Where can one go to stack em’ high and build almost anything the imagination desires? A place where trees, trains, ships, starship fighters and walking robots are part of the norm. The budding builders at home usually go nuts for DUPLO and LEGO and the Bay Area is filled with exciting centers, after school classes and stores to indulge the little engineering pros. Kiddos can learn everything from making the pieces click to building their very own Golden Gate Bridge, all with the power of LEGO. The fun colored bricks, bits and blocks will bring back some fond memories parents and a lot of laughs for everyone.
Built It! LEGO CLUB
Organized by the San Francisco Library. Drop-in is available and pieces needed to build vehicles, castles and more are provided. There are numerous drop-in Build It! club sessions throughout the year so if you miss this one be sure to check the Library events calendar for upcoming classes.
Built It! LEGO Club
Parkside Children’s Area
1200 Taraval Street
San Francisco, Ca
Date: Jan 18th, 2013
Hours: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Phone: 415-626-7500
Online: sfpl.org/index.builtit
YMCA SF LEGO Club
The YMCA offers a LEGO Club at the Chinatown branch every saturday and nearly all of the centers offer LEGO camp as a part of their summer program. Each session begins with a new project.
Insider Tip: Parents take note: the suggested age for this program is 6 and above.
YMCA SF LEGO Club
Chinatown YMCA
855 Sacramento Street
San Francisco, Ca
Date: Saturdays, current session running from 1/5/13 – 3/16/13
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Cost: $45 for 10 sessions (prices for non-members may vary)
Phone: 415-576-9622
Online: www.ymcasf.org/chinatown
Tech Know How
This summer camp program offers LEGO day camps throughout the Bay Area. With everything from youth city builders session to space explorers session, there is a LEGO camp for every kid at home. Classes range from age 5 on up.
Insider Tip: Register before March 15th for the early bird registration price!
Tech Know How Camps
Locations vary, visit website for camp nearest you
Dates: From June 2013 – Aug 2013
Cost: Prices vary
Phone: 650-638-0500
Online: www.techknowhowkids.com/summer-camps/LEGO-robotics
East Bay
Play-Well Pleasanton Activity Center
The Play-Well centers are hallowed ground for LEGO aficionados. Besides drop-in activity time, there are sessions for kids 3 and up, like Build It! with LEGO Duplo, where youngsters will indulge in themes like Airport, Castle, Forest, Old West, Train Station and more.
Insider Tip: Play Well also sells LEGOs on location.
Play Well Pleasanton
5737 Valley Avenue
Units A & B
Pleasanton, Ca
Hours: Tue – Sat: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sun: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Drop-In Cost: Weekdays: $9/hour per kid, Weekends and Holidays: $10/hour per kid
Preschool Discount: $7/hr – weekdays, 5 and under(before 1:00pm)
Phone: 925-484-1547
Online: play-well.org/schedule/class
Bricks 4 Kidz
LEGO lovers will have a heyday at this center offering drop-in hours as well as different class series, summer camps and afterschool programs. Folks are encouraged to come by and see what the programs have to offer.
Insider Tip: Bricks 4 Kidz also offer birthday party packages!
Bricks 4 Kidz
3150 Balfour Road
Brentwood, Ca
Drop-in Days: Tues: 10:00 am – Noon, Wed: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Thurs: 10:00 am – Noon, Fri: 4:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sat: 10:00 am – Noon
Cost: $5
Phone: 925-684-4082
Online: www.bricks4kidz.com/california-eastbay-brentwood
LEGO Store at Stoneridge Mall
One of three official LEGO stores in the Bay Area. Although the store doesn’t offer drop-in time, there are plenty of LEGOs running amok and ready to be tried on for size. Spend a couple of hours browsing, constructing and selecting the perfect set for each kid.
Insider Tip: Every first Tuesday of the month is a free mini model building class, kids can take their work home for free.
LEGO Store at Stoneridge Mall
1444 Stoneridge Mall
Pleasanton, Ca
Hours: Mon – Sat: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm, Sun: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Phone: 925-737-0704
Online: stores.lego.com/en-us/stores/us/stoneridge/
San Ramon After School LEGO Engineering Class
This LEGO engineering class runs on Mon, Wed, and Fri. Kids will build robots who then compete in rousing games of soccer, hockey and basketball. Although there is staff present, it’s better if the kiddos signing up are comfortable with using the LEGO Technic Building System.
