San Francisco Summer Camp Guide 2019

1

Like what you see?
Check out our NEW 2020 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE!!!

san francisco bay area summer camps
This post is sponsored, but our opinions are 100% are own.  We are part of Amazon Associates.

 

Like what you see?
Check out our NEW 2020 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE!!!

It’s that time of year again.  As soon as the holidays are over, every parent has “Register for Summer Camp” on the top of their to-do list. Ugh! We hear you!  And so, we put together a Summer Camp Guide to make finding the perfect camp for your little camper this year super easy.

Check out our spotlighted camps, general tips, and comprehensive list!

iD Tech

iD-Tech-Company-Logo-Stacked-Tagline-5-2

At iD Tech, students ages 7-19 learn to code, design video games, produce videos, design Fortnite-inspired levels, mod Minecraft, create with Roblox, engineer robots, model and print 3D characters, work with AI and machine learning, build laptops, learn about cybersecurity, and more! Weeklong, day and overnight summer programs that instill in-demand skills and embolden students to shape the future. iD Tech Camps (weeklong, co-ed, 7-17), Alexa Café (weeklong, all-girls, 10-15), iD Tech Academies (2-week, teen-only, 13-18).

June-August: Held at San Francisco State, UC Berkeley, St. Mary’s College of CA and Stanford

1-888-709-8324

MVCode

Voted Bay Area’s Best Tech Camp for Kids! Camp tracks include:
– Coding Fundamentals
– Game Design (Unity or Roblox)
– Robotics
– Minecraft (Learn JavaScript to make your own plugins)
– YouTubing Fundaments
Camps are open to 1-8th graders and kids are split up by age. Campers also participate in daily outdoor play – fun team building activities and games.  Locations all over the Bay!
415-569-2112

Giarratano Baseball Camps at the University of San Francisco

USF Baseball

Giarratano Baseball Camps at the University of San Francisco would like to invite all baseball
players 6-13 years old to our GBC All Star Camps! The 5-day camp will cover all aspects of the
game, ranging from hitting, pitching, fielding and base running through similar techniques and
drills used by the University of San Francisco Baseball Program. Our camp staff, made up of
current Dons coaches and players, is the strength of our camps!

Camp Dates: June 17-21  June 24-28  July 15-19  July 22-26  August 12-16

47 Chabot Terrace, San Francisco CA 94118

415-422-6881

Third Haus

summer camp
Third Haus fosters unstructured, creative learning for kids. Through our projects, they are able to explore their own interests and narratives, while developing technical skills, patience, discipline, and commitment. Summer sessions are 2-week camps, with opportunity for single week and single day registrations. Each camp will feature a final project that the kids work towards, in the areas of: Art, Nature, and Entrepreneurship / Game & Video Development / Making a Universe / Lego Engineering & Robotics / Storytelling
Programming, materials, snacks, and meals are included in the cost. Age range is 5 through 13. To accommodate a wide age range, we maintain a ratio of at least one staff member per five kids.
Dates: June 10 – August 16     Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm + Extended Care Available
30 Laskie St, San Francisco, CA 94103
909-896-1161

Garden Camp

Garden Camp

Garden Camp is an all-outdoors day camp for children entering Kindergarten through 3rd grade at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Designed to connect children to plants and nature through a combination of structured, themed activities related to gardening, art, wellness, and ecology, while also allowing open-ended time develop curiosity, initiative, imagination and creativity. Children are able to attend up to three weeks of camp. Come explore the gardens with us! Weekly June 5-August 16, no camp week of July 4, Reduced week June 5-7

1199 9th Ave San Francisco, CA 94122

415-661-1316 ext 404

Planet Bee Foundation

san francisco summer camp guide

Camp Bee-yond

We will spend each session buzzing through various STEAM activities centered on bees and environmental stewardship. Activities will include engaging with our observation hive of LIVE BEES each day, exploring the world of science and bees through hands-on projects, games, music and dance, bee-themed cooking lessons, nature walks, garden projects which can be taken home and integrated into your own yard, and more!

July 15-19 9am-4pm; before and after care available

Lafayette Park, San Francisco

415-235-8959

Culinary Artistas

Culinary Artistas

At Culinary Artistas we run camps all throughout the summer at our beautiful studio in Ghirardeli Square.  Each week focuses on a different theme where we will be cooking healthy, nutritious meals from scratch.  In addition to cooking, students will have time for play center, story and reading time, and outdoor play.

Camps run weekly 9am- 3pm (with after care options).

