Wonderful summer program for grade school kids merging arts and science with super experienced staff. Most of the activities take a science theme and have children use their art skills to illustrate. The kids keep a daily journal of all their activities. read more

We love camp captivate! The teachers are real teachers with 20+ years of experience, not high school kids. They're so sweet and their kids have done the camp. Our kids love the mix of science and art. We've come for years for both kids! read more

As I was planning what I was going to have my 5 year old do this summer, I came across Camp Captivate. I first signed her up for the first week, All Roads lead to Rome Virtual Camp. I was hesitant at first since I'd seen how disinterested my daughter was during her daily zoom meetings with her TK class for the last few months of the school year. I was surprised to see how engaged and excited she was during her first week at camp. She was able to do the camp without me being by her side, which is something I worried from my past experience on her zoom meetings. She occasionally asked for help finding her materials which took a couple mins out of my time. She enjoyed it so much we decided to sign her up for the second week, Explore Hawaii. For this camp she did need help yesterday, building her volcano, and today, making the volcano explode. The teacher emailed us before hand to let us know they would need our help for about 15-20 mins with the time. It was fun to see her reaction during the explosion of the volcano. We all enjoyed it. I highly recommend Camp Captivate. The teachers are super engaging, lots of arts and crafts to keep them busy and the content is age appropriate. I am amazed that my 5 year old is able to do this virtual camp without me being at her side. read more

Camp Captivate - Erupting her volcano. - Summer Camps Near Me - Santa Clara, California

It's our second year attending this summer camp for the entire 3 weeks and the experience has been amazing-- really wonderful teachers and well thought out curriculum. Parent presentations at the end of the week is a great add on-- loved how Ildiko and the staff put together and share out photos and video highlights. Also popsicles in hot summer days and a reward program has been fantastic. Can't wait for the next years adventures! Well done Ildiko and team! read more

*Warning* This business engages in false advertising and fraudulent business practices. My daughter took their camp and we had a terrible experience. This was due to the fact that the virtual camp advertises itself as requiring parent supervision "on occasion". They also list that it's mainly for the first 15 min of set up for a 3 hour camp. In reality, we had to be by our daughter's side, mind you this meant leaving meetings mid-way or canceling them at the last minute, to assist her through the activity. I dont think this happens every class, but when it does there is no warning and you have to drop everything. Additionally the founder is the typical - I'm right, you're wrong, deal with it, type of person. My daughter is signed up for several camps - mainly through Outschool which have been going amazingly well. I would highly recommend going with a stronger competitor, with a better reputation, then with this camp where you dont know what you're going to end up with. And where, when these concerns are raised with the founder, makes it clear that it's his way or the highway. read more

She's an amazing Middle School Science teacher. I'm one of her students in her science class for seventh grade. She's a professional science teacher and she's great with kids. She does fun labs with us that get us to have fun and learn a lot. So far, I've had an amazing time in her class and I've learned a lot. Thanks for being an AMAZING science teacher. It's been great having you as my science teacher. read more

We had Ildiko and one of her fantastic staff members out for my daughter's birthday party. They were a huge hit! We chose the gems package and the kids loved watching Ildiko crack open geodes, explore interesting rocks, and make jewelry. Ildiko was professional, on time, easy to work with, and thorough. Her and her staff member were so sweet and patient with all of the kids. This was not an easy task since we had a range of active kids from ages 3 to 8. I would absolutely recommend booking them for a kids party. read more

The program itself is ok but the camp Shirt policy irritates me. My kid was charged $12 because she forgot to wear her camp Shirt. There is no field trip for this weeklong camp. In the student handbook, it does not mention the consequence of not wearing the camp shirt is ban from entering the camp, unless you pay $12 for a new shirt. They could have stated it clearly to avoid confusion. At the last day of school, I do see some students wearing loaner shirt but no one offered loaner shirt to my kid. Totally unfair! read more

This COVID Summer is new for everyone, and this camp made the best of it. How fun to have a Hawaii camp, my girl wore her bathing suit, with a virtual camp background. The camp was so communicative, and quick on the emailed responses. They shipped their high quality goods early. I was nervous my shy girl wouldn't get into it and stay for 3 hours, but she ended up wanting more. The way Teacher Nichole taught art was amazing and patient, and my girl was so pleased with herself, and they got to erupt a volcano, how fun, she was so excited. I really only needed to help minimally, she's 6 years old, it makes sense. Thank you and I wish we signed up for more. We're looking forward to Bug's life camp in a couple of weeks! read more

