Our 4th grader had a fantastic time during his week of summer day camp with ATX Kids Club and we…read morecan't wait for the next opportunity for a field trip with Tammy's wonderful crew. What's so great? 1) Small groups with a low child-to-teacher ratio. During our week, there were approximately 8-10 kids and almost always 2 or more counselors at each outing. The curriculum has an educational/health & fitness focus, and the well-trained counselors are managed by a certified teacher (Tammy) who is often present during the week. 2) Exercise & being outdoors. The kids are moving most of the day, walking around town to see the sights, playing on splash pads & playscapes, or taking a hike. ATX Kids like to move it, move it! 3) Being a tourist in your own city. The kids (ages 4 - 12) learn to use public transportation and recognize city landmarks while exploring many of the cool destinations available in their hometown. During our week in Summer 2016, our child toured several art museums and historical sites, visited a few parks and walked urban trails. A highlight at the end of the week was visiting the Governor's Mansion and having snack time with the First Dog of Texas, Pancake. 4) Supporting a community-based, local nonprofit. ATX Kids Club offers discounts for children whose families might otherwise be unable to afford this kind of summer camp. They also serve as a CCMS provider through the Texas Workforce Commission. 5) Having a "normal workday" schedule for a reasonable fee. Summer camp hours are 9a-5p ($275/wk), and you can add extended care for 8a-6p for an additional fee ($65/wk). This is such a relief compared to other summer camps that require parents to juggle work hours for drop-off and pickup. I do recommend the extended care unless you work very close to the drop point. Downtown rush hour traffic is horrific! It was fun for us to see the play-by-play pictures of the kids in action on the ATX Kids Club FB page each day, confirming that our child was enjoying camp and making new friends. We're looking forward to signing up for Summer 2017, as well as trying out some of the school holiday and Saturday adventures later this year.

Did two days over spring break for our 6.5yo boy and he loved it. We were lucky enough to get Ms…read moreMiller herself, the program director/founder, as the spring break sessions are smaller than the summer ones. (That's also why we were able to enroll for individual days.) She's selective in hiring guides, and extremely creative in finding things to do around the city, many accessed via public transportation. Kid came home tired and happy each day, with stories to tell about the "main" activities and the "bonus" activities which they keep in their back pocket depending on how the day goes. Will be back!

Fantastic Magic Camp was a great experience for my daughter. She loved learning about magic and…read morehad fun with the other campers. I also found their hours to be better than a number of other options. I definitely recommend it!

We had them out for our son's birthday party and I gotta say it went well. It was refreshingly…read moredifferent and he handled the kids well and kept them engaged despite the party having like 15/16 kids. It was a large group for sure. He arrived early and was set up on time. He stayed a bit longer than expected. He was professional yet fun and dealt with some of the difficult kids like a pro. I can't recall his name, but think he was from Sweden originally. The show was fun and he taught them magic tricks and did a magic show. Apparently he inspired a few of the kids to learn magic as weeks after the party they are practicing what they learned as well as learning new tricks. That's cool to see. Anyway, highly recommend.

My daughter loves this place. Ms. Zoë and her staff are amazing and truly have this beautiful love…read moreand enthusiasm for children. Since we have been taking her to camp for the breaks from her montessori school all she does is ask if it's camp yet. Her two other BFF's Moms say the same thing. I can't say enough about the quality and amount of attention these kids get there. :)

My son has attended several after school programs and would frequently report that he was bored or…read morethat he was being treated"meanly" by the other kids. It had been difficult to locate a program that was a good fit for his special needs that required understanding, awareness, and compassion on behalf of the director and staff. We chose to try Firefly due to their highly creative activities and their non-violent communication problem-solving approach. Ever since his first day with Firefly, my son has been in heaven. When I go to pick him up, he begs to stay longer. He has developed close attachments to several other kids and all of the staff. When there has been a concern involving my son, it has been addressed with me, the staff, and my son in a problem-solving conversation that has always yielded immediate positive results. I couldn't be happier with the programming and their support.

This place's waitlist is fake. It's that simple. I don't know how they actually decide if your kid…read moregets to go here or not but they definitely have a million excuses if they don't want your kids at their school. I'm left only to assume my children aren't welcome because I'm a single mother using financial aid. Unfortunately they're not even kind to you if you don't understand how you could be on the waitlist for over 1.5 years and there's been no change at all. I've spoken to Mary multiple times where she scoffs at almost every question I ask, as if I'm the one that works there and how dare I not know all the answers already, it's like i'm wasting her time. Still i'm left desperate for care which has kept me from leaving this review multiple times. I don't know if the facility can be as good as it looks if the people are this rude to moms (especially those in need). Good luck out there guys, I know it's not easy to find somewhere you'll trust. I had great luck at The Children's Courtyard, they're just no longer accepting CCS. Maybe look there if you don't use financial aid

The least responsive place I've ever experienced. We have three kids and were looking to get on…read morethe wait list. After being told the registrar would call us back soon, we waited...and waited. Four days later Jennifer, the registrar, called and left a voicemail at 5 pm. I call back within 10 minutes and she has already left for the day. Another two days of trying and no return phone call. I can't imagine sending a child here and expecting any type of meaningful feedback on a timely basis. I guess they have so many potential students due to the area so they don't care about returning calls. Must be solely due to location.

