Scouting is in my blood- I love nature, kids almost always love me & I am not afraid to get dirty!…read moreI am a new volunteer to this council and this was my first time at one of our local camps, located in Orange Park, this camp had to be here long before any of the neighborhoods! Great waterfront access & there is a pool. A climbing tower! I didn't explore too much- there was a leader training I was popping in to show my support for a friend who was teaching the course. She was set up in campsite 8 and unfortunately the campsites need some serious maintenance- poison ivy is overgrown in most of the sites! Fire pits have not been raked and cleaned. In my old council, our Order of the Arrow helped the Camp Rangers every year to clean up and do service around the camps. I have no idea if that is done here, but it needs some tlc. I can't wait to see more of this camp!

I lived next door for years but today was my first experience at the Boy Scout owned facility…read more Founded in the early 1920's the large parcel of land has 8 huge campsites and several halls. It has a sparling blue pool that is next to the beautiful waterfront area and dock. I saw a a chery area and even a climbing wall. The place was well kept up and the restrooms were clean. Great place for fun activities. For the kids and family.

We've been part of the Jewish Community Alliance childcare and youth programs for over a decade,…read moreand I can honestly say it has been one of the best decisions our family ever made. Both of my daughters practically grew up there. What started as childcare became a true second home -- a place where they were known, encouraged, and genuinely cared for. The staff never treated them as just another name on a roster. They invested time, patience, and heart into helping them grow not only socially, but academically as well. Today they are confident, respectful, and motivated young adults, and I credit much of that foundation to the nurturing environment JCA created for them year after year. The programs balance structure with fun, responsibility with belonging, and education with character development. If you are looking for a youth program where your children will be supported, challenged, and valued, JCA delivers. We are deeply grateful to the dedicated staff who helped shape our daughters into the people they are becoming.

You don't have to be Jewish to join. Welcoming place with a plethora of fitness classes and…read moreactivities for kids and adults. The gym is nice, there's wellness programs, personal trainers, a nutritionist, sports, recs, aquatics, early childhood/youth/ family activities, arts, and camps. There's something for every age group. If there's a class or activity you wan that they don't have, you can suggest it. They have an indoor and outdoor pool. The women's locker room has a sauna and steam room. Membership is based on income. If cost is a problem, they will try to work with you to keep you as a member. The camps and school are expensive. They welcome your questions and concerns if you ever have any. Overall, good place.

I went to Diamond D. For a school field trip it was nice and the kids had fun. This place is good…read morefor small kids.

From the time I called and spoke to Jewel and booked my 1 hour ride I had a great experience! Jewel…read morewas so very helpful with the booking process and directions. When I arrived I met her along with Sierra who then took myself and 4 other guests on the ride, beautiful location and very informative relaxing ride with my horse Mr Linx. Thank you for a great trip and lovely experience from this gal from Va.

Best learning center in town. Love the caring and friendly atmosphere and especially the quality…read morelearning experience. My granddaughter loves to go every morning! She is thriving here!

Smitty's Camp ROCKS! Daily my 7 year old would excitedly regale me of her day and all of the games…read moreor camp songs she learned. She even taught a few of those games to her parents! I particularly loved the "Bazooka Joe Bubble Gum" song she'd perform and sing. Smitty's is an "old school" summer camp. The kids get to swim TWICE a day! There's a nice pool as well as HUGE inflatable water slides! I typically sent my daughter in shorts, a bathing suit, and a long sleeve rash guard that would double as sun protection since they are outside ALL DAY! They also get to kayak, canoe, and go fishing! I love that even the little ones build confidence in learning all these new skills. My impatient daughter has *yet* to catch a fish but is wistful for that day to come. Every week is a new theme and they do games and crafts to compliment the weeks theme. My daughters favorite was Holiday Hullabaloo. "Monday is Christmas, Tuesday is Valentine's Day, Wednesday is Easter, and Thursday is HALLOWEEN!" My daughter joyfully informed me. The Minute-To-Win-It theme was also a hit. In between games there is also a playground and also a covered patio area where they can do crafts or read books. I have seen the older kids playing kickball on the baseball field in the mornings too. On rainy days they go inside and watch movies. Smitty's has such a FUN Summer Camp culture! I wish I had been able to attend something like this when I was younger myself. The main improvement Smittys needs is their front-of-house administration. Getting any resolution over the phone has been very difficult for me be it an emailed receipt or even a confirmation if could make a reservation for camp. You really have to go IN PERSON to get anything done unfortunately. TIPS: - Wednesday is Ice cream truck day so pack your little one some cash if they want some! - There is no on site food preparation for lunch BUT there is a water refill station as well as a Camp Store for snacks. - My daughter would carry a pound of sand home in her shoes so we had a rule that she would leave the shoes OUTSIDE! - Pack extra sunscreen for your child to apply after swimming or when needed. - They upload photos at the end of the week of all the fun the kids had to both their website and Facebook!

