These folks are amazing. Camps, weekend, homeschool, and after school opportunities to play role…read moreplay games AND learn to explore relationships, creativity, and imagination through story. My kids are so into this.

From the owner: The Game Academy empowers learners to achieve social, emotional and academic success through our…read moreuse of role-playing games in educational contexts. We engage imaginations with interactive games wherein communication, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking are the keys to unlocking adventures in learning. Our curriculum is designed to help them make enduring connections between what they know, what they are learning, and what is possible. Most importantly, our games are designed to be FUN! The Game Academy provides an engaging and enriching way for children to play in a structured, creative environment. We craft inspiring, immersive game-experiences that translate into powerful tools of reflection for understanding the world and the self.

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.

It has been an amazing experience all around! School of Rock San Rafael has outstanding instructors…read moreand staff who truly care about the kids. They combine high expectations with high support and foster a positive, kind, and mutually supportive environment. It's not a given that kids will be encouraging and inclusive in group settings, but the fact that SoR consistently brings together bands where the students are supportive and kind to one another speaks volumes. The non-teaching staff are also incredible--great communicators, always warm, friendly, and helpful. This program has been a life-changing, inspiring, and incredibly positive experience. Thank you to everyone at SoR San Rafael for everything you do!

Very poor communication - took them over a week just to get back to my voicemail. No one answers…read morephone as well.

We just finished a great week at Camp Doodles in San Rafael. This was my son's first time and each…read moreday he came home w/ a great story about how much fun he had. Loved the crafts, games, skits and the counselors. Everyone was so nice, very helpful at check in and the daily lunch option was a nice bonus. You know it has been a good week when all the counselors get hugs on the last day! My boys have done a lot of different camps over the last few summers, we will definitely be returning!

My son (pre-K) and my daughter (K) both attended Camp Doodles last summer for the whole summer at…read morethe San Rafael Dominican Campus. From the moment we stepped on campus I could tell it was going to be a great summer. I wanted to stay and go to camp. My kids had a ball. Everyday was an adventure and they loved the photo slide show at the end of each day. I loved it too as I got to see what they did throughout the day. The best part about Camp Doodles is the Camp Counselors. They are all amazing and seem to truly enjoy the kids and the work they do. My kids were sad when the summer came to an end with it camp. We couldn't wait a whole year to go back and so were thrilled to see they offered Winter Camp Doodles over the school break. My kids slipped right back into the camp routine without skipping a beat. They are signed up again for this summer and keep asking how long until camp starts. As a working mom, it makes me feel good to know my kids are excited about where they will spend their day and I can't wait to hear all the stories each afternoon. I also think it is worth mentioning that Doodles is especially good for the younger campers. I was not worried about my kids getting lost in a crowd of older kids. The campers are put in age appropriate groups and with plenty of activities to choose from within in their age group. Water play day and bicycling days were especially popular with my kids. Did I mention the camp songs? Good times. We can't say enough about Camp Doodles and look forward to another great summer there. Can you Doodle?

Our family has participated in shows with Katia and Company for the last three years, and we have…read moremany more years ahead of us. Done right, performing builds confidence, teamwork, timing, problem solving, and resilience. We've recognized all of these qualities developing in our boys, and they have an absolute blast on stage. My husband and I really appreciate Katia's whole-child approach to this work. She has long-term relationships with former cast mates who are now staff working with young thespians. We also attend the teen productions which have been stellar. If your child is curious about theatre, I suggest starting by attending a show and then participating in a week-long summer camp. I suspect they'll be hooked!

My daughter was just in their production of Frozen jr and she loved it! She gained so much…read moreconfidence and I loved seeing her light up on stage. The show itself was fantastic. The parents aren't really involved in the process so I had no expectations going into it but it was amazing! The older kids were outstanding. We will be back!