Camp Captivate - Summer Camps Near Me - Santa Clara, California

We have been huge fans of Camp Captivate for many years. During the beginning of the pandemic, they were one of the first camps to pivot to a virtual summer camp which really saved us working parents. Ildiko is truly passionate about science. Her staff provide a fun and educational environment. My girls love the themes and there are regular camp reports with stories and pictures. The kids love starting the day with time in the fun art studio. The campus this year is in a great spot surrounded by redwoods. read more

I highly recommend Camp Captivate! Each of our 3 kids have had camp at Camp Captivate the last 3 summers so we are returning customers. They enjoy the themes of the camps and the different hands on activities they were given. Each weekly camp is different so it's never boring for our kids. They bring home art and projects we've happily posted on our wall. The leaders and instructors are energetic and passionate about what they are teaching and doing with the campers. We look forward to hearing what they have in store next summer! read more

Camp Captivate - Summer Camps Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Our 8 year old son attended 4 consecutive STEM camps this summer and really enjoyed all of them. The interactive science activities were engaging and age appropriate, and included lots of great materials for the kids to take home and keep. Each day included art activities and free time, so the schedule seemed to be nicely balanced. We were particularly pleased with the owner, Ildiko, who could not have been more positive, enthusiastic and accommodating. She has built a really fantastic program, and we hope to see her again next summer! read more

This was my son's 4th summer at Camp Captivate and my daughter's 2nd summer and they have loved it every year. My son is a born engineer, and he loves all the fun things he learned at Camp Captivate. My daughter especially loves the art projects. Ildiko has a passion for teaching and children that always shines through. She truly understands what children need and delvers time and again. Last year (2020) we did remote Camp Captivate, and I was amazing at how engaged my kids (ages 6 and 8 at the time) were while being online. They felt part of the class, were supported, and were excited to attend every morning. Camp Captivate showed me that distance learning is possible - our schools could have learned a lot from Camp Captivate about how to do it right. This summer we were excited to be back in person. Ildiko again showed that she understands children and how they learn. She adapted the camps to be very low-tech, which is just what the kids needed after a long school year with lots of screen time. They ran in the sprinklers, played soccer, and just had time to be kids between their art, math, and science sessions. They came home telling me about their science experiments which were so interesting and fun that I was wishing I could go to camp too! Although I'm not an art person myself, I'm always SO impressed with the art my kids bring home from camp. It's beautiful! They have high quality art supplies and learn interesting techniques with oil pastels and watercolors. The end result looks so great and it is really something we're all excited to hang up on the wall. Most of all, I know my kids are always safe and happy at Camp Captivate. Ildiko found a great space this summer that allowed the kids to be fully outside but with tons of shade and space to run around - it was perfect. I truly appreciate Camp Captivate and we're looking forward to next summer! read more

Camp Captivate is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn AND have fun during the summer months. Helps keep their brains sharp while learning about topics that may not be taught during the normal school year. Ildiko Stennis and her talented staff do a fantatsic job of making learning fun, which can be challenging. Highly recommend Camp Captivate. Bravo read more

Camp Captivate - Summer Camps Near Me - Santa Clara, California

My kids have attended this camp on and off over the years since it opened. I especially love the changing weekly themes and how they're incorporated into the campers' activities. My personal favorite was from when my daughter was little and she learned about building aqueducts and marching with shields just like the Romans. The camps include a lot of art activities and I've even got one of her (Renaissance themed?) paintings framed and hanging in our house. Last summer she participated in their leader in training program and got a kick out of helping the little kids with their projects. My younger son participated in one of the virtual camps this summer (Crime Scene Investigation) and was especially psyched to learn how to fingerprint stuff. He's in middle school and was able to do 99% of the camp without supervision. I only had to supervise for a few minutes while he burned some materials over a candle flame. Ildiko (the owner) has created awesome activities that highlight the historical and scientific content so well and the camp is very professionally run. The materials for the virtual camp were of good quality and we received a lot more stuff than I had even anticipated, including enough art supplies to last my kid through the rest of the summer. I try to support local businesses whenever possible and have known A LOT of families that have sent their kids to Camp Captivate programs and have never heard anything less than a glowing review. read more

I highly recommend Camp Captivate! My son has been going every summer since 2017. Every summer he attends all four weeks. He really enjoys the teachers and the curriculum. He has made a lot of great friends along with learning in a fun way about science. All of the staff is extremely friendly and helpful if you have any concerns. My son is looking forward to attending again this summer and he would eventually love to become a camp helper. read more