Coyote Creek Elementary School
8700 Northgale Ridge Rd
San Ramon, Ca
Dates: Jan 23, 2013 – Feb 20th, 2013
Hours: Wed: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Cost: $150 per session
Online: econnect.sanramon.ca.gov/econnect/Activities
Neil Armstrong Elementary School
2849 Calais Drive
San Ramon, Ca
Dates: Jan 25th, 2012- Feb 22nd, 2013
Hours: Fri: 3:15 pm – 4:45 pm
Cost: $150 per session
Online: econnect.sanramon.ca.gov/econnect/Activities
Live Oak Elementary School
5151 Sherwood Way
San Ramon, Ca
Dates: Feb 4th, 2013 – Mar 18th, 2013
Hours: Mon: 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Cost: $150 per session
Online: econnect.sanramon.ca.gov/econnect/Activities
Marin County
Play Well Activity Center
It’s simply LEGO heaven. Children and adults can use hundreds of thousands building elements to independently and cooperatively pursue their creative interests. Drop-in hours and classes available, even JEDI engineering!
Insider Tip: Sibling discounts are available!
Marin Play Well Activity Center
216 Greenfield Avenue
San Anselmo, Ca
Hours: Mon – Thu: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Fri: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm, Sat & Sun: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Drop-In Cost: Weekdays: $9/hour per kid, Weekends & Holidays: $10/hour per kid, preschool discount: $7/hour on weekdays, 5 & under(before 1:00 pm)
Phone: 415-460-5210
Online: play-well.org/drop-in/marin
Marin County Free Library
The Novato branch welcomes kiddos ages 4-14 every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. No registration is required and DUPLO and LEGO parts are provided. Great for those empty afternoons!
Novato Branch
1720 Novato Boulevard
Novato, Ca
Hours: 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Phone: 415-897-1141
Online: marinlibrary.org/events-and-programs
LEGO Store
Lucky for South Bay residents, there are two LEGO stores to capture the imagination. Cool thing about these locations? They don’t only sell kits but individual pieces as well, so the ideas can really run wild. Kids will also go nuts for the Pick-a-Brick “buffet,” where for a single price all types of building bits can be scooped up and taken home.
Insider Tip: Be sure to join the VIP membership club for tips and cool savings!
LEGO Store
341 Hillsdale Mall
San Mateo, Ca
Hours: Mon – Sat: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm, Sun: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Phone: 650-571-9020
Online: stores.lego.com/en-us/stores/us/hillsdale-shopping-center/
LEGO Store
2855 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Santa Clara, Ca
Hours: Mon – Fri: 10:00 am – 9:30 pm, Sat: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm, Sun: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Phone: 408-247-8071
Online: stores.lego.com/en-us/stores/us/valley-fair/
U-Me Pre Engineering with LEGO
This class is aimed for the beginning builders, kids from ages 4-5. With over 100,000 different pieces and an experience Play-Well instructor on hand, little ones will be designing boats, bridges, mazes and more.
Engineering with LEGO
3355 Edison Way
Menlo Park, Ca
Dates: Fri: Jan 18th, 2013 – Mar 22nd, 2013
Hours: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Cost: $300
Phone: 650-257-7511
Online: u-meplace.com/classes/legos
Cool Collections and LEGO Expos
As an added bonus, there are a few cool exhibits for LEGO lovers in the Bay. Although there isn’t any play time involved, there is still a lot of fun and WOW involved.
9th Annual Living LEGO-cy
The San Francisco Bay Area LEGO® Users’ Group and Train Club have an annual exhibit at the Museum of American Heritage. The highlight of the setup? The model train layout smack dab in the center of the room, it’s made entirely from LEGOs. Although the viewing date ends this year on Jan 13th, be on the lookout for next year’s dates!
Museum of American Heritage
351 Homer Avenue
Palo Alto, Ca
Phone: 650-321-1004
Online: baylug.org/upcoming.cgi?museum-palo-alto-2012
Bricks by the Bay Public Exposition
Nearly 22,500 square feet of LEGO creations on display! Sunday is open to the public and and vendors will be hocking tons of awesome LEGO and LEGO-related accessories.
Hyatt Regency Santa Clara
5101 Great America Parkway
Santa Clara, Ca
Date: Sunday, August 11, 2013
Hours: 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Cost: $8 per person, kids ages 2 and under are free
Phone: 408-200-1234
Online: bricksbythebay.com/wordpress/public-expo
Got a favorite way to building with the fam? We want to know!
— Gabrielle Cullen
photo credit: Brikz 4 Kids Courtesy of Brikz 4 Kids, Kid with Red LEGO Used by permission of 2012 The LEGO Group, Bill Ward’s Brickpile via flickr, LEGOS Couresty of Podknox via Flickr, emrank via flickr
