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.

It's hard to describe how much our family loves Mountain Camp. My oldest son is 14 and my youngest…read moreis 12 - they've both been going to MC every summer since they were 8 years old. As a mom, here are some of the things I most appreciate about Mountain Camp: - Kids get to choose their own adventure. Campers spend their day rotating around the four areas of camp with their age group. At each area, they get to choose which activity they'd like to do. (And there are TONS of activities to choose from!) Counselors do a great job of encouraging them to try new things, but in the end, campers get to do whatever sounds most fun and exiting to them. There's no competition in the activities so kids don't have to worry about choosing what they're good at - they can just think about what's most fun to them. In an age where their days at home are scheduled minute by minute, I love that my boys have the freedom to build their dream day, every day, at camp. - At Mountain Camp, safety is first, but there are plenty of opportunities for kids to get dirty, take risks, and to push the limits of their comfort zone. I love that when I pick my boys up after a week at camp they have dirt under their nails, skinned knees, a bag full of filthy clothes, and HOURS, literally hours, of stories about how they earned those badges of honor. The counselors and staff are extremely safety conscious and they make sure all the kids know and live by the safety rules. But MC provides a rare chance for kids to run, jump, play and spend time in nature. They're not "training" for anything, or competing in any way, but they are pushing their bodies and brains in all kinds of new ways that, to me, represent the best kind of "fitness". - The counselors are amazing! Each camper has two cabin leaders who really look out for their kids all week. My boys have had amazing counselors each year. They also really love getting to know the activities counselors. MC hires lots of counselors from other countries (all of whom speak perfect English) so it's a great chance to get to know people from other countries and cultures. The counselors do a wonderful job of creating a real sense of community at camp. There are no cliques and certainly no bullying. Each year my kids come home with brand new friends and when they describe those relationships, they often seem more deep and meaningful than the friendships they have at home with people they've known for years. - The camp itself is beautiful. Tons of big trees and an amazing waterfront beach. It feels like the campers have the whole lake to themselves most of the time. This is not a luxury camp. Kids sleep in rustic cabins, eat in an open air dining pavilion, and basically don't touch pavement the whole time they're there. It's a rare opportunity to really experience nature and to not worry at all about material things. I could go on and on, but I think the most important thing for parents considering MC to know is just that your kids will come home from camp changed in some really wonderful ways. Each year when we pick our boys up we notice that they are more confident, more self sufficient, and just plain HAPPIER thanks to their time at Mountain Camp. Giving your kids the gift of sending them to Mountain Camp is something you just won't regret.

My family loves Mountain Camp and it's the highlight of my children's summer. My 13-year old…read moredaughter has attended for 4 years and my 9-year old son attended for the first time this year. Both my children have severe, epi-pen level food allergies (to peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, legumes, soy milk and egg). Mountain Camp is the only camp that was willing to take on my children for two weeks and have a detailed allergy protocol in place. In advance of camp, I communicate with the culinary team to understand the menu for the session (they have a wide variety of food from around the world and different lunches and dinners every day). I partner closely with the wonderful chef and kitchen team to ensure the menu is safe for my kids (and I bring replacements for items which are not). I trust the team completely and my daughter reports that they are the safest camp she has been to (she has been to sleep away camp in Switzerland, Austria, New Zealand and in school outdoor education camps in California). Both my daughter and son have a warm relationship with the chef and go to her directly, most often for second servings! We have not had any incidents and the camp is incredibly responsive in our experience. We are grateful to Mountain Camp for their kindness, diligence and the magic that makes this summer camp so special for all the campers. See you next year!

Our daughter attended Avid4 for one Monday this summer. While she was enrolled for the full week,…read morewhen we picked her up that afternoon we discovered she was crying after being physically struck multiple times (bruises remained for almost a week) by one of the campers. We further learned that the same camper similarly struck other campers that same afternoon,. We were surprised to learn that Avid4 doesn't have a "no tolerance" policy for physical abuse, and made the decision to permit that camper to remain in the camp session for the rest of the week, at which point at great inconvenience my wife & I had to stay home with our traumatized daughter for the rest of the week, lacking a better "Plan B". Unsafe at any speed.

This is the first time I've put my kids in any kind of summer camp, so I was a little nervous…read moreputting trust into the unknown. I am so happy to say that my son has had a great time so far. The staff has been great, Nikki has been awesome, thank you. Not to mention that I applied for financial assistance through Avid4 adventure, because I am a single mom and these camps are not cheap, and was awarded with 75% off. I would absolutely recommend this program. My kids are very easy going and make friends quickly, so I don't have the challenge of a child that's more shy or less eager to try new things. But if you do, I don't think your child will have a hard time adjusting.

