkin, and the warm, nurturing, exciting and educational environment they create. Two of my youngest children also attended the Mendocino Session in 2019, their first time away from home. Well, truth be told, I am not sure they missed us *too* much with all the adventures and friendships to be had! Everyone helped prepare and cook meals. The also learned to work in teams around camp. Real world lessons. Swimming, hiking, canoing, catamaran sailing, tidepooling and even rollicking in the sand dunes... wow! This is a *real* adventure and a *real* experience. It is tent camping in a base camp and exploring the wonder that surrounds. Awesome fun and creative activities abound. Nature at its best, making epic summer memories.

So far just one class with my 5-year-old son, but I'm very impressed on multiple fronts. After the…read moreinitial drop-in class yesterday we purchased weekly classes with the full expectation this initial great experience will only be surpassed. Husband & wife team Matt and Chelsea (owners) and Matt's sister Stephanie are lovely. It's a really great space and Matt is preternaturally good with younger kids. I shadowed my son for a bit in the studio to observe both my son's behavior in a structured environment and the instructors' teaching style. My son is both young and inherently independent (and often distracted) so this was bound to be revealing. Matt and Chelsea's approach to teaching is closer to informed guidance and it seems to work very well with my son and the other kids I observed. They let the child initiate their creative intent and then equip them with the technical information they need in a manner that is both empowering and not overwhelming. As for my son's proclivity to essentially 'not listen,' Matt in particular was excellent at focusing my son's attention on the task at hand and contextualizing what needed to be done so that he could 'own it.' It's clear his forthcoming studio experiences will be about so much more than learning and enjoying ceramics. This isn't 'OK class today we're going to make a coil-built pot. First I want you to take your clay and...'. Not at all. In an hour and fifteen minutes, my son made two objects in distinctly different techniques: a bowl thrown on the wheel and a slab-built shark. In the course of building those two pieces he was exposed to: centering clay on the wheel; managing the clay to expand, compress, elongate and widen his bowl; keeping his eye on his work; keeping the clay moist; the effects of various pressures applied to the clay on the wheel; scoring and attaching separate pieces with slip; scribing; use of various tools; under-glazing; clean-up, and more. I imagine he'll have to revisit every one of those lessons in subsequent classes but it's a gentle teaching style that works well here. Matt and Chelsea always had an eye on each of the kids and were great about transitioning between them to give guidance in a way that seemed very natural. The space itself is wonderful and can only be described as luminous. Well, that and clean. This is not a stereotypical 'mad potter's studio,' nor is it an anal 'everything in its place mausoleum.' Instructors have a clear view of everything going on in the space at all times. There's a front seating for parents/nanny's to hang out (WiFi available) and get some work done if you want to wait. Parking in the neighborhood doesn't seem to be a problem. The most critical measure of Kids-n-Clay is the reaction from my son, who really didn't want to leave and spoke of it more or less non-stop the rest of the day. Looking forward to what's next here. If you attend a drop-in class, be aware it takes about 2-3 weeks before pieces cycle through the process and can come home with you. But that's just ceramics. Highly recommended.

My kid loves this place! The kids can use the pottery wheel or just mold clay on the table. There…read moreare assistants there to guide the newer sculptors, and the owner, Matt, encourages the kids to design what they feel.