851 Beach Street, SF 94109

415-735-5234

San Francisco Zoo

SFzoo

Summer Zoo Camp is the perfect place for your animal-loving child! Surrounded by more than 250 species of animals, Zoo Campers will learn about the wild world of animals and gain an appreciation for our natural world.
Zoo Camp:  Pre-K through 5th grade

Conservation Camp: Campers entering grades 6th and 7th

Wellness 101:  Campers 13-17 year-old campers

SF Zoo SLOAT BLVD. @ THE GREAT HIGHWAY  SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132

415-753-7080

Circus Center

san francisco summer camp guide
Week long romps through the world of circus, building self-confidence and joy in kids 7-13 years!
There are four great camps to choose from: Acrobatics, Aerial, Flying, and Discovery.
Camps run 9am-3pm June 10th – August 23rd, Aftercare available.
755 Frederick Street, SF
415-759-8123

Enrich Play Learn Summer Camp

Enrich Play Learn

Enrich Play Learn Summer Camp!

Each day includes structured and unstructured activities, outdoor time, quiet time, snack, lunch, yoga, and a 1-hour enrichment activity led by an expert provider from the community. We work with fellow early childhood providers such as San Francisco Art Center, Blue Bear School of Music, It’s Yoga Kids, Head Over Heels Gymnastics, and many more to bring your child a well-rounded and FUN experience at our camps!  Our small class size and welcoming studio support your child’s transition into a new place.  Ages 3-7. Capacity: 12

June 10- August 23.  5 days/week.

2159 Filbert St. (in between Fillmore and Webster)

415-750-9990

Spark Your Creativity!

buildlearnthrive2

Build.Learn.Thrive

Help your child build valuable life skills through sensory exploration, creativity, social language, and motor development! Example activities include: Social skills, language development and peer interaction, Speech Therapist/SPED-led circle times and songs, Fine and gross motor activities run by an Occupational Therapist
and Physical Therapist, Sensory Processing/Self- Regulation skill development, Hands-on music & pottery and MORE!

Week 1: July 22-26/ Week 2: July 29-august 2    Camps are 9am-12pm.

Village Place 3425 Balboa Street, San Francisco

415-702-0028

Victory Garden Kids

Victory Garden Kids
Victory Garden Kids offers summer learning programs for all grades and all ages to help students STAY CONNECTED to the content they have just completed and GET CONNECTED to content they will learn in the coming grade. Additionally, we offer one-on-one tutoring for students that need focus in areas that they are struggling with academically, all the while offering a fun, joyful environment where students can thrive with their peers and build their confidence as learners.
Contact Jennifer for registration or more information

San Francisco Cooking School Kid and Teen Pastry Camp

sf-cooking-camp

5-consecutive day sessions that offer your kids or teens access to high-quality ingredients, top-notch tools, attentive instruction, and tons of fun. This camp is ideal for those who are passionate for food and cooking and who want to spend each day rolling up their sleeves to learn some new techniques and recipes!

Kids, ages 10-14

Teens, enrolled in highschool

690 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

415-346-2665

Code for Fun

SF_MP Moms Blog Image
Code your way up and join the fun in week-long programs offering Python with Minecraft, Robotics with Lego WeDo®, Engineering with Arduino™, game design, and more! Campers will enjoy learning how to code and build projects through computational thinking and problem-solving. Ages 7-15 years.
June 10th-July 26th, 9am-3pm + After-Care Available.
2690 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94115
Contact Julie for questions or more information: 619-212-3952 julie@codeforfun.com

Seabird Preschool

Seabird preschool

Seabird Preschool summer camp for children ages 2 to 5 and half. Space available. New theme every week, play based philosophy. 3000 sqft private outdoor playground, organic garden, located on intersection of FiDi, North Beach, Chinatown.

Camp Dates: through August 15, 2019
9 Pelton Pl San Francisco, CA 94133 (entrance on Pacific next to NEMS Medical Center)
415-932-6023

Tom Johnson Golf

Junior Golf Camps at Golden Gate Park Golf Course, 947 47th Ave San Francisco   tomjohnsongolf.com
4 Hole Beginners, 9 Hole Half day, and 18 Hold Full day Golf camps for kids 5-15.  June, July, and August.

