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.

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.

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.

I have had two experiences with Sienna Ranch and both of them were amazing…read more 1. Summer camp 2026 for my 7 year old - she LOVED it. Got to milk goats, make goat cheese, make crafts, play, and be outside. It was her favorite camp. She loves animals and can't wait to go back. 2. Nov 2026. Our Girl Scout troop's Juniors (10 4th and 5th graders) were able to complete their Horseback Riding badge at Sienna Ranch. It was so easy to communicate with Sienna Ranch to set up the event and they created a morning for us. Their staff were so helpful and great. My highlight was when when one of our fourth graders, who had never been on a horse, mounted one and said she felt "powerful" with the biggest smile on her face. Five stars isn't enough!

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.

Bryerly Review. I…read morekeep pinching myself in order to believe that we have these majestic animals so close to home. When my husband & I went for our first meditation session we were warmly received by Anne and introduced to a few of the horses after which we watched the sun at this charming ranch. I love coming here and can't wait to spend more with these healing animals.

Today was my daughter's last day before starting Kindergarten and I wanted to take her to real farm…read morewhere she can see some chickens and maybe pick some vegetables. We arrived at Bryerly Farms and it was nothing like we expected (not a farm in the traditional sense) BUT it more than made up for it in hospitality and the majestic horses we got to meet - most of which were wild rescue horses. Anne was so warm, very patient with my daughter and her one thousand questions about farm life and she introduced us to all the beautiful horses and ponies by name! On our way home, my daughter kept saying their names and how she wants to take riding lessons with one of the ponies. We're looking forward to going back soon , as we've been invited for an Autumn party and to pick prickly pears :)

The Art Room offers art classes to children, teens and adults. There are two floors, with a kiln…read moredownstairs and an outdoor sculpture garden. I taught part-time as an instructor here last year, and I was very impressed by the quality of the teachers I observed. Some of the teachers are lifelong, established artists, and others are fresh out of art school. The classes are small, and each child gets a lot of one-on-one attention. Gi Gi, the owner, believes that students should be encouraged to both pick up new skills, and develop a lifelong love of art -- so, although specific techniques are taught in each class, the students are encouraged to express their creativity, and the teachers are very supportive and nurturing. I was equally impressed by the quality of the work the students produced. Some of the teens have been taking classes since they were young, and are quite accomplished. The Art Room is located in the heart of downtown Lafayette, right across from the popular restaurant, Chow's. The building also houses the Lafayette Gallery, a cooperative of local artists. (The two businesses are separate entities, although they share a building) I would encourage folks in the area to tour the building and spend some time in the sculpture garden, especially on a sunny day.

Today I started the pottery class. The teacher was very patient and encouraging. I literally had…read morenever touched clay before and there is a learning curve. So it is a good challenge to work those creative muscles. At the same time, it's a great escape and fun to learn! Great spot, great instructors, recommend!

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 had her first experience with Lamorinda Theatre Academy this summer for one of their…read moresummer camps. She loved it and she really wants to come back for classes in the fall! It was a 3 week camp, 4 hours a day. In that short time, they produced a kids play...The Jungle Book...from start to finish, complete with singing, dancing, costumes and sets. It was amazing what they were able to accomplish. And the quality of that production was impressive...much higher than any of the other school plays or park district programs we have seen. Each day, the kids took "classes" in acting, singing, and dancing, but with plenty of time for play, games, and camp type activities. Renee, Rena, and Amy are very good with the kids. And the amount of care, creativity, and love that they put into their business really shows. The difference it made in our daughter, after just 3 weeks was amazing. She made new friends that she wants to keep in touch with. She is a little less shy than she used to be. And she sings and dances a lot more, even when she knows people are watching. I think it will be the highlight of her summer. And I think Lamorinda Theatre Academy's program will be a very good influence on her growth, poise, and confidence, and will be a lot of fun for her!

We walked in with our relative to see if my boys could watch their performance class, the lady said…read moreNO!! Are you serious. We could be their customer and here my kids got refuse to absorb the place and they don't want to join place like that at all. She said they didn't get notified!!!! She didnt ask any question, any interest to make us feel welcome at all. They are not welcoming new people and they are not friendly!!! My boys are disappointed and upset that, they couldn't be with their cousin !!! If you will walk in to know more about this place you will get kicked out :( I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE!!!!

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.