I've been going to SHOW Circus Studio for three years now and have taken a wide variety of classes…read morefrom ground skills to aerials. I'm not exaggerating at all when I say that SHOW has totally changed my life, greatly improved my self-confidence, and totally increased my overall happiness. SHOW's classes present a unique opportunity to progressively develop really fun skills over several weeks. You would be hard pressed to find other spaces to develop this level of skills in tumbling, handstands, aerial apparatuses, etc. anywhere else. It's an amazing way to get a workout while having a ton of FUN and feeling super loved and supported! Not only that, but SHOW is a loving community of humans from the teachers right down to the students, of which there are many regulars. You can come in wherever you are at in terms of skills or openness to new people and new experiences, and you will be welcomed, asked what your preferred pronouns are, and checked in with regularly about how your body is feeling. I have never found another environment in which to build strength and stamina where this is the case. I HIGHLY recommend taking a tumbling or partner acrobatics class with Tara. These are super fun and playful skills to practice while building your strength and dynamic power, and Tara is a really talented and supportive teacher. You won't regret it and you might even get sucked deeper and deeper into classes at SHOW like I have!

I started taking classes last winter at Show and was Instantly hooked! Their teachers are very…read morekind, dedicated, knowledgeable, and safe. The space itself is big, with several areas for different classes. All of the equipment is frequently inspected and maintained- when any tape gets worn on an apparatus they remove and repair it. The intro to aerials class gave me confidence on the trapeze, fabric, and Lyra. I've moved onto to level 2, and there are so many other advanced classes for me to chose from! Performances are always optional and there are classes for all ages.

Amazing place for kids to go and be creative for camp. The owner is kind and helpful. My kids want…read moreto go back all of the time! A precious experience.

From the owner: Feather Press Studio is a two-story art and print studio. Aspiring artists of all ages can explore…read moretheir creativity in an intimate studio atmosphere that supports the joy of play and discovery through art-making. Daytime, after school, and evening classes for kids, teens and adults are offered throughout the year.

Our daughter has done this as a week-long day camp (at Bement Summer Camp) twice now. Each year was…read moresimilar but the daily activities changed. Regardless, she LOVES this program! Plenty to challenge older / more experienced kids, but also moving at a pace the younger crowd can keep up with. Last year, her favorites were kayaking and caving. This year, raft-building and caving. She starts each day excited for a new adventure, and comes home worn out and so full of stories. The guides have all been fantastic - knowledgeable about the trails, history, and environmental topics; good at setting expectations about the day's activities and rules; and great with kids of varying abilities. Caving may be the best thing about this program. Our family hikes & paddles regularly, but caving is best done with a guide who's done the cave before and can set expectations realistically. When our daughter comes back from the caving days, her clothes are wet and filthy, she tells stories about impossibly narrow and tight passages, and she grins the whole time. It's such a great experience and has really expanded her enjoyment of our outdoor adventures. My only request is that the guides would give parents a list of where they went, complete with recommended parking and recommended routes - so we can try these things too! Well, except the caving. I'd want a guide for that!

We brought my son's 6th Grade class here for an adventure and no one left disappointed. You could…read moresee quite a few of the class were tentative as they entered the cave but once they got inside all of there faces lit up as they began to explore. Our guides were Anna and Benjamin and both were great with the kids. They told us stories and taught us all some facts about how the caves were formed, what was down there, and how they would look in the future. We explored some of the larger areas of the cave and also some of the tighter passages. It was peaceful, challenging, meditative, and fun. It's also worth noting the care Anna and Benjamin took to make sure that everyone had a pleasurable and safe experience. They were supportive to push us to get a little outside of our comfort zones but were equally supportive and attentive if someone felt they had reached their limit. It's been two days and the class is still talking about the trip. I plan to get as many of the kids and parents together to do this again some time in the near future. I do not have enough words to express the gratitude I feel for this experience.

My child took the swimming lessons a few time. She really enjoys it. The instructors are great and…read morecaring and really great with kids. Regarding the swimming facilities, they are generally great. Some downsides are: (1) middle school pool temperature is slightly lower than normal at least for the time we went (2) there is no private shower room at men's locker room. This is pretty awkward when my husband takes my daughter to swim lessons.

