I got to know Bright Ranch and the Bright family. They are all caring. I have known them from when…read moreI was 8 years to when I was 19. I did weekly lessons and learned a lot about the horse and riding. I learned how to ride all kinds of horses from green (not fully trained) horses to the competition horses. It was one of the reasons why I became so into horseback riding. I loved Dennis's deep knowledge on horses and how he worked and partnered with the amazing horses he has in the stable. I also learned to work with cows and learned to do advanced techniques over the years. Dennis teaches you that patience helps you a lot around horses. He teaches you to be safe on the ground and in the saddle. Yes, it takes years to learn to horseback ride. It is the same for all sports and even learning instruments. You gotta understand that things take time. I describe horseback riding is like a tree. You learn the basics or the standard skill. Each basic technique you learn branches off to more advanced skills. Also, repetitions are key! Anyway, I recommend Dennis Bright as a caring and acknowledgeable horseback riding mentor. He has the safest horses to ride compared to the other stables I visited. The biggest thing he makes sure is that you the student is safe. Not many horseback riding teachers do this! - Kathryn K.

My 8 year old daughter did a week long summer camp here and I cannot recommend it highly enough!…read moreShe got a horse riding lesson every day, got to brush the horses and help take care of the other animals on the farm, learned about the garden and helped harvest the vegetables... basically every 8 year old's dream! The camp counselors were all so friendly and the owners were so helpful and seemed to genuinely care about the kids learning and having a good summer camp experience. We will definitely be back next summer! I wish we lived close enough to do riding lessons here on a regular basis!

This was the single most important social outlet for me growing up as an eccentric kid with not a…read morelot of enthusiasm for sports. I really believe that there is no other summer program for kids that rivals the acceptance and nurturing nature of the staff and piers I am so grateful to have grown close with. To this day, the friends I made here are close to my heart and always in my thoughts. If you have a child who doesnt quite know what to be a part of or who to confide in or simply have a very creative and outgoing kid, you cannot go wrong with having them be a part of STAR. I joined the staff after becoming to old to enroll and I hope to return for another season someday. I LOVE S.T.A.R!!! ‍‍‍‍‍

From the owner: Hands on Acting! Kids on Stage and Screen Since 1985!…read more STAR Arts Education [aka The STAR Program] is one of the best summer programs available for young people interested in theatre and video arts, with multi-week, full-day sessions held at Brownell Middle School in Gilroy and at the historic El Teatro Campesino Playhouse in San Juan Bautista. STAR has been a safe place for creative expression. Since 1985, STAR has transformed hundreds of children's lives by helping to boost their confidence and poise; encouraging their creative spirits; and teaching them collaboration, teamwork, and respect. The STAR season includes two theatre performing arts programs and one video arts program in the summer, with Saturday workshops in the Fall and Spring. Join our email list to receive updates with information on how to get involved; to purchase tickets to a performance; or to enroll or sponsor a child in a STAR program. Sign up on our website or join us on Facebook! Check out videos by STAR VIdeo Kids and STAR Staff on our YouTube channels: starartseducation and GavilanCollegeSTAR!

Shannon is an exceptional instructor. She has been teaching my daughter horseback riding for the…read morepast 10 years, and my daughter absolutely loves her kind, patient, and encouraging approach. Shannon has played a huge role in helping her grow and progress through the levels with confidence. My daughter truly loves the horses and the entire stable environment. It's also a wonderful place to spend time while waiting--calm, peaceful, and welcoming. We're so grateful for Shannon and the entire team.

We have been attending lessons at Painted Star Equestrian for 5 months now. We LOVE Shannen's…read morecurriculum for horseback riding. The kids always know what their next goals are and how to level up and what they need to do to get there. My youngest fell in love with horseback riding here. She is often overshadowed by her two older sisters' achievements and she has found her own "thing" here. She has learned a greater level of responsibility and independence. Her confidence has grown both on and off the arena and we couldn't be more proud of her and thankful for Painted Star!

