My child's friends wanted a last hurrah before parting ways for middle school. A handful of them registered 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! read more

My kid loves Urban Adventures--it's his favorite. Honestly, I picked the camp because of an easy short 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. read more

Another year of fabulous camps! Culinary, art, history and fun! If you are looking for a camp to enrich your child's experience and exposure to the beautiful Bay Area....this is the camp! They are active and engaged all day long. Making lovely connections, learning about Bay Area treasures and gaining independence and life skills. Mike and team rock! read more

I cannot say enough about this camp only that I am sorry, as a parent, that I didn't know about it sooner!! This is our son, Ezra's 2nd year going. He is currently 10 yrs old and he LOVES it. He's had some rough experiences with other camps (bullying) so I was trying to find him a camp that was a great fit for him and engage stimulating days and promote confidence in personal growth! Mike is wonderful. I don't know how to handles it all BUT the camp counselors are all youthful and very active with the kids! Thanks a MILLION again for creating such a great experience for Ezra! We'll be back next summer!! :) read more

You know a camp is amazing when your kid can't wait to go in the morning and is happy and exhausted (in a good way) at the end of the day. My 9-year-old had a blast. He loved taking BART, the ferry, Muni, the bus, even hiking. He loved going to San Jose to the Tech Museum and to San Francisco to the Exploratorium and into the Oakland hills to the Chabot Space & Science Center. He loved the counselors. He would go back in a heartbeat. Thanks, UA team for a great experience! read more

Urban Adventure Camps - Exploratorium - Educational Services Near Me - Oakland, California

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This is a phenomenal camp. My kids got to choose the themes they wanted to do, and really loved discovering new activities and sights around the Bay Area. The use of public transit is amazing, the staff is great, the photo updates throughout the day (on X) and the photos from their adventures lets you live a little vicariously (and helps to get more details other that "it was fun"). I grew up going to a lot of these places over the years as part of school field trips, but my kids missed out on a lot of that, both because of the pandemic and because schools don't seem to do them anymore (budgets probably). I feel like this helped them catch up on missed opportunities. We take them places, but doing it with a group of other kids feels different. I'm so happy for them and grateful for this camp--we'll definitely be back for a third year and beyond! read more

This is a fantastic summer day camp idea. My kids (one who did not want to go to camp) really enjoyed their week doing Active Art. The owner Mike is a great communicator and seems very organized. The counselors are young, vibrant and personable. Both kids said they would participate again. This is a first - they've never attended a camp and said they would do it again. read more

This camp is my kids' favorite each summer! The programming is fun and interesting. It offers such stimulating days to the kids! And the director Mike is thoughtful and organized. It feels like the kids are very well cared for. read more

Great camp! The kids have a blast and take public transit to Bay Area destinations. We've sent my son for the last three years and will be back! The counselors are great and Mike, who runs the camp, is incredibly organized, detail oriented, easy to reach, and everything runs very smoothly. A huge bonus is that they run into late August, past most camps, so it's a wonderful option for those families who need something great to do after OUSD is back in session. Highly recommended!! read more

My 8 year old did the biology camp and loved it. I highly recommend. It's a full day and really keeps the kids engaged.

My daughter got COVID the first day of camp. Of course we pulled her out the instant we knew. I messaged the business to ask about trading for another week (since I had paid many hundreds of dollars and my daughter still very much wanted to attend this camp!) and after taking several days and a bunch of follow up messages to respond, they replied that I could purchase another week of camp with a slight discount. So we lost about $600, and my daughter wasn't able to attend after recovering. Just a big bummer, because the concept of the camp is awesome. I wish there was a better policy for illness... especially during such weird pandemic times. read more

Urban Adventure Camp is amazing! They made my somewhat shy daughter feel comfortable on her first day and she has been so excited to go back everyday!! I was apprehensive because she likes a routine, but I think that the variety of activities in this camp keep her excited and engaged. The camp counselors are great! Mike is great! The check in/check out process is appropriately thorough. 5 stars! read more