Wow!! Why didn't I discover this place sooner? It is GREAT for kids!!…read more Not too many places offer camps during August, or drop in/drop off activities five days per week for kids. Studio 4 art offers both. We signed our daughter up for one of the weekly camps and she loved every day of it! It was "clay week", so every day they've been doing activities with clay - the wheel, braiding clay into basket forms, and making all kinds of things. The studio will fire them in the kiln and you can then take them home the next week. Outside of the camps during school breaks, you can do the drop in/drop off option and the kids can pick the activity they'd like to do. It's about the same cost as paying a sitter/nanny, so it seems a great option for a few hours when needed between 10a.m. and 5:30 p,m, M - F. Apparently they also do kids birthday parties on the weekends and some Fridays. What a great, artistic option for kids!

We had a wonderful birthday party for our kids and their friends at the San Rafael DoArt space. The…read morepet adoption project was perfect, and the teacher adapted it when storm related traffic led to late arrivals. The back area was perfect for having an after project treat. We recommend this highly!

My son recently attended a Roots to Branches Summer Camp and loved it. The camp was held throughout…read moreMarin, primarily in the GGNRA/Marin Headlands, a wonderful use of the beautiful area we live in! We recently moved into the area it was a great way for my son to meet new friends in. In addition, the facilitators were awesome, fun, very supportive and helpful. Such a great camp that we look forward to participating in the Roots to Branches yearlong program this year! Thanks!

My soon to be 13 year old son attended this years R2B summer camp and I wish I could give more than…read more5 stars as it really does deserve it. From the time the boys all met up on day one and clicked immediately with Armando taking lead to Zach coming in as well and creating a very different vibe to make the boys feel so welcome. Power tools, Lasar tag, making shelters, building fires, storytelling, and fun games on the beaches of the Marin Headlands were just some of the weeks activities. I have to say my son came home everyday with a smile on his face from ear to ear. He is already asking me when the year long program will begin! Please don't hesitate signing your child up for any program with Roots to Branches as what Armando and Zach are creating for our children as they become young adults in a very different and sometimes challenging world is so very needed and important. Thank you R2B!! Jackie H.

We have been sending our kiddos at San Anselmo Preschool and Super Summer Adventure for some time…read morenow and are so psyched to be there again this summer. It's such a great classic summer camp experience - riding bikes on the playground, awesome arts and crafts, fun field trips. But honestly what makes it for us is the staff. This isn't your summer camp run by 16-18 year olds - the counselors are professionals when it comes to taking care of children and have made a career it of it. To me that makes a huge difference. My kids just love to play there.

We sent our 5 yo last summer and was pretty disappointed. The website made it look great however it…read moreseemed like the themes were an after thought and the camp counselors were barely interested. It felt more like a babysitting service than a camp. They actively discouraged us from joining the field trip on Friday maybe because she was on the younger side? By that time we were not feeling great about the supervision anyway. We saw several interactions between kids where there was no engagement from staff to help resolve conflicts. We did several camps and this was the only one my daughter asked not to return to.

My daughter started at MIM once she turned 2 and she's loving it. So much so, she never wants to…read morecome back home when it's time for pick up. All the teachers are warm and attentive to the children. The space is cozy and inviting. And the playground is a small paradise for the little ones. She is learning a lot, from new words and sentences to putting on her socks and jacket by herself. We've seen a lot of progress in a few months! All good things. The older kids keep an eye on the younger ones and they are very sweet to each other. All in all, I highly recommend the school.

Montessori in Motion is truly a gem. From the moment we walked in, I could feel the calm, nurturing…read moreenergy of the school, and it has been nothing short of magical for my daughter. The teachers -- Crystal, Josh, Tracy, Alyiah, and Ashley -- are amazing. My daughter transitioned mid-year, and the way they welcomed her made her feel comfortable and excited to be there. The classrooms are filled with a diverse set of activities and materials to explore, and they have the best play yard I have ever seen. As a mom, the biggest gift was peace of mind. I could leave each morning knowing my daughter was not only cared for, but genuinely thriving. She has grown in confidence and independence, and came home excited to share her day and look forward to the next morning. The contrast from other schools we've experienced was night and day. At MIM, I felt supported as a parent, informed, and confident knowing my daughter's overall well-being was prioritized. It is a wonderful community. Montessori in Motion isn't just a preschool -- it's a magical place where children flourish.