We love the small group sizes, it's less intimidating for our child and they get more one on one…read morewith the instructors. There are year round lessons so our child can keep practicing the skills they've acquired during the class and learn new ones. We've signed for more lessons and have recommended the class to friends and neighbors.

Great place to bring your kids. The kids work in a class of their piers and level up on each…read moreobstacle as they progress mastering it. The kids get to excercise muscles they normally wouldn't playing other sports and love coming here. Balance, raw strength and conditioning are just some of the benefits as they are having fun.

Keeping 35+ middle school aged campers happy and challenged is a tall order, but USA Ninja does…read morejust that!! I recommend this challenge for all ages because the owner and staff engage the kids as well as encourage them to try the hard tasks. They have a real can do attitude.

This place is stunning, with its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant natural beauty captivating…read moreevery sense. Lush greenery stretches as far as the eye can see, interspersed with colorful wildflowers and sparkling water features that reflect the clear blue sky. The air is filled with the harmonious sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves, creating a serene and immersive atmosphere. Each corner offers a new and enchanting view, making it a haven for nature lovers and a perfect escape from the bustle of everyday life. The water is breathtaking.

Very nice facility. Very peaceful and conducive to a retreat setting. Plenty of accommodations…read morewith a great dining hall and meeting rooms. The staff was exceptional and that moved it from 4* to 5. They could not have been nicer or more accommodating. It is a little scary turning off paved roads but it is worth it. Very poor cell reception but free wifi is available. The poor cell reception is a good thing to break us from our electronic tethers though. I hope to stay here again or hold another function here.

If the shire is open in 2020, this will be my fifth year at camp. To say that i love going is an…read moreunderstatement. it's the highlight of my year, and it has been for the past five years. to anyone who says that it's "unsafe", or that safety regulations are not met, that is just simply not true. camp is where i feel the safest, and i know i am not the only one who feels this way. shire village is so accepting of everyone, and it is the only place where some kids can be themselves. all people, no matter their background, are wholeheartedly accepted at this camp, and i've found that that is not that case at many other camps. the staff goes above and beyond to ensure that everyone feels accepted and loved. therefore, it is impossible to slip through the cracks at shire, everyone knows everyone else, and the activities are curated in order to give kids the chance to explore nature and their artistic abilities. this is in no way saying that the staff forces us to do any activities, everyone is able to find their desired hobby, as there are so many options every single day. going on, i have made some friendships that i am positive will last a lifetime, and if shire didn't give us the freedom that it does, i'm not sure if these bonds would be as strong. in a past review, the author wrote about the pool and the walk to the pool. they made it seem like the walk to the pool was a death sentence. it's a walk down a hill, and the staff makes sure that campers are safe. campers always walk down in groups of two or more, which eliminates the possibility of a camper getting "stranded" in the middle of the road with an injury. in addition, the staff in the office walkie-talkies the lifeguard that campers are walking down. there was a remark about the lifeguard. i have always felt safe in the pool and lake, even when i was learning how to swim. there was a remark about the lifeguard not giving his full attention to the campers. the said lifeguard was one of the most caring and responsible people that i have ever met, and the said female that he was said to be talking to was most likely the female lifeguard.... i'd want my lifeguards to have a good relationship, i'm not sure about you. finally, the author wrote that the pool fence could be jumped? no one has ever done that in all the five years of me going here nor the seven years of my friend. and if i may be frank, no one would want to walk down to the pool and jump the fence, it gets really cold at night and the bunks are nice and warm. in conclusion, shire village is an amazing camp and i highly recommend it. it is such a warm and loving place, i really hope that it is open this year.

My husband went to Shire Village in the 1970's, and my kids go there now. It is a warm,…read moreprogressive, horizon-expanding, truly life-changing place. I wouldn't send them anywhere else.

Just spent the weekend at SJ Riding Camp for an industry retreat and it was such a wonderful…read moreexperience!! I wanted to stay forever after only three short days on the property. Lovely staff and well maintained spaces! Hoping to be back in the future!!!

We rented SJ Riding Camp for a private event and their team was absolutely amazing! They went above…read moreand beyond in every way and were so patient and kind with new riders. The food was exceptional and a true highlight of our time there, the cabins were cozier and larger than anticipated, and the property is truly stunning. Can't wait to send kiddos to their summer programming and return for more events!