Urban Adventure Camps is the bomb. This is the ONLY camp my son wants to attend. He loves the daily adventures. I love how the kids are learning and practicing real world skills while getting a deeper look at area hot spots. Mike and crew are the best! Highly recommend!! read more

Thank you to Mike and the other fantastic staff at Urban Adventures. My 14 year old son had a really fantastic week, feels more comfortable on public transportation and learned more about the Bay. A very cool and unique camp where kids can have fun and learn that the world can be their playground. I also appreciated the no phones rule/ suggestion. read more

This was our second year at Urban Adventure camp for my 13 year old. My teen enjoyed all of the museums and experiences at art camp (but I should add that topping art active last year was impossible!) I love that he has the opportunity to explore the area and get comfortable with public transportation. Our biggest disappointment is that I couldn't get my 9 year old in this year (he was on a waitlist for the week we were looking for) read more

My son really loved the day excursions and museums attended. It was the first week of summer camp he attended and he requested it for the remaining weeks! He was so engaged in the science and physics focused activities, I do plan on signing him up for more. Camp counselors are great and overall I'd highly recommend. read more

My 13-year-old had a great time and it really got him comfortable taking public transportation around the Bay Area. Wonderful staff.

A huge thank you to Jake and Mike for a fantastic week of adventure camp. Our 11-year old son loved every activity (kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding, mountain biking, and rock climbing) and enjoyed the journeys on public transit, especially the ferry to SF. The spontaneous trips to the farmer's market and Fortune Cookie Factory were bonus adventures. Every evening, he told us all about the day and we looked forward to the nightly email with the photos from the day. We also really appreciated the photos posted on Twitter/X during the day to see they arrived safely. We highly recommend UAC- We will be back next summer! read more

Dropping my 9 year old off at the BART station in Oakland was a big deal for us. But he wanted to do the art camp and the reviews on UA Camps were pretty solid so I decided to loosen up and let him do it. I am so glad I did! The camp counselors tweet about every 1-2 hours throughout the day, telling us where they are or where they're heading. They include photos, and it seemed to me that the balance of photos of all the kids was good. My son wasn't in every picture but he was in a lot of them. Then at the end of the day you get anywhere from 200-500 photos of their adventures that day. The camp size was small - I think about 8 kids with 2 counselors. They use bright yellow hats that the kids have to have visible at all times. They can attach them to their belt or wear them. So safety is a really big part of this camp. As for what it offers to these kids - I think they undersell their camps. My son did the art camp, so he went to a different museum in the Bay Area every day. They choose museums that may not be the most famous or popular but are respected and offer something different each day. My point is that this isn't something my kid is necessarily going to do on a field trip or a sightseeing tour. It seems to me that the focus of this camp is to show these kids THEIR Bay Area and the lesser known but valuable and high quality areas. But, in all honesty, the museums are a small part of the day. What I noticed was that the kids didn't just follow their counselor onto the train or bus. They spent time looking at maps and determining together how they were going to get to their destination. They didn't limit themselves to the BART but took buses and ferries too. They also stopped for snacks in front of sculptures and other street artwork pieces. Ok so how did my son like it? He came off the train the first day grinning. And he's really not a grinner. So I thought, well of course they went to the Disney Museum. But the next day I asked if he liked the Disney Museum or the Asian Art museum better and he liked the Asian Art museum! I suspect it had a lot to do with what the adventure was that day (I think they went on the ferry and to a playground) but the point is that he had a great time. I will definitely be sending my son back next year. This camp offers so much more than any other camp like it. read more

Urban Adventure Camps - Stopping to draw - Educational Services Near Me - Oakland, California

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Great camp - nice way for kids to get to know public transit and see some of the exciting things the Bay Area has to offer. Liked that there were kids who were 12-14 too for my son. Kudos to UAC! read more