My 12 year old twins have been attending Camp Galileo for the last two summers and they have…read moreenjoyed it so much that they beg for me to add more classes to complete their summer experience. It is very well run, the instructors have so much positive energy, it's contagious, but not over the top. My daughter was exposed to creative ways to cook and, as a result, continues to teach me new ideas in the kitchen. My son thoroughly enjoyed the mindcraft class, but the highlight of the camp experience was their instructor, Abe Rodriguez, a very kind, engaging young man that both kids just really enjoyed interacting with. I highly recommend this camp as one of the best for kids because of how we it is run, how carefully the instructors are chosen, and because of the wide range of classes offered. You can't go wrong with Camp Galileo!

Worst camp ever. Interested in getting feedback about your child from summer camp then this is…read moreyour place. Want an unreliable summer childcare option threatening to kick your child out and labeling them a troublemaker for mild, age-appropriate indiscretions then send your child here. Have spoken to numerous Lamorinda parents with generally well behaved children with the same experience. The nerve of these unqualified high school counselors to report every mishap and have an overly sensitive director call 5-6 parents per day while at work (he admitted this number). Is this camp for real? Are we paying you to take care of our kids or not? Do your jobs and manage the kids

My 13 year old had a transformative 4 weeks at Roughing It day camp. She bonded with her group of…read moregirls, and responded to the great counselors and staff. Near the end of camp, she fell off a horse (only hurt her pride), and the counselors were so helpful and concerned for her to literally "get back on the horse" as soon as possible. That little tumble ended up being the pivotal positive experience in her entire summer! Although she attended camp reluctantly, she is now enthusiastic about returning this summer as a camper in leadership training (CILT).

The registration process is all online but good Lord they require a lot of information. If your…read morechild has ADD they require a Dr's note, if you don't want to medicate at the camp - I find the paper work excessive. It's super expensive ($600+) so I registered for the sample day (one day instead of the whole week) for $60. We are trying out the camp to see if it's worth the $$$. Cons - They don't provide lunch (for that much $$?) - The hours are 9-3 (technically that's not a full day when your a working mom) Pro - Check in was quick. They show up and check everyone in between 8:45 - 9am. - It's outdoors and they let the kids choose the activity - It appears friendly and loving Would I pay crazy dollars to go here? No, but I have always wondered what it was like. It's very similar to the Camp Potowatami at East Avenue, with a lake.

My son had the introductory archery class here. Instructor was really nice and laid back. He was…read morealso young and related well to an 8 year old without losing track of safety basics. My son really enjoyed the class. They let us wander the property a bit too before the class started (we arrived early). Ponies, chickens, goats, and a peacock in full display! Kids loved it.

My kids favorite summer camp for multiple years in a row. They got to hold chickens, milk goats,…read moretake adventurous hikes, and learn to ride horses. The counselors are great with the kids.

I signed my two boys (4 yr old and 5 yr old) for spring break camp and thank god they loved it!…read more I chose GrowFit because it is sports focused and I figured it would be suitable for my active boys. It was my first time signing my kids up for a spring break camp so I felt a bit nervous about how they would react to a new environment. My worries were immediately put to rest when I saw the fun interactions my kids had with coach John upon them leaving after the first day. With a big smile on his face, my boy was saying "you are the best!" back and forth with coach John. After returning home, they shared with me how much they liked playing football, basketball, tags, jumping house, and golf. I am thankful that the team at GrowFit took great care of my boys. Thank you and I highly recommend their camp program!

This camp was very misleading. I enrolled my son in the 6-9 soccer camp and all sports camp (9:00…read moreAM-4:00 PM), expecting structured soccer instruction. Instead, the day typically didn't start until 9:30 AM and was essentially over by 3:30 PM, with kids sitting around waiting for pickup. On the first day, one coach kicked a ball into my son's head and then disappeared for the rest of the week. My son came home every day saying he learned no soccer skills because there was little to no coaching. They didn't even play soccer on the last day. Most activities were random games unrelated to soccer. Afternoons consisted mainly of crafts, Legos, and a bounce house--fun activities, but not what was advertised. The check-in process was also disorganized. The receptionist repeatedly struggled to find my son's registration because she was confused about first and last names, despite his information being clearly visible in the system. She claims everyone makes mistake and that's ok, please tell this to your boss, not me. This camp has potential, but it is poorly managed and does not deliver what it promises. Updated based on Russ's feedback - the name in the system was correct because when your receptionist can't find it and handed me the iPad, I was able to look it up and it looks right. However, looks like it was sorted by first name but she asked for last name. I understand it was supposed to be very structured, but during class, it was not the case. My son even asked the coach to teach him how to kick and shoot better but the coach ignored him.

