Absolutely amazing program filled with great nature activities for the children I hear a lot about…read morethis one teacher called big dog he seems great he taught my kids how to use knives safely for carving and fire by friction this camp is so cool great staff professionalism and fun! Highly recommend to other parents in the Bay Area

I love this camp so much!!! There are so many fun activities to do while being here. And I am…read moredefinitely considering becoming an LIT next summer! there are so many curious and excited kids that makes camp more fun! I am SO coming back next summer

We've had a wonderful experience with the Leapstart after-school program over the past year. The…read morepickup process is seamless and stress-free, and we truly appreciated the added courtesy of having our daughter dropped off at her on-campus art class--it saved us a great deal of time. The program offers a thoughtfully structured daily schedule with a nice balance of activities, along with home-cooked meals and snacks. Our daughter especially enjoyed the Bollywood dance classes and benefited from learning both Hindi and Spanish as part of the extracurricular offerings. We highly recommend this program to other families.

our first grader has been going for almost a year now and she has certainly been enjoying the food…read moreand the dance classes. She has also had the opportunity to perform her dances that has really increased her confidence!

We LOVE Explorer. We started our LO at 18 months and are saddened that graduation is in one month,…read moreending our time here. Being here for 4 years, we've been able to see a lot and meet lots of families. It isn't for everyone. But if it is for you, as it was for us, it's a godsend. We couldn't be more thankful for all that we've learned, the kindness and patience we've received as new parents, and the community we've been able to take with us as we leave. The #1 reason I chose Explorer Preschool was the required monthly Parent Ed Classes. As a former teacher, I love learning but not too proud to admit that I need to pay a school to hold me accountable. Sleep deprivation is a big deterrent. Explorer, however, is special because what we learn is immediately applicable. Parents learn from each other, ask questions we hadn't thought to ask yet. We get the opportunity for our LOs to be loved and supported by a caring community of similar values. We, too, fall in love with other LOs and get to watch them all grow up together in a safe space. We don't have family here, which was daunting to say the least, as first-time parents in 2022. Now, after 4 years, we feel like the close families that we've bonded with will remain our friends for a lifetime. I love how much my LO just goes up to other parents just to have a good laugh, and how much these other LOs come up to tell/share the most exciting news of the day. A lot of families have come and gone in the last 4 years. But the ones that stay until graduation, at least in my experience this year, it says a lot about them = dependable, flexible, kid-centered, sees value in education, team-player, committed, nature-loving, and open-minded (we're in an all-inclusive school). I could go on forever! Thank you, Explorer Preschool!

Being part of Explorer has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience…read more There's a joke that parenting is the one job nobody has to pass a test for -- that there really ought to be some kind of "SAT for parents" before anyone is handed a child. Explorer is the closest thing I've found to that school, except it never tests you. It teaches you. And what it teaches is less about how to raise a child than about how to be a good parent -- and underneath that, how to be a good person. What it made me see most clearly is this: the bond between a parent and a child is one of the most extreme imbalances of power that exists. In no other relationship does one person hold so much control over another human being -- over their time, their body, their choices, even their sense of what is real. And yet we almost never name it as power. We take it for granted. As a society we rarely talk about the restraint a parent owes a child, precisely because the child has no way to demand it. Explorer takes that restraint seriously. The community here holds to a belief that is simple to say and surprisingly hard to live: that we are not only here to protect our children, but to respect them. And what surprised me most was what that respect produces. Children who are treated with respect learn to extend it -- to their peers, and to the world around them. They come to understand boundaries not by being controlled, but by having their own boundaries honored, and by watching others honored too. They learn it through play, through sharing how they feel, through being given room to work things out rather than being told how things will be. I'll be honest: none of this is intuitive, and much of it runs against how most of us were raised. It asks you to hold back in the very moments when instinct says to step in and take charge. It asks you to be challenged -- to be willing to find out you were wrong. So I don't think Explorer is the right fit for every family. It's for the ones ready to walk in open-minded and let themselves be stretched. For us, it was exactly that. I'm deeply grateful that our family found Explorer, and that we've had the chance to be part of it.

Our older daughter has gone here for the last 2 yrs and had a blast. The camp is a great balance…read morebetween class work and outdoor activities. There is even a parent's lunch at the end and the kids do a performance that was fun. Sadly our older daughter has aged out of the camp, but our younger daughter is excited to be finally old enough to go this year.

This is my daughter's favorite summer camp. She participated 2 summers in a row and loved…read moreeverything about it. It was just the right amount of learning time and play time, and last year they also added a music teacher and a basketball coach in addition to the camp theme teachers. The campsite is amazing, with a beautiful dinning hall, performing stage, amphitheater with a pond, and places to hike. The dorm rooms are very nice and spacious and food was really good. The location is also perfect for South Bay families. It's a short drive but it feels like the kids are staying deep in the mountains.

I can not say enough about the wonders and magic of Mountain School! Our family attended with two…read morechildren across five years, ages 2-5, and experienced all the different and unique classes and AMAZING teachers. Mountain School helped me raise adventurous, confident risk-takers who are emotionally grounded and comfortable in various social settings. The school's nature-focused, child-led, and play-based philosophy follows the science that PLAY is our children's work and that there is no better place to learn than outside! The tire swing, zip line, canyon classroom, creek play, field trips, sensory activities, and materials are all favorites for our family, but more important is the carefully crafted curriculum that ties all of these pieces together. Each class, teacher, and school year is a little different because the teachers ebb and flow with the children's rhythms. Every piece of Mountain School is done with intention, integrity, and gratitude. Aside from my children's growth and experience, I was also a student in the community with Mountain School. The school philosophy that training parents in child development is education's most important job is the most valuable piece of the entire Mountain School experience. Learning from the fantastic, experienced, and loving teachers is the greatest gift you'll give yourself. I am the parent I am today because of what I learned at Mountain School!