I teach the STEAM Plus program, and my 5-year old attended all four weeks of camp this year. As a parent, and a staff member of Camp Captivate, I can say that the structure of the program, high quality of projects and enthusiasm for team-building makes this the best place to send my child for summer camp, and the best place to work. Technology exploration hour and PE make this program well rounded for students. The low ratios of teachers to students make it possible to do in depth science investigations with all 3 programs, and dissections with the older STEAM Plus groups. This year I taught Slime Time and made everything from fluffy slime to glow and the dark slime with STEAM Jr kids ages 8-10 years old. Then, I taught Marine Biology with 4 different dissections and fabulous art to complement each dissection. Week 3 I taught Environmental Science where students investigate health of a local watershed with different water quality tests. Week 4 was Crime Scene Chemistry where students solved a mystery with various CSI tests such as fingerprinting and fiber analysis. As a 7th grade Science teacher in Santa Clara Unified School district I can tell you, these experiments are above what I can do in my classroom with 33 or more students. In addition to providing students with awesome science experiments everyday, owner Ildiko Stennis values quality of materials in both science and art. Camp Captivate kids learn art techniques and experiment with a variety of art mediums such as watercolor paint, sculpture and even embossing! It is fun as an adult to practice these art projects with students. The Explorers program my little one was in encouraged her to love history especially Egypt and Rome. Plus, she came away with amazing art projects, friends and a sense of pride in her work. Every Friday Camp Captivate has a presentation for parents of all the amazing things those kids have done during the week. This is just one example of the many ways Camp Captivate goes above and beyond for students and staff. My child and I will both be back next year. Will your kiddo be there too? read more

Camp Captivate's Summer 2017 program is at Millikin, one of the top schools in California. While Millikin may be impossible to get into, Camp Captivate is open to all kids. My son was a leader in training when Camp Captivate was at St Leo's and I can't say enough positive things about the program. The science is amazing - they teachers are excellent and my kids first real biology direction was thanks to this program. Both of my kids have a love of science thanks to Mrs Stennis! I don't usually rave about Summer school programs, but if you are hoping your kids will learn actually learn something that encourages a love for learning you would be smart to Camp Captivate them. read more

My 7 year old son loved his week at in-person camp. The subject was microscopic organisms and it was great to find a camp with specific topics to fit his passion. Staff was warm and welcoming. I appreciated the email updates from the day. My son was so sad the week came to an end. We will be signing up next summer! read more

This is my daughters 2nd summer attending Camp Captivate (formally Smart Kids Camp) and I have nothing but positive things to say. This camp is amazing! She attended three weeks last summer and will be attending 3 weeks this summer as well. Camp Captivate combines Art, Science, and History, and centers around weekly themes such as Egyptian, Greek, and Renaissance. They also include daily team building activities and PE. The best thing is my daughter LOVES it and can't wait to go back each day. My daughter is repeating some of the same themes this year as last; although I was concerned about her being bored by repeating the same themes...I have been pleasantly surprised at all the new activities and crafts they have done this year. I have an Egyptian self portrait she did last week that is a gorgeous piece of art and ready for framing. More importantly, she she learns so much while having so much fun. She is constantly telling me all the things she has learned about these different cultures and times. The staff is amazing! The camp director and founder, Ildiko Stennis, is just wonderful and so hands-on with all the kids; as are all the staff. I have been impressed with the ongoing ways Ms Stennis is always working to improve the camp and classes. As I am always telling my daughter when she gets excited about something new there....."Ms. Ildiko always finds the cool stuff." If you are looking for a camp for your child, please give this one a try....I promise you won't be disappointed. read more

My 6 year old son attended a 2 week summer camp at Camp Captivate. I was very pleased with the activities and how they keep me updated with how my son was doing almost daily. He had a blast and learned so much just in those short 2 weeks. I will definately be signing my son up again for summer 2017. The only thing preventing me from putting 5 starts is how they keep the lunch cool. They have a cooler for their lunches but it does not have any ice so it barely keeps the lunches cool. I packed my son string cheese and he told me he didn't eat them during lunch because they were warm and didn't taste good. So I had to stop packing yogurts as well. Would really wish they had ice in the cooler since the summer days got really hot. read more