Such an amazing camp. My son attended the Bentley academy this past summer and LOVED it. Such a…read moregreat faculty and staff. He came home with stories to share, a smile on his face...and exhausted.

The programs in the camp are run by Bentley School's top-notch faculty, so you're getting expert…read moreeducators with custom cirriculum all program long alongside summer-oriented activites like photography, culinary arts, and robotics. Also, the facilities at the Lafayette campus are phenomenal. With easy access to BART this is an excellent summer option for families.

Rebel Art School is one of those places that I wish every family could find for their kids…read more Our oldest has been homeschooled his entire life because he received a liver and kidney transplant when he was very young and remains immunocompromised. His education has consequently involved a lot of computers and technology. He also has developmental delays and clinically diagnosed difficulties with dexterity, so when we first found Rebel, we were excited about simply giving him a chance to unplug, use his hands, and experience a completely different kind of learning. What we didn't anticipate was just how important Rebel would become to him. Art has challenged his fine motor skills in ways that are productive and enjoyable. He is painting, drawing, sculpting, building, and working with different tools and materials, all while strengthening skills that are genuinely difficult for him. Instead of feeling like he's working on something he struggles with, he's proud of what he's making. But what Rebel has given him socially may be even more valuable. When you homeschool a child, finding meaningful opportunities to build relationships and feel like part of a group can take some extra effort. At Rebel, that happened naturally. He has formed relationships with his instructors and classmates, he gets excited about going, and he has a community that belongs to him independently of us. Watching that develop has meant more to me as his mom than I can really put into a review. Our experience was so positive that we eventually signed up his younger brother too. He's now almost through his first semester, and we've watched him find his own place there in an entirely different way. Both boys have participated in Rebel's summer camps as well, and those have become something our family looks forward to every year. Something else I really appreciate is that Rebel doesn't confuse teaching technique with teaching conformity. The kids are absolutely learning how to use materials, develop skills, and understand artistic concepts, but they aren't being taught that everyone's finished product should look identical. Their individual perspective is treated as part of the art. Their ideas aren't corrected out of them. They're encouraged to take what they're learning and make something that actually feels like theirs. I think kids desperately need more of that. They need places where imagination is taken seriously. Where making something unusual isn't automatically making it wrong. Where they can try something, discover it doesn't work, change direction, and keep going. Art gives children a language for things they may not always know how to put into words, and Rebel understands that beautifully. As a parent, I'm also incredibly particular about the environments I trust with my children. Rebel is somewhere I can send them knowing they are cared for, respected, encouraged, and surrounded by adults who genuinely seem to enjoy helping kids discover what they're capable of. I thought I was signing my son up to learn art. Instead, we found something that has supported him physically, socially, creatively, and emotionally, and eventually became something his brother could call his own too. So if you're asking me if I would recommend Rebel Art School? 10,000 times over, we recommend them!

Our daughter thoroughly enjoyed years of creativity with Alex and the wonderful team at Rebel Art…read more Now, as a high achieving student at Cal she attributes much of her creativity and acceptance of new challenges to the supportive atmosphere of exploration she experienced there. Rebel Art rounded out a great academic and student athlete with appreciation for the artistic dimensions of life. Your young one, too, may find depth in themselves--or they might just get excited about colors and clay! Either way, worth it! Thank you to Alex and her crew.

Next Level has truly helped my team get to the Next Level. On rainy days I bring my girls here…read more Pitchers can get in work and there are multiple stations fir hitters to work while they wait to hit off the machines. I've even hit ground balls to my team in here. But the real value is in the private lessons. Many of my players take hitting lessons from Trini and her amazing staff after they leave our team practice. The affect has been outstanding. So much so that in 2016 our team won the CIF NorthCoast Section Championship. Thanks fir everything Next Level, you're a big part of our success. Jason Shelton Varsity Softball St. Joseph Notre Dame High

What an AWESOME facility. If you want to just get extra practice in, then go to a batting cage or…read morehang out at a park. But if you are a competitive softball or baseball player who wants to IMPROVE your game, then this is THE PLACE. It has tunnels (not cages) set up for ADVANCED hitting -- a super high tech pitching machine that can throw 40 - 90 mph softball or baseball pitches, curves, sliders, and fastballs. It has a remote, so if you are in there with your coach, you can stop the machine and work on your technique. And if hitting isn't all that you need to work on, there is a portable pitching mound to get you out of your slump. Ok...and now for those who are just starting their softball/baseball careers, there is an entire section for little sluggers. This area has tees, a pitching machine that spits out whiffle balls the size of golf balls. YOU HAVE GOT TO CHECK THIS PLACE OUT -- THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT ANYWHERE IN THE BAY AREA!!!!