Each teacher is as phenomenal as they are devoted. They truly stand out and we are so grateful for…read moreall they and the school have given our family. My child attended from ages 2-5, each year growing, exploring, and learning through first-hand experience and play. An amazing foundation as she started kindergarten. Founded in 1956, Mountain School is built on a wonderful, unique philosophy that training parents in understanding children is education's most important job. The school is a gift to parents as much as the children. With a Parent Board of Directors, there are many opportunities to get involved with an amazing community.

My toddler and I have been attending Salamander for a little over a year through its parent…read moreparticipation program. This is such a special program. Everything takes place outdoors at Vasona Park, where, under Teacher Meg's gentle guidance, children are free to explore nature and let their creativity and imagination flourish. Over the past year, I've watched not only my own child, but all of the children, grow in their imagination, creativity, confidence, resilience, and problem-solving skills. It's been wonderful to witness. Teacher Meg is truly exceptional. She honors and respects each child as an individual, meeting them exactly where they are. She brings not only a wealth of knowledge, but also what seems like an endless supply of patience, warmth, and encouragement. My toddler absolutely loves Salamander, and we hope to continue being part of this wonderful community for years to come. We are so grateful to have found a place where children are given the freedom to be curious, capable, and deeply connected to nature.

We are so grateful for Teacher Meg and Salamander Preschool. My 3-year-old daughter has grown so…read moremuch since joining. Her stamina and confidence outdoors have really improved, and she now explores nature with excitement and ease. She is starting to appreciate the simple, meaningful moments in the natural world. Her imagination has also grown. She now makes up creative stories and games for us to play at home or in the car, and I can see how much the child-led, nature-centered environment supports her creativity. I can tell she feels safe, supported, and joyful every time she is there. Teacher Meg is truly wonderful. She is calm, warm, and incredibly thoughtful in how she connects with children. She is fully present with them and always pays attention to their interests and needs. As a parent, I have learned so much just from watching how she communicates with the kids. I trust her completely to meet each child where they are and help them grow at their own pace. If you value time in nature, gentle rhythms, creativity, and a caring teacher who truly understands children, I highly recommend Salamander PreSchool.

I can't say enough good things about Action Daycare in Saratoga! All the teachers are incredibly…read morepatient, caring, and truly love babies and kids. My son started here when he still refused bottles, and the teachers were so gentle and patient with him -- they helped him transition to bottle feeding successfully. A big shoutout to Ikbal, who sends us detailed daily reports about baby Leo -- everything from his feedings to nap times and new little milestones. It's so heartwarming to see how carefully she observes and supports his growth. We feel so lucky to have found Actiona Daycare -- it's a place full of love, patience, and joyful learning. Highly recommend to any parents looking for a warm, nurturing environment for their little ones!

My son started attending Action Day when he was 2.5 years old and attended for two full years. At…read morefirst, I thought he would be confused by the English environment since he could only speak Japanese, but he joined Miss Marie's class the first year and had no problem with Miss Marie's generous support. My son is now a great bilingual and teaches me English :) In the second year, my son joined Miss Anna's class and learned a lot at the school, including the alphabet and numbers. He also learned to write my own name (sometimes the wrong spell though ;) Not only to Miss Marie and Miss Anna, I also am very grateful to Miss Heather, Miss Katrina, Miss Sarah, Miss Swati, Miss Carlee, and also to Miss Sandy who had to leave due to medical reasons. The classroom is not big, but I think it is enough space for children to get together, read, work, and get along with each other. After Covid-19, Action Day held events for parents such as Holiday Performances, Easter Egg Hunting, Halloween Parade, and Mother's Day Tea Party, which gave me a chance to get to know other parents. Action Day has a hot lunch service, so I ordered pizza every Friday. The hot lunch made it easier for me when I was traveling on business and had difficulty making it by myself. This is my first preschool experience as a parent, so I can't compare it to others, but I am glad I was able to choose a very good preschool.

First, amazingly affordable tuition price. Second, Free trial days available to see for yourself…read more This preschool is EVERYTHING we needed after a previously negative experience at another one. It is play based and fun. The teachers are kind, patient, and knowledgeable. They seem to have an endless trove of creative activities, multiple options set up every day. They do a group snack time where the kids learn to serve themselves. They help with potty training. My son LOVES the sand pit, mud station, pretend room, and all his new friends. It was intimidating for me to join a new group of families, but everyone has been so friendly and helpful. I feel comfortable and supported as a Mom, and I love being able to spend time with ALL the kids here, a bonus I didn't anticipate enjoying so much. Parent participation is a huge and important part of the experience, and it worked out awesome for us. I wanted to share my experience and encourage you to check it out because the more friends the merrier! :)

This litle community supported me as a new mama with no familiar faces for thousands of miles. It…read moretaught me how to parent kind kids in a self-centered, post-pandemic world. It taught me how to advocate for my kids and how to manage my expectations for them. At this school, I learned behavior is an expression of our needs which has changed the way I interact with both children and adults and that empathy for others cannot be taught if not modeled. Thanks for everything, SCPNS. We love ya