My daughter participated in the Physics/Technology camp this past week. She had a great time. They rode various types of transportation to get where they needed to go. It's great exposure for her as she hasn't taken a lot of public transportation in the past. It was also exciting for her to explore so many different hands on museums without mom and dad. She loved the counselors as they were fun and enthusiastic. Each day was a busy day and she came home happy and tired. The drop off and pick up was very easy at the BART station. I highly recommend this camp. read more

I was very impressed with Urban Adventure Camp. My son had a wonderful time with each adventure. This was my first experience with Urban Adventures. My son was excited to go in the morning and happy when I picked him up. It was very easy. Mike had a wonderful way of making everyone feel included, welcomed and engaged. I would sign my son up again in a heartbeat. Totally awesome way to explore the Bay Area with independence. Mike also takes a lot of pictures so you get plenty of sneak peaks into what they did during the day. read more

Such a great camp! Convenient drop off and pick up (Bart station), super friendly counselors, and really terrific camp material! My kid went to 2 camps alone; they were dreading that part, but ended up having a fabulous time. Also LOVE that a huge component of this camp is taking public transportation, which elevates an awareness of self and surroundings. Will absolutely send my kid back next year. read more

Urban Adventure is amazing!! Our daughter went last year and begged to come back this year. My husband and I are forever grateful what my daughter has experienced with Mike and his crew! We were both very nervous the first day dropping her off at Rockridge bart but felt at ease when he reassured us that she would be ok, and she was. She came home that first day so excited about her adventure to SF and was so excited to go back. Her excitement has not changed with every day spent with the Urban Adventure crew. Not only has she gained confidence to navigate the big city as a young lady but is also experiencing the Bay Area and its beauty using all forms of transportation. She comes home WILLINGLY sharing her day!! Thank you Mike and the Urban Adventure Crew!! read more

Urban Adventures is the BEST camp ever! I cannot say enough great things about it. It is good for boys, it is good for girls, it is good for anyone that wants to explore the Bay Area and is up for adventure. The counselors are fabulous and connect with the kids on so many levels and the places they go are truly amazing. We have now being doing Urban Adventures for 4 years (3 with my son and 1 year with my daughter - my son was mad that he couldn't go this year but it didn't work out). If you have an extra week this summer sign up for Urban Adventures - you will not be disappointed. This is one of our goto camps and we will be back next summer, if not later this summer if we have another week to spare... read more

One of my son's favorite camps, always going to great places and they get to learn how to use public transportation. The Full Day time frame is wonderful as well. Mike also provides photos each evening so you can relive your child's experience. read more

My son had a wonderful time this past week at Urban Adventure Camp! He signed up for the "Technology/Physics" program and it was just fantastic. They went all over the Bay Area -- each day was a different adventure! And I loved that they took public transportation everywhere, including BART, bus (AC Transit, SAM Trans, Muni), ferry. My son didn't know anyone else at the camp before it started, but he quickly made friends due to the small/intimate size of the group (around 12 kids). Mike was an enthusiastic and energetic leader, and did a great job of keeping the kids engaged and active throughout the week. You really get a lot of bang for your buck with this camp--it runs from 8 am to 4 pm (1-2 hours longer than most camps that start at 9 am). In addition, snacks, transportation, and entry fees are included in the price. So when you factor all that in, it really is quite a good deal. Also, I really appreciated the regular updates/photos posted via Twitter and the daily emails from Mike with photos from the day. All in all, this is one my favorite summer camp programs. I will definitely be putting this on our list for future summers and would not hesitate to recommend it to others! read more

We were referred to Urban Adventures Mix-Up by a classmate so we were completely unprepared for how awesome it was! My 8-year old son loved the daily adventures around the Bay Area. The Camp has a really old fashioned feel to it. Counselor Mike helps the kids travel and explore and do what they do best - have fun! We loved following their never-ending adventures on Twitter each day. My son came home happy, chatty and exhausted. Highly recommend. read more

My kids LOVED History 2 with Mike - full of adventure, by far best camp experience for them!