CCOA Jester is an amazing daycare facility! Our 1 year old has been there since he was 5 months…read moreold, and he has received the best care. All the teachers are extremely caring and absolutely amazing with kids. Quite a few of them have been with CCOA for a long time and are very experienced when it comes to young children. Additionally, the facility is so impressive - we toured plenty of daycares and CCOA was by far the cleanest and brightest facility. The young babies/toddler building feels so cheery and it made us feel so relieved that our son was in such a warm and welcoming place. They also provide food and have a great menu selection, which makes our lives as parents that much easier. Lastly, communication from CCOA Jester is amazing. So many daycares are difficult to get in touch with, but CCOA is not like that at all. They are extremely responsive, and Miss Erica (the school director) is on top of everything. We were honestly blown away by the level of communication at CCOA Jester. Overall, I would highly recommend CCOA Jester to anyone looking for childcare! We have had a great experience here!

I can't say enough positive things about the Children's Center of Austin - Jester. We have two…read morechildren that have attended there (one for 4+ years and one for 2+ years). The leadership and staff are incredible and truly care about your children. CCOA offers an excellent curriculum and provides breakfast, lunch and snacks, which is a nice perk. They also offer a variety of extra-curricular programs for children, such as Soccer Shots, gymnastics, dance and on-site swimming.

I have had children at Stepping Stone for over two years. Both of mine started in the infant room…read morewith Ms. Lola, and I TRULY do not know what I would have done without her. My youngest started in her classroom earlier this year, and this time around, we had the pleasure of having her helper, Ms. Vita! They both light up when we walk in every morning and I genuinely feel like my children are loved by them in a way that I will always cherish and appreciate. You hear horror stories about daycares, but I am blessed to leave mine every day feeling grateful for the hands that are taking care of them while I work. Ms. Monica has also been a bright spot in my kids days, and I am excited for my youngest to transition to her care soon.

I have had such a positive experience with stepping stone school. I couldn't be happier with the…read morewonderful care my child receives in their classroom. Miss Lola is an exceptional head teacher who brings a warm comfort to the room everyday. She has taught my child new skills and she takes such thoughtful, devoted care of our little one. The assistant teachers are equally incredible. Miss Vita is always so happy and lights up every time she sees our child, which makes drop-offs so much easier and leaves no doubt in our minds about how much she cares. Along with Miss Liz, she helps create an environment that is safe, nurturing, and incredibly welcoming. It's never easy to leave your child with other people, and the first week was definitely difficult for me as a parent, but these women made the transition easy and I know my child is getting exceptional care from them. I will be sad when my child ages out of their classroom, but I am grateful for the care they have provided.

My son had the best experience! Each day was a unique adventure in Austin. It was a perfect blend…read moreof indoor and outdoor activities. The camp itself is well organized and provides lunch and snacks each day. It's a great camp to meet new kids and hang out with friends. We will definitely be back!

I can't say enough about Camp 512's founders and counselors, Blake Pankonien, Brooke Alkire and…read moreCourtney Rimkus. All are former Eanes ISD elementary school teachers with a love and a passion for working with children. The low staff-camper ratio makes for a special and engaging experience. Each Camp 512 week hosts its own unique and fun-filled theme. The well thought out yet flexible schedule includes exploring Austin favorites such as Mount Bonnell, the Blanton Museum and the State Capitol as well as introduces the children to local food resources, cooking and baking and animal adventures to name a few activities. Guaranteed fun!

We've been at The PREP for over 2 years and between our 2 kids, have been in almost every…read moreclassroom. We were drawn to The PREP initially for the independence and exploration the school offers. Kids learn beyond their classroom and the playground. There is an indoor gym, a tech room, an outside classroom, splash pad (for summer) and a cafe/art studio. At a young age, our kiddos were learning how to transition to new spaces and learn in all different environments. There have been changes with leadership and teachers during this time, but I feel like every change has been for the better and with the kids in mind. My 2 children have always felt comfortable with their teachers and as a parent I know the school leadership is listening to any concerns I might bring and addresses them appropriately. My oldest just graduated preK and I feel strongly that she is ready for Kindergarten. The PREP makes learning fun and my kids playing "school" on the weekends is a testament to the environment that is being fostered here.

Would leave 0 stars if i could. As a parent, I…read moreunfortunately cannot recommend this school. My concerns are primarily related to communication, child safety, and how behavioral incidents are handled. One of my biggest concerns has been communication with parents when serious incidents happen. I do not feel that parents are always adequately informed when their children are involved in incidents such as biting or other physical behaviors. When a child is being hurt by another student, I believe parents should be notified and given a clear understanding of what happened and how the situation was addressed. I have also had concerns about repeated behaviors such as hitting, kicking, and biting. From my perspective as a parent, there does not always seem to be a clear or consistent approach to addressing these situations. I believe children deserve to feel safe at school, and parents deserve to feel confident that appropriate steps are being taken when safety concerns arise. Another concern is the consistency of communication from management. At times, information and expectations have seemed unclear or inconsistent, which can be frustrating for families trying to understand what is happening and what procedures are being followed. Choosing childcare or a school for your child requires a great deal of trust. Unfortunately, based on my experience, I do not feel that this is an environment where I am comfortable recommending the school to other families. I strongly encourage parents considering this school to ask specific questions about HOW injuries AND behavioral incidents ARE handled, WHEN parents are notified, and WHAT MEASURES are in place to keep children safe.