Camp Captivate is an engaging and educational summer experience. The owner, Ildiko Stennis is a passionate and creative educator who is devoted to passing along her love of learning and science to young minds. As the former Camp Director for 2 summers I can testify to the quality of instruction and the capability of the credential teachers. Teacher aides provided extra support. The well-rounded program included art and physical education. Parents regularly complimented the program and were happy to see their children thriving and having fun. I highly recommend Camp Captivate's programs to anyone who is looking for high quality instruction at a great value. read more

This camp is fantastic! My kids have had such a blast and are learning a ton and are so excited to get up and go every morning. They have attended numerous camps throughout the Bay Area and usually get bored but this camp has it all and they have not been even a bit bored. The camp provides such fun themes and then the kids do all hands on activities around this theme in art, history and science. This week the theme is the Middle Ages and they got to make catapults and launch marshmallows. They could not wait to get home and try it again! In addition they do daily team building, PE (taught by a professional trainer and PE coach) and have water day which is a blast with all sorts of activities. The camp is at St. Leo's and occupies the entire BEAUTIFUL campus so they use the field, gym, ball courts, playground, covered tables and classrooms. The counselors are all certified teachers and they are fun and enthusiastic and know every child by name. I can't recommend this camp highly enough and wish I could attend!!!! read more

My son just finished the first week of summer camp "Walk like an Egyptian" at Camp Captivate. He LOVED it. A lot of hands-on activities that included making a bottle of scented perfume and other fun activities. Well balanced program that included science, art, history, and physical activity. We will be back for more next week "Castles and Crowns". read more

This was a great camp. Smaller size, kids were always engaged. Learning, art, and lots of exercise. Came home tired and happy. My kids loved the art and the science, and are still giving me facts they learned in history about Egyptians, castles, and the Romans. I hope they find a location for next summer as i will be looking to attend. read more

My 8 year old attended their video game programming last spring ---- it was amazing! My son who get bored easily, was just focused on this class for straight three hours! From Monday to Friday morning, he just could not wait to get there. Highly recommended tech camp for all the little gamers out there! read more

This camp is all inclusive with the arts, history, science and PE - with credentialed teachers and a sweet staff, my son learned about the Renaissance through multiple modalities. In the heart of Santa Clara and wonderful facilities I highly recommend Camp Captivate. read more

My children spent four weeks at this summer camp and I must say it was the most engaging summer camp they have ever attended! The staff members and leaders were wonderful. My daughter was super excited about learning chemistry and block programming while my son really got into the various ancient cultures covered in his age group. My kids learned so much and developed new interests thanks to this summer camp. Thank you Mrs. Stennis for providing my children with an amazing camp experience!! read more

My 6 year old daughter is having a blast this summer at Camp Captivate! The ratio is small (10:1) so she's getting wonderful attention and more importantly, the creative blending of science, art and history has made the learning dynamic and FUN (because 6-year-olds are all about the fun). This particular week has been focused on Egypt so the children are learning about all aspects of Egyptian culture (they learned to mummify, built a pyramid, create perfume and do all sorts of things the Egyptians had done). It's a very hands-on learning experience and the director, teacher and help staff are friendly, engaging from Day One. They offer before and after school care for working parents (you pay a little extra). I registered my daughter for the other camp themes this summer (Medieval Times and Rome). I expect the same type of enthusiasm my daughter has been showing where she comes home and rattles off the facts she's learned and the cool projects she was engaged with all day. I highly recommend this to parents if you have a child who needs to have fun while learning and you want that nice balance of liberal arts and science exposure. read more

My daughters loved Science Smart Kids last summer (now Camp Captivate). They came home with so much to tell me they learned at camp. They loved the hands-on science, history and art. I loved the personal attention from small class sizes lead by credentialed teachers. The curriculum is top notch and fun! read more

My family has known Ildiko Stennis and Camp Captivate for the last 7 years. We always give our son the opportunity to pick the camps that he attends and he always picks Camp Captivate. With the covid-19 virus in full swing this past Spring we were faced with the uncertainty of what the Summer would look like and were so delighted when we learned that Camp Captivate would be available in a virtual format. I had so many questions, like how could this possibly work, but in my heart I knew that if anyone could pull it off it would be Ildiko Stennis and her team. And not for a single moment were we disappointed. From the registration process to the last day of camp we were met with creativity, knowledge, and professionalism. My son participated in three virtual camps and each one was engaging, informative, and led by instructors that clearly enjoyed what they were doing, I took an occasional peak at my son's screen during camp. My son was eager and excited for camp to start each day and he was provided with an enriching social and learning experience that my husband I would not have been able to offer. Thank you Camp Captivate and we hope to see you in person next year. And if the only possibility is a virtual format we will be there too. read more