Asian Arts School

2101 Taraval Street San Francisco, CA 94116     415-297-3072

Bilingual Art and Mandarin Camps: Kindergarten – 5th grade. Spring Camp from 3/25-3/29, Summer Camp from 6/10-8/2

TechKnowHow

Over 20 Bay Area locations   SF: Noe Valley and Sunset District  650-638-0500

A perfect way for students to learn valuable, real-world technology skills through fun and
engaging projects. Week long camps available to students ages 5-15

Destination Science

Multiple Bay Area locations- SF locations: SF State University, Congregation Beth Sholom, and Stratford School.  1-888-909-2822

The Fun Science Day Camp for Curious Kids ages 5-11!  Camps run July and August.

Nature Nurture

93 Moraga Ave. San Francisco, CA 94129     415- 751-4000, cell 415-939-8911

Children honoring all living things, including others and themselves, since 2004. Ages 3-6 (campers) and 7-14 (Jr. CAMP Leaders). Runs 6/3/2019 – 8/16/2019

Eddie Soto’s Soccer Academy

Negoesco Field, 2130 Fulton Street San Francisco, CA 94117   415- 422-2909

Soccer Camp for boys ages 6-13, all skill levels welcome. Before and after care is available. Session #1: June 10 – 14 Session #2: June 24 – 28  Session #3: July 15 – 19 Session #4: July 29 – August 2

Ripe Fruit Summer Writing Camps

469 Hill St. San Francisco, CA 94114     415- 337-4369

Session 1: July 8th-12th, Session 2: July 22nd-26th, Session 3: July 29th-Aug 2nd, Session 4: Aug 5th-9th, Middle and High school kids welcome, see site for specific times. Healthy snacks are included for all camps.

Summer Buddies at Sequoia Village Schoolhouse

1438 38th Ave San Francisco, CA 94122  415-463-5472

“We thrive off of collaboration with occupational therapists, speech pathologists and behavior specialists to increase student independence, support language skills.” Dates: June 17-28, July 15-August 9

Katherine Michiels School 

1335 Guerrero Street San Francisco 94110. 5- 2 week sessions, June 17 -August 23. (ages 5-11)

Children go in depth into the subjects they love: Spanish Language & Culture, Movie Making, Cardboard Carpentry, & Carnival Camp in a Reggio Emilia inspired program.

Do you want to be listed in our guide?

Email Kelly@sanfranciscomomsblog.com to learn more!

Summer Camp Tips From Our Writers:

Don’t over schedule your children, especially if they are super young and this is their first time at camp/ away from you. It’s summer time, and you don’t want your kids exhausted from too many things. Let them be kids and have down time too.

If your child is starting preschool in the fall, do a “little” camp.  This will help with the preschool transition and may help with school separation anxiety.  That way, if your child freaks out and doesn’t really make it to camp that much, you didn’t waste money on a whole semester.

Try something new.  This is a great chance to try something before registering for it for an entire semester.  Does your child like dance, basketball, or computers?  Who knows?  Summer allows you to give it a try. Exposure to different activities allows children to really find what they are interested in.

Take advantage of the area we live in.  Maybe your child will want to do coding or circus acrobats?  These camps aren’t offered other places in the country like they are here.  If you have an older child, camps like these stand out on college applications because they are unique.

If your are trying to get into a particular school, register for their camp.  It doesn’t hurt to get your family’s name out there and let the school get to know your child. It can only help!

Don’t just do what your friends are doing. Do what’s best for your child. Use this guide to find something special for your child.

Plan your camps around your vacations.  It’s hard to plan in advance, but try to plan what you might be doing this summer from little day trips to maybe some bigger vacations (woo hoo!).  You don’t want to pay for camp and then realize your child is going to miss a whole week for your cousin’s wedding on the East Coast.

Location, location, location.  Don’t sign up for a camp too far away.  Just because this isn’t your child’s every day school, don’t forget you still might find it super inconvenient to drive a long distance every day over the summer to a camp.

Dress your child in T-shirts that can be conversation starters.  It’s hard to make new friends in a new environment.  Maybe a SF Giants shirt, 49ers shirt, or an Elsa Frozen shirt (you get the idea) will help the kids realize they might like something in common and help them begin to chat.

Don’t panic to sign up. Take your time to find the right camp. There are plenty of camps out there. It will all work out.
Let your child take some ownership in their camp. Give them choices, ask them what they want to do, and then use this information to make a good decision.
Remember to apply sunscreen and pack sunscreen for outdoor camps.  Note whether your camp is allowed to re-apply or not and discuss this with your child.

If you have a child that is just too young for camp make sure and carve out some “summer experiences” just for them so they don’t feel left out seeing their older siblings go to camp.