I went to BROOKS family YMCA for a short timeframe when I was on a transition from rehabilitation…read more Everyone from Joe and the team were great. I unfortunately never got a chance to say goodbye before I moved out of the area, but thank you. You know who you are.

I would leave 0 stars but I cannot. This ymca is unsanitary and dirty,they barely wipe down…read moremachines and most of the workers have an attitude especially the African American lady with curly hair she is disrespectful and should not be working there if she treats pepole bad and she kicks people out the basketball court even tho she really has no authority I'm going to start going to la fitness and not this trash hole.

I am a Y'er. I have held a First Coast membership for years…read more As this is not my go to location I do visit for special events. Thy have a great gymnasium for basketball and other like activities. There outdoor area is clean and sufficient size. Everyone is friendly and the location is great for the neighborhood.

This is a very nice YMCA on the Northwest side of town. Zumbathon keeps me coming here. This was…read moremy 2nd Zumbathon for Breast Cancer Awareness held every year in October. They bring in many Zumba teachers for the two hour event. This year we had 18 Zumba instructors. It's a wonderful event and for just $10 you get a great workout while supporting a worthy cause. A win-win. There must have been 200 people attending. You can workout at your own pace at these events. There's free snacks while working out so no one passes out. Plenty of water, sherbet & fruit. This event is held in October. If interested check out the Y for these events advertised around September. Maybe I'll see you there.

It was shaded along the way. There were minimal tree roots, making it easy to push a stroller over…read more There are different marked paths along the way. We went to the beach at the end of the 1 mile hike and walked the beach, looking for shells, watching crabs scramble by, and enjoying the views. It is well maintained by maintenance crews, and there are several picnic benches at the beach. It was hot on the way back, but there was a restroom at the beginning of the trail and a pavilion with benches. There was plenty of parking, no crowds, and places to fish, kayak, paddle board, and boat.

Amy helped us by giving us an overview of the work the center does and answering our questions…read more She was incredibly friendly and informative! She clearly loves her work. The visitor's center is beautiful and interesting. Our eight year old was engaged by the exhibits and live animals. We did the yellow hike, which was perfect for a July morning. We saw tortoise and many different types of birds and enjoyed looking at crabs along the waterline. Really cool experience. I highly recommend!

I had an issue with the business due to a disagreement regarding an accommodation to my child …read more However , the disagreement was resolved in a respectful and professional manner.

I was reluctant of starting my baby in gymnastics at such an early age. After going a few months…read morenow I'm glad to see she looks forward to going every time. She loves the music they play and dances to the beat. After a warm up the coaches set up different areas or obstacles and my baby loves it. We let her be dependent and she controls where she goes and when. She's learned to trust the coaches and they offer feedback on what they accomplish at their areas. The coaches love what they do and are involved in every aspect. They dance around, help the kids get motivated and show them how to have a good time!

Both of my daughters attended the summer camp this summer (ages 9 & 5). They have really enjoyed…read moretheir time there. They tell me they get to do archery and ride the horses, explore the woods, go swimming in the lake and pool, and they play lots of games everyday. Every Friday they have an award ceremony, and my kids have gotten an award almost each time. My kids can't keep secrets, so anything bad happening or something they don't feel comfortable with, they tell me and it's been nothing but good things everyday. I make a point to ask them what they've done all day and what they've eaten. They get a healthy breakfast and lunch, plus you can get a sweet snack from the 'store' they have, that parents pay for each week ($5 a week per child, 0.50 for each item, they can get store twice a day). It's hot here in FL, so they urge parents to pack the kids a water bottle that they can refill as many times as needed and to pack them sunblock and bug spray. In my opinion, as long as you pack your child what they need, they shouldn't be suffering. I haven't had any issues with the counselors. My ONLY concern is that when I went to pick up my 5 year old, she was in the pre-school area at that time, they had just gotten back from swimming, and other 5 year old boys were changing back into their clothes in the same room as the girls.

Amazing place in the middle of Jacksonville. The original nature and conservation school. I would…read morerecommend this to anyone interested in getting their kids away from the blue screen.