In spite of what we’re facing now with the COVID-19 crisis, as parents we still must look forward, and we know summer is coming. For many of us, summer camps and childcare is a necessity. We are doing our best to monitor any changes, and encourage you to double-check the individual camp refund/cancellation policies. We also want to continue to support our local businesses including these beloved summer camps.
If summertime has you feeling like a cruise director with the daily “what are we going to do today?” questions, we’ve got the scoop for you. These local Bay Area summer camps for kids have modified their offerings to create smaller group camp experience and virtual camps for kids. Kids can practice different forms of art, make pasta, learn coding and spend the day outdoors exploring nature. And, don’t forget to check out our Summer Camp Guide for even more Bay Area summer camp ideas!
ABADA Capoeira Summer Camps
ABADA Capoeira San Francisco (ACSF) will be holding two in person summer camps for kids ages 5-12 starting July 6.
ACSF’s experiential camp is full of fun, friends, and learning! During each one-week session, children are exposed to diverse cultural arts, and introduced to the Mission neighborhood through mural tour adventures. Campers spend the day learning capoeira and maculelê movements, playing instruments including trying their hand at drumming, singing songs in Portuguese, and playing capoeira-based games that accentuate team building, leadership and cooperation.
Campers not only learn acrobatic and self-defense movements but also use them to improvise and create in collaboration with other students. They receive exposure to a broad range of arts, with guest artist classes in hip hop, percussion, and Afro-Brazilian dance. Camp is led by Antonio Contreras “Instrutor Corrente”, under the supervision of Mestra Márcia Cigarra.
Online: abada.org
Cooking Round the World—Virtual and In-Person Camps
Cooking Round the World Summer Camp is a delightful way for your child to have a summer of food, fun and deliciousness! They offer virtual camps throughout the summer as well as in-person camps available in Oakland, Millbrae, Walnut Creek, Concord, Cupertino, Hayward, Hercules and Pinole. Themes like Harry Potter, Star Wars, baking and Pixar are sure to keep the kids interested in cooking.
Dates: June 15-Aug. 14
Online: www.cookingroundtheworld.com
COVID-19 Update: Check the website for precautions being followed for in-person camps.
Camp CuriOdyssey—Virtual STEAM Camps
Camp CuriOdyssey provides kids with interactive experiences that spark excitement and ignite curiosity. Campers utilize their natural talents of inquiry, investigation, and individual discovery to develop lifelong critical thinking skills. Camp groups are small and there are lots of opportunities for scientific discovery. Camps available for pre-K through 6th graders.
Dates: Week-long camps available June 15-August 21 (see update below)
1651 Coyote Point Drive
San Mateo, CA
Online: curiodyssey.org
COVID-19 Update: While their traditional science camps will not be taking place this summer, CuriOdyssey has re-envisioned their summer programs to provide stimulating activities that will ignite children’s curiosity in a format that can be delivered safely for everyone. Virtual STEAM offerings will include materials that can be picked up or delivered prior to camp.
Virtually Vocal
The Marine Mammal Center’s Camp Sea Quest
The Marine Mammal Center’s Camp Sea Quest is getting a virtual makeover to support families during these uncertain times. This summer, rising fifth through eighth graders have an exciting opportunity to experience the best marine science activities the world’s largest marine mammal hospital has to offer from the comfort of their home! Through our interactive virtual community, campers will connect with one another as they learn about the importance of ocean conservation and marine mammals while developing key team-building and leadership skills.
Campers have the opportunity to choose from a mix of science-based activities they can complete at home, as well as behind-the-scenes virtual experiences of the hospital and marine mammal habitats. Interactive activities include science experiments, crafts, monitoring animal behavior, marine mammal identification and much more that can be easily done at home with just a few materials!
Dates: July 13-17 and 27-31
Online: marinemammalcenter.org
Camp EDMO—EDMO Live!
Camp EDMO, leading Bay Area non-profit offering STEAM and SEL (social emotional learning) camps and programs, announced its line-up of online summer camps that will provide a rich and engaging virtual experience for kids in Pre-k to 8th grade, while still moderating screen time. The week-long, 2.5 hour morning and afternoon camps, will kick off the week of June 8 and will be led by experienced Camp EDMO staff. Camp sessions, arranged by age groups, are geared to maker, science and tech projects, but will also include rallies, snack breaks, SEL games and indoor recreation. Dates: June 8-Aug. 14. Morning, afternoon and drop-in sessions available. |
The Rabbit Hole Children's Theater—Virtual Summer Camps
With the health and safety of families and staff at the forefront of our mind, The Rabbit Hole has decided to transition their summer programming to a new In-Home structure. Consistent with their studio-based imaginative offerings, your kiddos will experience interactive, creative, collaborative FUN in the safety of your home!
Home-to-Home Camps will be offered by delivering a camp Bunny Box to your door filled with craft projects, props, set pieces and everything your child will need to build an exciting show. We will also include a camp schedule, daily morning zoom class, recorded puppet shows, and a dance routine in addition to a pre-recorded narration of the final show that will feel like old world radio meets a make-believe podcast adventure to really spark your kiddo's imagination and guide them through a theatrical performance at home!
Dates: June 1- Aug. 28
Online: therabbitholesf.com
Young Art Virtual STEAM Camps
If you've been to any of the Bay Area Young Art locations, you know what an awesome experience it is for kids to get hands-on coaching in creating art. This summer, Young Art will be offering a virtual class experience combining multiple art forms and scientific experiments. Weekly morning and afternoon sessions are available. A supply list will be provided or purchase a supply kit to have it sent to you.