My kids had an AMAZING week at Urban Adventure History 1 camp with Eric this summer. When they heard there was a camp going to Alcatraz, they begged me to sign them up. And I wanted something that would get them out of the 'burbs and learning more about this great area they are lucky enough to call home. Sign-up, drop-off and communications were very organized and seamless for us first timers. It was a VERY long day even for a super-active 8 year old boy (exhausted by the end of the day) but always excited to go back and learned / exposed to so much. Also, the group skewed slightly older (mostly 10-12 year olds maybe) but no complaints there + all the kids were great. Our counselor Eric was amazing. I highly recommend Urban Adventure. read more

Co-founders Mike and Caitlin Dobson and their staff are passionate about making education a true adventure for your child. The program allows the scientist, artist, musician or mathmatician in your child to explore these pursuits with likeminded peers in a safe and fun environment. Our visiting niece had a blast! read more

My 12 year old thoroughly enjoyed the culinary camp. It allowed him to combine 2 of his interests--riding trains/buses and trying different kinds of cuisines. He got to make paella, pizza, thai fried rice, bbq, empanadas, and more. The chefs patiently gave explanations while the kids had hands on practice to prepare their own lunch. Highly recommended. read more

This year my 10-year-old son attended 'Active' camp. A whole week of incredible activities--kayaking, mountain biking, climbing . . . my son loved it. I can't say enough wonderful things about Mike and his staff. This is an outstanding camp. read more

My son who is almost 13 had a fantastic time in Active Camp. He's an athlete and is at that age where he's too cool for most things so I was worried he might not like it. I was happily surprised that he loved it and was happy to get up every morning to go! He enjoyed the other kids and Mike and his staff of counsellors really know how to make the week fun for the kids. If you are thinking of signing up your kid you should! This camp rocks! read more

I cannot rave enough about how this week has gone for my 12yo and 9yo sons! They are doing the art week, and it's absolutely fantastic. First of all they are in a group of 7 kids with 2 counselors! The counselors tweet photos and updates every couple hours, so we see them and know where they are. In one week they've learned about more artists and types of art, and started doing more art, than ever before. They keep saying how much they love Urban Adventure Camp and how they can't wait to go back. This from 2 boys who are usually resistant to camp and dislike new situations. Lowell, Jessica and Mike were all fantastic with my boys. I wish you would do this camp in Paris, London and Rome, as well! read more

My girls (ages 9 & 12) love this camp! They both have some anxiety in new settings, crowds, and during unexpected situations. However, they didn't have any of these issues during UA camp! This camp helped them build confidence and independence in a safe environment! And Mike is awesome! read more

Mike is a wonderful, energetic guy who really shows the kids a good time. My 12 year old son loved the mix-up camp. For his age group, I think it's wonderful for him to learn how to get around the bay on public transportation. Very empowering AND fun. Every day he came home happy and tired. Thanks, Mike! read more

I have known the founders for over 4 years. I was an instructor and later assistant program director at a camp in southern California where Mike was the program director and Caitlin was the summer camp director. If you sign up your children for UAC I can guarantee that they will: 1) be safe at all times 2) have a lot of fun 3) learn in the process without noticing, not only about school but actually practical skills Don't miss this great option! read more

Re-reading my review I can't believe my boy is now 14 1/2. He has gone to UAC every summer at for least two sessions since that first session, and still LOVES it! This summer he did the Active camp (his third Active session) and the Culinary Camp, which he couldn't stop talking about. I really thought that by this age he would be to "cool" to go to camp, but he says he never wants to stop going. He has already asked to be signed up next year, and I jokingly told him that I could see him still going when he is 25, and he responded "well, I will!" Mike and the other counselors are fabulous with the kids, my son always makes friends and when I pick up at the end of the day, the kids all seem to be having fun together. I Love this camp! read more

Fantastic camp--the staff "got" the kids, planning the adventures was a great challenge (give them a budget in the future to make it even harder!), the hours much more ideal for working parents, the spontaneity was awesome--we will see you next year! read more