subject: Camps in the Bay Area for Learning and Play [print this page] Camps in the Bay Area for Learning and Play
If you're hesitant about sending your child to camp because it's all just fun and games, think again. Summer camps may look like a lot of fun on the surface, but each activity teaches children something be it an important life skill or an academic skill. In fact studies show that kids' brains stay alert, active, and continue to acquire knowledge while they are at camps. Bay Area parents recommend the following summer programs for their ability to reinforce lessons learned at school, the engaging activities that fill their children's summer days, and the warm, encouraging atmosphere their counselors provide.
Galileo Learning
Inspired by the revolutionary scientist Galileo Galilei, Galileo Learning was established to help children grow up the Galileo way inquisitive, creative, and passionate. Their hands-on summer programs have earned a reputation for being educationally meaningful yet enjoyable. Choose from one of three programs. The classic summer day camp, Camp Galileo, inspires kids to think out of the box and express themselves creatively, all while making new friends. Campers get to do fun art, science, and outdoor activities, as well as enjoy traditional camp games. The Galileo Summer Quest is designed for kids entering the 5th to 8th grades because they already have interests they are passionate about or would like to explore. In this camp, kids choose from a wide selection of Majors and Minors, which are handled by qualified instructors. Finally, the Tech Summer Camps' hands-on science and technology activities are combined with fun camp traditions at San Jose's Tech Museum.
Sarah's Science
Since 1987, Sarah's Science This Land Is Your Land day camp has provided kids age 5-15 with an in-depth appreciation for science, natural phenomenon, and the environment. Developed by Sarah Shaffer, the "Best Science Teacher for Kids" according to the East Bay Express, this delightful program uses a variety of hands-on activities to foster a lifelong love for the natural world. Art activities and science experiments get kids "hooked" onto science, while hiking, swimming, and other outdoor games allow kids to connect to nature and increase their environmental awareness. The scientific concepts are fun to learn and easy to understand after all, many of them feature projects built by children, and Sarah makes it a point to bedazzle as she teaches.
Sarah's Science also offers a Spring Camp, Winter Camp, Thanksgiving Camp, and a mother/daughter science workshop.
Camp Arroyo
Don't let your child spend the summer indoors, especially with a lovely overnight camp like Camp Arroyo in the neighborhood. This camp is a 138-acre park that serves as an environmental education center and youth camp to kids from the Contra Costa Counties and Alameda. Their hands-on curriculum hopes to teach kids about sustainable living through activities like design projects, hiking, gardening, and classic camp activities like arts and crafts, campfires, and swimming. All campers will be housed at comfortable duplex cabins and nutritious meals will be served all through the summer.
