This review is solely regarding the front desk staff at this school. Unfortunately, my first…read moreimpression was very disappointing. When I arrived, I greeted the receptionist politely and even asked how she was doing, but she seemed completely uninterested, almost as if I had wronged her in some way, despite this being my first time ever interacting with her. I understand that everyone can have off days, maybe it was hot, maybe she hadn't had a chance to eat yet, but if that's the case, I would kindly suggest the school consider installing an air conditioner and maybe even a small snack bar for the staff. Front desk personnel are the first point of contact for any organization, and it makes a lasting impression. Unfortunately, in this case, it was not a positive one. Thank you.

Went to HRS for grades 3-12. Got one hell of an education. I would like to think I'm a…read morewell-rounded person and HRS is a big reason why. If I have any writing skills at all, it is due to the excellent English and History teachers I had here. All my science knowledge (which is very limited admittedly) is via Head-Royce. How many schools have teachers that got a PhD from Yale or UC-Berkeley? Very few I imagine- HRS was one of them. In short, the academics here are excellent. And socially I was pretty content. Sure, there is no football team, homecoming, etc, but I don't feel deprived whatsoever for not having any of that. Still friends with people from HRS, even though I graduated over a decade ago. Certainly made some life-long bonds here. I feel very blessed to have been able to go here, and wish more out there had the opportunity to do so.

My child's friends wanted a last hurrah before parting ways for middle school. A handful of them…read moreregistered for Urban Adventure. Because the summer camp runs weekly, with several rotating and parallel themes, the kids were able to land on the same interest and available week. Shocking, I know! The camp's extensive schedule works for vacations and professional work hours. Even though some kids had already attended previous summers, each of them enjoyed the experience differently when friends were involved. They can escalate to be the most rambunctious bunch or wander as cerebral or silly, chatty tweens. The social pace was great, and this camp has a seamless inclusion vibe. For some weeks and cohorts, the group veers younger, like 2nd- to 5th-graders, and some older, like 5th- to 8th-graders. Mike, the camp director, does a great job with the groupings paired with an experienced counselor. We were lucky to have school teachers as lead. Given this was my child's first experience with Urban Adventure, he absolutely loved the exploration and riding public transit (BART, SF MUNI - bus, trolley, and metro, AC Transit, Cal Shuttle, Ferry). Going up to the ferry observation deck was exhilarating and inclusively fun with friends who could access the elevator. Although my child has been to many of the museums and features when he was younger, he barely recalls them at all. We did so much pre-pandemic and, over time, lost those family events to sports purgatory. So glad my child got to re-experience with his peers. Lastly, my child has suddenly shown a burst of independence in reading maps, following directions, examining transportation timetables, accounting for museum and business hours, and actively thinking about plan B, C, or other contingencies. He was so excited to demonstrate that he ended up giving my husband an Urban Adventure experience today. The kid sent a slurry of calendar invites with the various SF locales. While they play local tourists, I actually have time to type up a long-winded review. My child attended both Biology/Natural Science and Technology/Physical Sciences. Many thumbs up!

My kid loves Urban Adventures--it's his favorite. Honestly, I picked the camp because of an easy…read moreshort commute/parking (IYKYK), reasonable start/end time for working parents, and consistently strong reviews. They're efficient, on top of things, easy drop-off/pick-up in terms of parking, simple sign-in/out, and lots of variety. They communicate well in advance with comprehensive info which eliminates a lot of the unknown. My son's favorite one is art. I almost don't want to tell people since camp sign-up season is crazy and the popular camps sell out FAST. My son is neurodivergent and manages to find a buddy each year on his wavelength. They also go to wheelchair accessible sites. It's also great seeing the kids have a blast in the daily private photo links.

Whenever I mentioned that my daughter was going to Fairyland Summer Camp people gushed about how…read moregreat the camps were. And they were right! Topaz, Fairyland's Community Engagement Manager, is kind, organized, and patient. In fact, she probably deserves a promotion and commensurate salary increase. Hers is not an easy job and still I never saw her flustered and she was especially skillful at handling parents and kids alike with care. We were originally waitlisted for Maker's Wonderland and Farm to Table. To my horror, the email notifying us that our daughter had been offered a spot for both camps went to spam. Thankfully our neighbor tipped us off and I wrote to Topaz right away and she managed to get our kid in for three weeks of camp. And she couldn't have been nicer about it. My daughter made butter from scratch, performed skits, and made a good friend at Fairyland camp (and both our families are better off for it). I highly recommend these summer camps for their super staff, excellent Oakland vibe, and engaging activities for kids.

Fairyland Summer Camp (FSC) is an absolute gem! It is a unique and valuable experience for young…read morechildren. The activities at this camp will inspire, encourage and stimulate their minds and creativity. It is awesome that my children get to spend the day outdoors in a safe environment and with caring staff members. Most of all, they are given the time and space to be themselves and PLAY.... after all, play is the primary way children LEARN. The Education Specialist Shana, is a genuine, intelligent, and professional Leader. She has a positive and loving energy that is contagious. My children have attended FSC for 3 years and I always see her connecting with all the campers and parents. My children really, really enjoy their time at Fairyland Summer Camp and I am a happy and grateful Mother.

My friend celebrated her birthday with a class with many friends. We all had a great time creating…read moreall different fused glass projects. Several of us want to go back to do more fused glass and or mosaic and stained glass projects. Ja Ing is a very kind and encouraging instructor!