Our daughter who will soon be turning twelve years old attended phase 1 this summer on the…read morerecommendation of a friend who attended phase 2 this year. It was her first summer camp and her first time away from home with people she hadn't met before. She had a wonderful experience all around. She mentioned that the meals were great and the camp songs and activities were fun. For her, the week picked up in intensity on Wednesday when they went for an overnight backpacking trip. It was her most challenging experience but also the highlight of her week. She experienced home sickness the first day, but that faded away by the second day. She made good friends with some of the girls and boys in her group. Everybody seemed to be helpful and supportive of each other. As a parent of an Eagle Scout boy, I remember attending his first two summer camps as an adult troop leader. So I felt a little anxious not being able to be there with my daughter at her first summer camp. The weather in this area was in the high 80s in the morning and mid 50s in the evening for the second week of July that my daughter attended. A two person tent and a warm sleeping bag and pad with an inflatable pillow were perfect for her. The campsites were under trees and their shade made for a pleasant stay even during the warmest part of the day. The warmest it got for my daughter was on the backpacking hike up a hill, but she also forgot to wear her hat. Kids were constantly reminded to drink water. They also made frequent stops to rest and hydrate. My daughter showered twice in the six days she was there and that along with some wet wipes she took were enough for her. They were required to wear their swimsuits when they showered. I must say that my daughter has always been a scared-y cat when it comes to bugs (spiders, bees, mosquitoes, ants) and splinters. Nevertheless, none of these seem to have been an issue, or not enough for her to notice. She only used the insect repellent once, and even though she said she got bit by mosquitoes a couple of times, we couldn't find any signs of bites, rashes or scratches when she got home. In all, it was a positive growing experience for her and she is very likely to return next year. On the night she came home, she cried before going to sleep because she missed the friends she made and the songs they sang. The possibility that they might not see each other again made her sad. We told her that is part of growing up. I wrote this review because my daughter wanted me to share her experience so that it may be helpful to others. I agree that every person is different and have different reactions to similar situations. Being away from home or sleeping in a tent for the first time is not for everyone ... you can ask my wife, who is definitely not the outdoor type .... she is the glamping type :) As another reviewer posted, phase one had the largest group of kids, followed by phase two and then phase three. Middle school and high school academics, club and school sports, and online and extracurricular activities give teenagers so much to choose these days. As they grow their interest change and they opt to purse other activities. Still, it is amazing and commendable to see some of them continue to do summer camps and return to mentor the younger children.

Our 13 year old son attended Phase 2 as a first timer this year. It was a fantastic experience all…read morearound; he came back with a new confidence, passion for leadership, and sense of self that we had not seen before. Drop-off was extremely smooth, and kids are whisked away before any anxieties (on either kids' or parents' part) can set in. I understand from our son that the first 48 hours was most challenging in terms of settling into a no-phone routing, not being able to reach out to family and friends and having to adapt to his group, which he took to immediately. By day three he was 110% in, and we hope that some of the friendships made will last for life. As parents, there is always a concern in the back of your mind that the week might have have been miserable, and it was so enthralling to see them march into their graduation ceremony on the pickup morning, cheering singing and laughing together. Safety was paramount; the kids were kept very well fed and hydrated. It sounds as though the worst emergencies were a couple of hornets and some aggressive ants, but the camp and leadership were well prepared. Our son had nothing but good things to say about the other campers, the camp leaders, and the adult leadership; he felt that all were very strong and genuinely cared for him and his fellow campers. All in all, it' was an incredible experience. He can't wait to go back next year and is hoping that he can qualify for staff leadership in the future.

Lynda is a great art teacher, who also teaches at my sons school. He took her art class this…read moresummer, and had a wonderful time. Came home with some lovely pieces of art! Will definitely be doing this again next summer! Reasonable pricing, and great location in San Martin.

Lynda is a skilled art teacher, attentive creative coach and valued member of our community. My…read moreson has been taking classes with Lynda for five years, starting in kindergarten. She has provided him a safe forum where he combines his natural talent with her instruction and he creates true pieces of art. Our family participates in Project Cornerstone and two themes from PC are alive in my son's relationship with Lynda--she allows him to hone his *SPARK* & Lynda has become one of my boy's "caring adults." Lessons/Skills: Lynda teaches the elements of art (traditional) along with stimulating her students' personal creativity (exploration.) Because she can meld these two dtyles, her students end up loving art, both the creation of and the final product. Value: As parents we must consider our budgets when looking for lessons and extracurricular activities for our kids. The time she takes with each child mixed with the time spent on task and the product that is crafted, LBArt must be the best value we have found.

I have only taken my son here once but I have already signed him up to come back. I paid $120 for…read morethe day. It sounds like a lot but when I'm given the security of his safety and knowing throughout the day he is enjoying himself, that $ is well worth it. I was nervous having never even visited the place and only going off of another parents recommendation but the staff gave me direct communication as I continuously checked in (shout out to LuLu) and she provided me the comfort of knowing he's having fun and he told me he wasn't ready to come home until the last min of his day. He is excited to go again. He talked about the fun he had that days for several days after. I would def recommend trying it out even if it's just for one time. I'm sure your kid will talk you into coming again.

GrowFit seems to have a strong formula for highly active kids, and I can see why it is popular…read more However, my personal experience was disappointing due to concerns around supervision, overstimulation, and staff warmth. My son generally does best in more structured environments. This camp felt very busy, chaotic, and highly stimulating for him however he seemed to enjoy the activities very much. With a large group of children, I personally expect very active and engaged supervision, especially during free play. That part made me nervous as I saw on drop off no supervision while boys were playing soccer in my childs group. Ultimately, I made a decision to cut the camp short and move him to a another camp that blends sports and arts and had better student teacher ratios and just more a more personable manager in charge. Although GrowFit does not offer refunds, I still felt more comfortable choosing a calmer, environment. He is doing much better there, and I have less anxiety on saftey.