If your child is independent, don’t be afraid of sleep-away camps.  The goal is to raise children who will one day be capable of leaving us, right?

Label EVERYTHING! Here are some of our favorite labels.

Don’t let your child bring their “favorite” anything (water bottle, hat, whatever), even if it’s labeled. Items tend to go to home with the wrong camper and sometimes never make their way back. All kids have different schedules, and you may not see the same kids every day like you do in regular preschool. 

Comprehensive Summer Camp List

Acrosports, 6-12yrs

Adventures in Writing Camp, 1st-8th grade

Aim High, middle schoolers

American Gymnastics Club, 4yrs-up

ARTifact, 2.5yrs-12

Asian Arts School, K-5th grade

Azzi USF Basketball, 1st-8th grade

Bricks 4 Kidz, 3-13yrs

California Film Institute, 13-18yrs

Camp Edmo, preK-8th grade

Camp Galileo K-8th grade

Celsius and Beyond, 1st-9th grade

Children’s Day School

Chinese American International

Circus Center, 7-14yrs

City College San Francisco

Coach Rudi Sports Academy, pre-K- up

Convent and Stuart Hall, K-8th grade

Culinary Artistas, 4-9yrs

Destination Art, preschoolers,

Destination Science, 5-11yrs

Eddie Soto Soccer, 6-18yrs

Eureka Valley Arts, all ages

Fusion Academy, Highschoolers

High Five Sports, preK-5th grade

House of Air, 7-12yrs

iD Tech, kids-teens

Jewish Community Center, preschooler-teens

Kittredge School, K- 8th grade

Linda Bulgo’s Musical Productions, 5-12yrs

Little Artistas, 3-10yrs

MV Code Club K-5th grade

Nature Nurture, 3yrs-up

One Martial Arts, 4.5-12yrs

Pacific Rowing Club, 8th grade and up

Paresh Martial Arts, 6yrs-up

Planet Bee Foundation

Renegade Girls Tinkering Club

Ripe Fruit Writing, 6th-11th graders

San Francisco Friends School, K-8th grade

San Francisco Opera Guild, Summer Conservatory, 10-18 yrs, all levels

Seabird Preschool 2-5.5years

SF Art Institute, 13-15 yrs

SF Giants Junior Baseball, 5-18yrs

SF State Community Youth Sail and Paddle Camp, 8-15yrs

Sky Kids, K-8th grade

Steve and Kates, 4-12yrs

Stretch the Imagination, 2-5yrs

TechKnowHow, 5-15yrs

The Bay Club, members only, 2-18yrs

The Butterfly Joint, 4yrs-up

The Creativity Museum, 3-12yrs

The de Young Art Museum, 6-12yrs

The Rabbit Hole, 3-12yrs

The SF Zoo, 4-17yrs

Tom Johnson Golf, 5-15yrs

Tree Frog Treks, pre-K-5th and Teens

Tutu School Ballet Camp, 2-8yrs

uCamps, High schoolers

USF Baseball, 6-13yrs

Youth 49ers, 7-14yrs

Summer Must-Haves

adidas Alliance II Sackpack

Comes in multiple colors

Under Armour Girls’ Novelty Big Logo Short Sleeve T-Shirt

Under Armour Boys’ Tech Big Logo Solid T-Shirt

Native Unisex-Kids’ Miles Junior Sneaker

Comes in multiple colors

kilofly 4pc Girls Nonslip Grip Braided Headbands

CamelBak Eddy Kids 12oz Water Bottle, 2-Pack

Comes in multiple colors

Carter’s Girls’ Stretch Skimmer Shorts

Comes in multiple colors

Carter’s Boys’ 2-Pack Pull-on Woven Short

Thinksport Sunscreen SPF 50+, 6 Ounce

Previous articleStop Making It Sound Like C-Sections Aren’t a Big Deal
Next articleThis is 40: Celebrating Who I’ve Become
Kelly migrated to San Francisco in 2009 after living in Chicago, Florida, and growing up in Texas. She is happy now to call the Bay Area her home. She is a licensed Physician Assistant and previously worked in OBGYN and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. With the support of her husband and college sweetheart, Rob, she took a break from medicine to do something more creative! In addition to running San Francisco Moms Blog, Kelly is mommy to Mr. Gavin and Mr. Byron. She is happy to be the princess of the house! When she is not working or chasing her boys, she loves cooking, college football, and spending time and traveling with her family.

1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here