I took the 4-hour stepping stone mosaic class with my 10-year old niece and we both had a lot of…read morefun. First time, taking any class at the Alameda Art Lab but not a newbie to mosaics or the arts. I used to be quite artsy and crafty back in the day and now, it seems like a luxury to find time to do something creative and take a break from adulting! All supplies of cutters, nippers, stepping stone and glass provided with a quick introduction to using the tools with some guidance and instruction to start your art piece. JaYing, the friendly and patient owner/instructor will walk around to assist if needed, check your progress and guide you to ensure you get your item complete. Item is left for grouting and student called when ready. A great class to bond with a friend(s) or family and make a day to get in creative mode and have fun. Personally, it allowed me to take time to enjoy something I really love as I find art very therapeutic along with spending time with my niece. The time flies by... :) The Alameda Art Lab offers a variety of classes from stained glass, mosaics, glass fusing and jewelry making and other fun things. Items are available for purchase for yourself or as a gift. Highly recommend trying out a class!

A very cool place to see many artists at once. I enjoyed speaking to the various artist about their…read moreclasses offered.

I wish I were writing a review of the facilities, instructors, class quality, or my experience in a…read moreclass, maybe even showing a picture of my cool finished art... but I can't, because of failure after failure on the part of the management. I received a glass flameworking class as a surprise for Christmas, paid for, with the option for me to move it to a number of dates. I chose the March 8th date. It's been THREE MONTHS of multiple calls, voicemails, and emails per week to The Crucible. We have gotten ONE single response the entire time: something to the effect of "so sorry we dropped the ball - we'll get back to you," then.... nothing. None of our calls or emails or voicemails have been returned. The March class date has now passed, and not a single offer of a refund or a reschedule. We're doing a chargeback, which we really hate to do since it's so detrimental to the business, but... if it weren't for all these other reviews I'd wonder if this place even exists? Three full months of effort on our end and not a single useful human answer?Hoping this review plus the chargeback gets us some sort of resolution.

We had such a fun and chill birthday party with JG! I am really impressed with their communication…read moresetting up the party and how friendly, flexible, and fun they were on the day of. When asked what did you think of the party my kid said, "It was so fun! Can we do it again here next year!?" Highly highly recommend. Perfect for a range of ages as well. Thank you JG coaches!!!

Jumpin' Gymsters is great for both camps & birthday parties! I first sent my then 5yr old son to a…read morefew of their summer sessions in 2023 and was really worried about how he would do. He really struggled at a previous camp but things were so different at Jumpin Gymsters. Carol, Carlos and the other staff members really helped him to feel safe and keep him happy and engaged. He had so much fun, he didnt want to leave at the end of the day. They really helped build his social confidence as well and he made a lasting friend there that summer. We had such a great experience with them that we decided to hire them for my son's sixth birthday party (which went really well) and also sent all three of our kids to some 2024 summer sessons. I can't recommend them enough!

I have two issues with Oaktown Boulders: communication and organization. It was impossible to get a…read morehold of them by email or phone to sign my daughter up, so we drove there and showed up to talk to someone. I signed my daughter up for a class, and after she attended one session (and after getting her excited about climbing), they emailed me to say they messed up, and the class was full. So they cancelled her enrollment and gave me a partial refund. Totally unacceptable! My daughter was so disappointed. After that experience, we joined another climbing gym and asked Oaktown Boulders to take us off their email list. They have literally emailed me half a dozen times, promoting new classes and letting me know about openings. EVERY SINGLE TIME, I ask them to remove me from their email list! No response. Also, unacceptable! Get your sh*t together, Oaktown Boulders!

Part of loving Oaktown Boulders is loving that they are aiming to make climbing something that ALL…read morekids have access to. And doing so by providing quality and fun instruction - there's no compromising in what they offer. It is exciting to see the growth that they have achieved over the past couple of years and moving locations, hiring/training new staff is never easy. If I wanted big box climbing lessons for my kid I'd go elsewhere. Yet, in addition to wanting this confidence boosting and camaraderie building experience for my kid it matters to me to give my money to a place also working to do good in our community. Have you read the Mission?

Took a beginner silks class here and had such a great time! I was a little intimidated at first,…read morebut the excitement quickly took over. The instructor was super kind, encouraging, and explained each step clearly, which made it easy to follow along even as a total beginner. A few years back, my kids also took the parkour class and absolutely loved it--it was the perfect way for them to get moving and burn energy. Overall, this place has such a fun and welcoming vibe. Highly recommend for both adults and kids looking to try something new!

Really cool spot. Took a handstand class here which was excellent but there are also a ton of other…read moreclasses I want to take. Friendly folks, great facility.

We have a shy first grader who is apprehensive of new situations. The counselors made him feel…read morecomfortable and now he is loving camp. They offer a wide range of fun activities like archery, boating, swimming, etc

I used to be a camper here for one summer and when we were leaving to the annual camping trip in…read morethe Oakland hills our counselor left our entire group in a locked van for almost 45 mins in over 90 degree heat. I remember one or two people had luckily filled their water bottles or I think it would have been a lot different. When we got to the camp site we set up tarps and just put our sleeping bags on them with no cover. In the morning a bunch of white spiders were crawling on everyone and got in all of our bags. On that trip that gave us salad from a literal trash bag.