This is first year my daughter attended Camp Captivate. My husband and I really enjoy reading the daily updates. We do not live in the area. We used to live here but moved away 2 years ago. We are in town partially for my work and partially for the great summer camps that are available here. Camp Captivate far exceeded my expectations! It is great to see how excited my daughter is about the stuff she learned. Although we will not be in town for your 3rd and 4th weeks, we will definitely look for Camp Captivate next summer. read more

Camp Captivate is a great summer camp. My son attended two weeks of summer camp 2016 and he learned so much about programming. He was so enthusiastic after camp that he wanted to keep programming at home. He loved the activities and the mix of STEAM activities kept him engaged throughout the day. Great hands-on projects and lots of individualized attention. Can't wait to sign him up for this summer! read more

It's our first year looking at camps. I wasn't sure that my DD would like the changing themes and attendance. She cannot wait to go each morning. There is a wonderful balance of history, science, art and plenty of activities. We are doing four weeks and wish we could do more (and would if travel schedules allowed) read more

Camp Captivate was outstanding! Our nine year old daughter can't wait to return next year. The weekly themes are interesting and the lessons truly captivate the kids. At the end of the week, our daughter came home with stunning art projects which were clearly well-taught and consistent with the theme of the week. They also have PE to keep the kids active. We love the St. Leo's location. What a top-notch camp with superb instructors! read more

We have thoroughly enjoyed this full and enriching Science camp! My daughter has learned how to do Lego animation and make her own movies and loves this, along with the super fun chemistry, hands-on experiments. Ildiko and her staff provide a top notch, quality program for all of the students and they walk away with an awesome experience and new skills. My daughter told me on her second day of camp that she wanted to do this camp forever and for someone who was so nervous to go to camp to that statement in one day was amazing. Thank you Ildiko and staff for making the camp such a great experience! read more

My daughters participated in Camp Captivate the past two summers. They love the combination of science, art, history, crafts and outdoor recreation. They still remember and sing the camp song! The passion and warmth of the Founder, Ildiko Stennis, who is very hands-on at the camp, are integrated into the camp environment and staff. The themes are fun while also teaching important aspects of a period or place. Having tried other camps, Camp Captivate stands out with high curriculum quality, an energetic connection with the kids and interesting themes. I highly recommend Camp Captivate! read more

We got lucky and learned about camp captivate this year. After reading the flyer, then the website and followed with the stellar reviews - I was convinced that I should enroll my daughter also. What stood out about this summer camp is it is more science and technology based. The different themes each week were very interesting such as Marine Biology and Environmental Science. I enrolled my daughter in Marine Biology and after the first day, my daughter gave great feedback already. She had a lot of fun and truly enjoyed her day. This speaks volumes already but as a mom, this is my feedback. First, I loved the themes, 2nd the location was very good which is at Millikin Elementary, 3rd it was very obvious right away that the staff were not just there to babysit or operate as daycare, they were truly invested in the kids, 4th their day schedule covered everything from science lesson to art to group activities to physical education and lastly, the class size are small so the kids can really interact with one another and their teacher. At the end of the week, there is a presentation where the kids themselves get to present what they have accomplished during the week. There are pictures and samples and videos. By the end of the week, my daughter has made some great new friends and wanted to enroll again for a 2nd week which we did, she came back for the Environmental Science camp. The only regret I have is not knowing about this camp sooner. But we plan to come back again next year. read more

Wonderful! My 7 year old son was signed up for one week. He loved it. He is not an "artsy-fartsy" kid by any means, but thoroughly enjoyed the art classes and made incredible projects. Also, he was able to learn about inspiring historical figures. His favorite area of learning? Science! It was wonderful and age appropriate. He enjoyed his time there so much, we signed him up for a second week. The director and teachers are professional, friendly, knowledgeable, caring, and dedicated. I highly recommend this camp. read more

My daughter had her 5th birthday party here, and it was fabulous. We had a fairy theme, and there were all kinds of crafts for the children to do. The space is lovely, and the children had a great time. I enjoyed getting to relax a little, since Ildiko and Corinne were there to help the children with their crafts. The children got to take home the crafts that they had made themselves, and those made wonderful favors. I am very happy that I chose to have my daughter's birthday party at Captivate Kids' Club. read more