Dates: June 8- Aug. 28
Cost: Use code "RedTriCamp" to save 50% off the $79 weekly camp cost
Online: youngartusa.co
GrowFit Camp Redwood City, San Jose, West Sacramento, San Ramon & Rancho Cordova
GrowFit Camp is for kiddos between the ages of four and twelve. Locations are open this summer in Redwood City, San Jose, West Sacramento, San Ramon, and Rancho Cordova. GrowFit strives to be the safest place for kids to try new sports. Nurturing the playfulness within us, GrowFit’s social-emotional approach helps children ages four to twelve, learn to love being active – while building confidence and having fun. Schedules vary at all locations based on county COVID-19 orders.
Online: growfit.camp
Summer Film and Arts Camps
Alexander Valley Film Society (AVFS), Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (LBC), and Transcendence Theatre Company (TTC) are collaborating on an incredible program of virtual summer camps. Collectively, the organizations will provide seven weeks of virtual, wrap-around summer arts camp experiences for students sheltering in place.
Beginning June 22, they can take the AVFS Filmmaking Bootcamp to prepare for capturing footage of themselves and their families during the rest of the summer camps. Next, students head to the LBC Summer Arts Sampler Camp for hip-hop dance, ukulele, & percussion for one of the three week-long sessions. Then students attend the Transcendence Theatre Company camps for theater, improv, dance, and movement. Finally, students return to the AVFS Editing Bootcamp to put together their final footage from the summer. Students are encouraged to mix and match camps or take them all! A showcase of student films will take place at a later date.
Bonus: the majority of the camps are totally free!
Online: avfilmsociety.org
Coastal Camp at NatureBridge—Sausalito
Connect with nature in the Marin Headlands with weekly themes like marine biology, coastal ecology, conservation and cultural history. Campers get up close with tidepool creatures in the intertidal marine lab, create field sketches while overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, sail the Bay on an 82-foot schooner and hike along coastal trails to the historic Point Bonita Lighthouse. They even offer a shuttle service from San Francisco, Sausalito and Mill Valley.
Dates: Week-long camps available June 8-August 14 (partially canceled, see update below)
Marin Headlands
1033 Fort Cronkhite
Sausalito, CA
Online: coastalcamp.org
COVID-19 Update: Costal Camp has canceled all sessions through June 29. They have also canceld the shuttle service. See here for updates.
Snapology Virtual Summer Camps Featuring LEGO Bricks
Snapology offers STEAM fun online theme based virtual camps. Camps are designed for ages 5-12 and only use the screen or device to simply instruct the students. The core of their two-hour camps is always focused on building, creating, designing and problem solving using LEGO bricks. Programs include plenty of activity breaks to make sure your child stays active and engaged.
Dates: June 8 - Aug. 7
Online: embed.snapology.com
The Coder School—Various Bay Area Locations
At our summer camps we mastered Cat's Cradle, but today's campers will come home with the ability to build websites, design games, even create their own social media platforms. The Coder School is a wildly popular South Bay institution, training the next generation of techies.
Dates: Week-long camps available June 8-August 14 (see update below)
Locations: throughout the Bay Area
Online: thecoderschool.com
COVID-19 Update: Coder School will be holding in-person camps based on the local requirements. Some locations will be offering virtual camps in place of in-person. Check your nearby location for current information.
Steve & Kate's Camp—Various Bay Area Locations
A total procrastinator's dream, Steve and Kate's Camp offers drop-in camps for kids as young as four at their 13 Bay Area locations. Camps run Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and you can drop off your camper any time during that period with no advance notice needed. Camp days are totally led by each kid—they choose from activities relating to film, bread-making, coding, fashion and film. There's no worry about kids getting bored as they can literally move to another activity whenever they choose. You can purchase any number of day passes you wish and use them at any of their locations. Plus, you are automatically refunded for any passes that you buy and don't use by the end of the summer.
Dates: Daily, drop-in camp from June 8-August 14 (see update below)
Online: steveandkatescamp.com
COVID-19 Update: As of 5/26, Steve & Kate's is in a holding pattern for Summer 2020. They plan to offer a modified summer camp program to comply with local requirements. Check here for current updates.
Cucina Bambini—San Jose and Los Gatos
With two locations in Los Gatos and Willow Glen, kids have tons of opportunities to beef up their cooking skills at Cucina Bambini's summer camp. Teens can learn how to make pasta while little ones bake cakes or make apple crumble with ice cream in a bag. There's even a Top Chef-esque battle class where kids learn essential cooking skills and compete in daily individual and group challenges.
1040 Lincoln Ave.
San Jose, CA
22 S. Santa Cruz Ave.
Los Gatos, CA
Online: cucinabambini.com
COVID-19 Update: Cucina Bambini will be offering smaller classes (max 12 students) beginning June 15.
Sessions Academy of Movement—San Jose
Kids will feel like an American Ninja Warrior when they take on the obstacle courses, parkour games, freerunning and other age-dependent activities at this summer camp. Kids will flip for the acrobatics they get to do into the stunt bag. Campers must be at least age five and all camps run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
2016 Senter Rd.
San Jose, CA
Online: sessionsgym.com
COVID-19 Update: Camps will be held as scheduled with smaller groups (max 12 kids).
Have you signed your kids up for a summer camp in the Bay Area? Where will they be going this year? Don’t forget to visit our Summer Camp Guide for even more summer camp suggestions.
—Kate Loweth & Erin Feher
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