We are HUGE fans of Monkey Business Camp (MBC) and are excited to share our enthusiasm with the…read moreYelp community here. Our daughter (now age 6) started attending this year, and our son (now age 12) started attending when he was 6. For the past 2 years, he has not attended as a "Camper", but as a "Counselor-in-Training" (CIT)... a sort of junior internship role that MBC has created to train select children who are fans of the program and who demonstrate aptitude for serving as a Counselor (formal, paid role) at some point in the future. For him, this role has allowed him to develop and hone his leadership skills (drawing heavily on skills he developed in scouting), and he loves serving as a mentor to the younger kids who are the Campers. He exudes pride and commitment to the role, and that makes us as parents proud as well. For our daughter, she is completely immersed in the curriculum and talks about it over dinner each night when she returns. For both kids, they are genuinely excited to get out the door in the morning and get to camp... it is an organic kind of excitement... not anything that we push. This is the best kind of inspiration and enthusiasm. And finally, for us as parents, we love how MBC immerses the Campers, the CITs, and their own staff members in the middle of nature (for the summer sessions) and in a school campus setting (for the winter sessions), completely without access to electronic devices. "Device detox" is what we call it, and MBC's culture and curriculum are so effective that the kids don't even seem to miss the devices. I can scarcely believe the words I am writing here, but this is a true statement. Finally, we must commend the MBC staff... from the founder all the way down to the senior and junior leaders... for their intuitive ability to excite and inspire children with a captivating, engaging curriculum that nourishes the mind and body. MBC is everything a camp should be. This is why it is a Berkeley/East Bay institution for childcare and early childhood development. If any of what I've written here aligns with your own philosophy, then don't hesitate... enroll your child(ren) in MBC. It will make a lasting and positive impact on everyone in your family!

My kids love it so much that they're already planning their futures as camp counselors!read more

This basketball camp and after school program is our favorite one around! Azzi After School Hoops…read morehas been such a wonderful light for my son during the Pandemic. He has been able to shine in the sport he most loves while engaging in a Covid-safe, outdoor environment. The instructors are very knowledgeable and really learn each player's zone of proximal development, carrying them seamlessly to the next level and ensuring that they really play their best. The directors, Jenn and Blair, are so professional and accommodating, checking in with me often around the ever-changing environment of the quarantine. Azzi is an amazing program and we are now diehard fans! If you are looking for a solid, strong, fun, and Covid-safe basketball for your son or daughter, Azzi Hoops is a wonderful option. Sarah Morris MacDonald

Ok so we have been an Azzi Camp family since summer of 2016…read more My son got a taste for basketball after 3rd grade and any Azzi opportunity is an amazing opportunity. We've done winter holiday camps and week long summer camps but covid brought a whole new perspective. Basketball is tough with lots of touch and risk for contact but with good planning I trust what we now have for summertime: 3 weeks long Outdoor courts Small groups Same coaches Temps on arrival Zero tolerance for any health concerns Keeping staff and campers healthy Honestly I'm thrilled I'm a local pediatrician whose now 8th grade son is thriving with Coach Jennifer and Coach Blair Praying these guys come up with an elite camp for older kids ! We love Azzi Academy!! Thank you

Junior Leadership was a disaster from the jump. There is no actual leadership training at the…read moreJunior Leadership camp. It is just paying for the opportunity to help the actual paid leaders do their job so they apparently don't have to anymore and otherwise perform grunt work. I get it, that's entry level, but there should be some leadership learning opportunities as well, and there was NONE. As my son put it, "how am I supposed to know what to do when I don't know what I'm doing?" Additionally, the Junior Leadership camp was advertised as being an opportunity to learn about all the camps, including hiking days, rock climbing days, and aquatic days. There was ONLY aquatic. The advertised variety of activities and learning opportunities was a complete lie. I reached out to Lauren Gregory, the director of the camp, on day 2 because our expectations were not even close to being met. She didn't respond to two emails, and it was only when I registered a complaint that I actually heard back from her. Her response was a long-winded nothing of an answer, and my follow-up also went ignored. My son was really excited about this camp and the chance to learn more about leadership and take on more responsibility, but it was a complete disappointment and Lauren Gregory is a disgrace.

The group leader was hired 6 months before camp started. No personal touch. No one cares.read more

The kid enjoyed all-sports camp last year quite a bit, and the price is very reasonable as far as…read morefull-week camps go! But I really appreciate Russ the owner, who accommodated switching weeks, two years in a row. (Sometimes you don't know exactly when your vacation will be!). Anyway I'm sure they'll get our business for years to come.

Kids had a great week of play. Lots of games and activities and at the end of the day, they said…read morethey missed Coach Maddy and were excited to go back.