Spent four years as a camper and one as a member of their AIDES program. Excellent place for boys…read moreto develop their character, make lifelong friends, and create incredible memories.

tldr: great views of nature, friendly staff, and good accommodations…read more Came here with a group of peers for a bonding overnight stay in late fall. Food was good and accommodated dietary restrictions, and sleeping accommodation provided a bathroom and mattress but no sheets (we brought sleeping bags and pillows). Everyone really enjoyed the big swing and Alpine tower activity. Our group was large enough that they split us up to do each activity - my group enjoyed the firestarting/survival shelter activity but not as much as the swing/tower. The swing is doable for anyone, and you can decide how high you are pulled up before swinging. The tower is challenging and only one or two of our 15-person mini-group was able to reach the top. Plan to wear clothes that you can move around a lot, and walk in the woods in. They did not have a large indoor meeting to sit 30-40 people, but we were able to fit in a room off the main cafeteria, with some people sitting on tables/the floor. The campfire at night was set up ahead of time for us, and they included materials for s'mores. The guide was sure we'd have enough supplies but we ended up running out of some parts (they're called s'mores for a reason!). The staff there ran a cultural sensitivity activity for us, which we enjoyed with everyone in our large group.

Had a great experience with Teacher Melissa S. in Phoenixville, PA. She easily accommodated us and…read morea couple other kids late to the session. She was enthusiastic and engaging. Our group had several kids under 2, a handful of 2-4yos, and a couple 5yos. Tinkergarten is 100% outdoors; they use public parks as classrooms. Lessons focus on songs, stories, and visuals about animals and nature. They often incorporate the elements (fire, wind, earth, water) into lessons, as well as a featured animal or plant each time. Sign language (ASL) is taught for each lesson feature. Learning-play is the main activity, such as a treasure hunt, making lanterns, or creating "soup" from nature in the park and spices brought by the teacher. I'd signed up for a spring session just before COVID hit the US, and as with everything, Tinkergarten had to cancel. They offered online sessions, but my toddler was too young to really grasp that Zoom type interaction. Fast forward a year and a half, and I signed up late into this past fall session. Tinkergarten pro-rated it for us, which was great. I think this is best suited for ages 3-5, though it is offered for 6mos-8 years. If you want to get neat ideas about outdoor play, and meet like-minded parents/kids, I would definitely recommend this to the younger end of the age range. If you already are really creative and play outdoors often, this class will not be as exciting to your child, but it is a great opportunity to socialize with other kids. For older kids, classes are normally during school hours on weekdays, so I could see homeschooled kids attending, but everyone else will be in school. For me, it was a great motivator to spend more time outside, and it was fun taking a class with my child. We would normally spend much of the day outside, but we wouldn't be seated and focused on a lesson the same way, and Teacher Melissa's energy really helped us get enthusiastic about our lesson. My toddler LOVES the Tinkergarten song, too! Great bonding time with your kids! Great toddler socialization! Great at intriguing kids to lean into nature! My rating if only 4 stars was for a couple of cons. One, the cost is higher than similar programs at the YMCA, etc., and communication was difficult via email with Tinkergarten and our teacher. Also, I thought I'd be getting all my sessions live and in person, but the last two were online only. Otherwise it was a quality experience.

Our experience was with the Lexington, MA location while my daughter was 22 months old. My…read moreobservation is that this type of outdoor guided learning is effective if your child is over three and doesn't get a chance to spend much time outdoors. My daughter does well in playgroups indoors, but here kids are not confined to a small space (which is great) but - as such, your child's participation in activities is dependent on his/her obedience to the Leader and topic interest. In my personal case, my daughter and I spend time outdoors everyday and she is well versed in mud pies, foraging and very familiar with that particular park. Perhaps at her age she just didn't understand why she wasn't able to freely do these things at her own pace or our group was the most disciplined bunch of 20-22 month olds I had ever seen. I was also very hurt when I told the group leader that I was having a hard time keeping my daughter with the group and her response was to tell me that the other kids were her same age. As a teacher of children, she should know that all kids learn differently and comparing 20-22 month olds in an effort to shame me isn't helpful. I emailed the company to cancel and got a partial refund. I think age 4-5 is about when we'd get the most educational value and bang for our buck. My toddler was just too young and too into her own self-guided learning to follow the Leader - she'd get a similar experience when I take her to parks and nature trails myself. Sadly because of our experience with that teacher, we will not sign up in the future.