This summer my son already attended a few great high energy adventure and play camps, and I had…read morealways wanted to try a Reggio Emilia (RE) approach with my son. He normally attends a Montessori preschool, and for many committed reasons I won't bore you, I always felt that RE may better fit his learning style. Camp Doodle is RE-inspired with projects based on a weekly theme. My son participated in "Light and Shadow" and grasped complex concepts. He is constantly paying attention to where a shadow lands due to light source(s) and stomping on my shadow as a form of chase and tag. The last day the camp counselors put together a gallery of all the campers' projects. Given identical materials and theme, each child's creation reflected a wide range of creative and conceptual development. I could see my child's personality projected in how he constructed his project pieces like a kaleidoscope. This was the only summer camp that gave me a glimpse of how my son's mind works. I give props to his counselor for being enthusiastic and welcoming. She was so warm and inviting each day. Her energy was unwavering throughout the day. The brief drop-off and pick-up updates were informative and insightful. She had previously taught preschool and now teaches elementary school, and thus she is experienced with working with young children and effectively communicating with parents. I was impressed by the caliber of the head counselor. I appreciated that the summer camp has 5 different weekly themes, and so I can pick and choose which weeks to send my son. Camp Doodle is also one of the more flexible camp registrations that takes in consideration the ever-changing family schedules. This is also one of the camps that has a later regular pick-up at 4PM, and my son still did not want to leave. As a side note, this is the only camp where my son had zero bathroom accidents. This only happens when he has zero anxiety. There is something to be said about Camp Doodle's calm environment that helped my son modulate his energy & focus on projects & activities, and he also could initiate and pivot to address his primal needs without being distracted or too absorbed into his environment.

Our daughter's favorite camp this summer…read more Lots of creative projects. She really enjoyed having a choice of activities. (As parents we enjoyed not having to pack lunch.) Will be doing it again next summer.

My son has done Kids for the Bay's camp at age 6 and last summer at age 8…read more One of the highlights of the camp that I noticed right away is the engagement of the Counselors with the campers. Camp Leaders are full-time teaching staff with the organization during the school year. They were professional, warm and top notch educators. According to my son, "fun, and funny!". At some other camps that we've done, you drop your kid off and some summer staff can be kindof checked-out - but not here. You get the sense that the staff team is working together to make a great experience for the group. The locations change from day to day to explore different environments. Sometimes driving to different locations was a little long from Oakland (like Tilden Park, Lake Anza), but locations are not too far afield. A favorite for my son was Blake Gardens, where the group got to do a nature scavenger/treasure hunt.

We send our kids to this camp each year. The science lessons and activities are well thought out…read more My kids learn so much and have fun too. The best part is the adult to kid ratio and knowing my kids are safe and being taken care of by mature and responsible staff. Be prepared to have a different drop off site each day but the kids love it.

Quantum Camp is an amazing program. Our children tried both the day program and the summer camp and…read morevery much enjoyed both. They didn't want to return to regular school. This is a bright spot for engaged learners in an area where the public system offers little opportunity for children to stretch in math and science. Lessons are engaging, hands-on, challenging and inspiring. The other students are bright, curious and creative. If we had stayed in the area, we likely would have homeschooled and used QuantumCamp as a math and science resource. I highly recommend it to families searching for a way to help their children reach higher levels of understanding, while generating enthusiasm, for math and science.

Quantum Camp is an amazing resource! When my oldest was in middle school we signed him up for a…read moreweek of Quantum Camp and we were hooked! He had a great time and came away completely inspired. He continued on at QC to explore Algebra, Chemistry, and Biology, each time feeling challenge, intrigued, and motivated to learn more. Now kid number two is having the same experience. He took one class and announced "This is the way I like to learn." Michael and his staff of brilliant teachers are able to take complex subjects and offer them in such way that the kids enjoy themselves as they gain mastery of the concepts. You know the class is working when your kid comes home and starts doing extension experiments on his own. Who knew learning could be so fun?

Best summer camp experience I could hope for my child who is now a counselor there. It was one of…read morethe best choices I've made as a parent.

A couple of my friends moved to Madison, Wisconsin this year and they said there is only one thing…read morethe kids really miss in Berkeley, and that is Camp Kee Tov. My daughter and two of her friends from her school are so excited to be going to camp here this year. They have so much fun everyday! If I was a kid again, I would beg my parents to send me to Camp Kee Tov too.

Our daughter loves Camp 510! She always has wonderful time…read morewith her friends and teachers and teens who help camp. I highly recommend Camp 510!

My boys have been attending this camp for several summers and they are always excited to go back…read more I have 3 boys and work full time so my kids have tried ALL of the different sports/arts/misc camps in the oakland/berkeley area, and this little unassuming makers camp is the one they are consistently excited to go back to. We just finished another fun week and look forward to being back next summer!