Ian and the Team at Big Dog Surf Camp were Awesome... Very organized and friendly. My twins were so…read moreexcited and now can surf.

Big Dog Surf camp came out to Bolinas for a planned yoga surf day with the Sarah Pascual yoga…read moregroup...and... It was beyond AMAZING!!! Big Dog and his crew got it done! We were a nice sized group and we all left completely joyous and satisfied! add sore to the day after. I was near tears scared of surfing (sharks?) and had not slept at all the night before with anxiety-but these guys just throw ya right in-like surfing bootcamp. It was go time and the two hours in water was magical!! Even my cheeks hurt from laughing at how hilarious these guys are. I am super grateful and appreciative of this experience and think everyone should have surfing lesson parties! *add adult camp and parties to website. ;) Damn my birthday for being in December! I am a child at 34-but some people might not make the call and book ya.

When registering for camps, we parents are hoping that our kids will spend time outside, have fun…read morelearning skills(social and otherwise), and make friends all in an environment with caring adults who keep us informed. Our family found this with Mountain Camp Marin. Our six-year-old attended for one week, Harry Potter week, last year and he thoroughly enjoyed himself. The pennant flag he received is still prominently displayed in his room. This is a special memory for him. He wants to return this summer and so does little brother.

Excellent experience. The camp is organized and well run. The staff is engaging and attentive. They…read moreoffer lots of activities and the elective process gave my son some sense of control. Overall a summer highlight.

We had a wonderful experience at Rob Skate Academy! Everyone here is so kind, welcoming, and…read moreprofessional. A special thank you to Destiny for working with my 8-year-old son, who is autistic. She was incredibly patient, encouraging, and understanding, which meant so much to our family. The facility is spacious, clean, and well organized. Open Skate is also a great option for kids to practice and have fun on their own. They have open skate everyday. The pricing is very reasonable, and I was pleasantly surprised that adding a second child is only $15 per month. We are so grateful for the support and positive environment here. Highly recommend Rob Skate Academy to any family looking for a great place to learn and enjoy skating!

My son has been taking Rob Skate classes and the progress has been impressive w/more confidence,…read morebetter control, and he actually looks forward to going. The instructors know how to teach and keeps it structured, safe, and fun. I also took the adult class myself and loved it. Great instruction, supportive vibe, zero intimidation. Next up: checking out Quad Nights on the second Tuesdays from 6-9pm. Highly recommend.

Our 13- and 15-year old sons have both participated in Bay Area Disc Association's summer camp…read moreprograms for the past four years. They both were campers; our older son was a CIT last summer. They both will be returning this summer. And they can't wait! When I decided to write this review, I thought it would be a good idea to ask our sons to characterize their experiences at BADA's summer Ultimate Frisbee camps. Separately, both of them emphatically said, "FUN! really, really fun!" They both love Ultimate and play for their schools, but the Ultimate Frisbee at BADA camps is much more fun. Our boys love the clever games that are played which are just plain fun, but which also develop Ultimate skills at the same time. Our sons also emphasized how much they appreciate the counselors and CIT's. It's probably in no small part due to the sport itself, but BADA seems to attract really terrific people as staff. This has been our sons' consistent experience as it has been ours in sending our sons to BADA camps and programs. About Ultimate Frisbee: My wife and I thank our lucky stars that our sons found Ultimate; there is no sport like it. That it's a no-contact sport is wonderful; that boys and girls play against each other on the same field is amazing; that the sport is self-officiated is what makes it transcendent and distinguishes it from all other sports. The players are responsible for settling all disputes themselves right on the field; integrity is an essential element of the game. We cannot recommend this sport too highly to any parents who are looking for healthy physical activity for their kids. About BADA: We are incredibly lucky to have this organization offering Ultimate Frisbee programs in the Bay Area. In addition to its superb summer camps, BADA has Ultimate offerings the year round. This means that unlike seasonal sports, kids can keep active all year long. BADA can take kids from beginning middle school players to elite players competing in national competitions. This is very important because as their skills increase, there will be programs that will give them opportunity to play at ever higher levels. Participation in BADA's summer camp is a great way to become involved with Ultimate and to become familiar with the uncommonly friendly parent community. Best of all, your kids can develop really great friendships that can grow over the years as they progress in Ultimate. Almost without exception, the kids we've come to know through our experiences with Ultimate are wonderful young people. With great enthusiasm, we recommend Ultimate Frisbee for your kids and the Bay Area Disc Association's summer camps as the place for them to play it, whether they're beginning or are advanced.

Ultimate frisbee camp is the best! It is one of my son's favorite camps. The counselors are…read moreamazing, and it's a very welcoming environment. His frisbee skills improved considerably, and he had a great time. He'll be back for sure!