Coming Up: USA Football Protection Tour - Free Half-Day Camp

USA Football has a Protection Tour to make football safer for players. They're hosting a free half-day football camp to get youth players on an NFL field to learn the fundamentals, get their helmet fitted and more.

Where: Santa Clara
When: July 18, 2017 from 9-12
Who: ages 7-14
Register: begins June 15, 2017
Register here.

iD Tech Discount Code for Summer 2017: Why Should Your Child Attend iD Tech?

This post offers an iD Tech discount code for summer 2017 at the bottom. Read why you should consider iD Tech this summer.

Last year we signed my son up for a computer game programming day camp at a community college. It’s an understatement to say that he was bored and frustrated by the inferior level of education and experience in general. A friend of mine told me about her son’s positive experience at iD Tech camp in Palo Alto, one of the few camps her son really liked and was excited to return to. He’s a really smart kid and doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Her recommendation counted for a lot, so when my son was looking into week-long summer camp options, iD Tech came to mind.

Grand Opening: STEMful San Francisco

A local mom is opening a community play and education space, called STEMful - San Francisco. 

Check out the 2,475 SF facility on opening day, Saturday, March 11 starting at 9:30 a.m. 

It's a two-level community space designed with as a play space for parents and kids ages 3.5-12 years old, to enjoy STEM toys, STEM books (there's a reading nook), a classroom for learning STEM concepts, and a kitchen/private party room (1,000 sq ft) for parties and events. 

They'll be offering Spring Break and summer camps for 3.5-5 year olds, and are developing programs for those in the 6-12 year range for the fall session. Get a $40 discount for their upcoming Spring Break or summer camps for 3.5-5 years old, plus party bookings through May 1, by entering in “STEMful Opening” online or when ordering by phone.

Where: 30 29th St between Mission St and San Jose St.

SF Rec and Park Summer Resource Fair 2017

I used to have summer camps all figured out by early February. I'm not so organized anymore. So in case you're not so organized either, check out the check out the San Francisco Recreation and parks
Spring Program and Summer Day Camp Registration day.

Their Summer Day Camp registration begins March 18 at 10 a.m.-- online and at 13 sites around the city. They have more than 80 different camps, including traditional camps like Pine Lake and Silver Tree, as well as  new camps like Rock Climbing, Urban Pickers Camp at Alemany Farm, and girls sports camps.

The 2017 Summer Resource Fair is coming up too. It's on March 11, 2017 from 10-2. It's at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. That's 1199 9th Avenue, SF. They'll have representatives from 150+ summer programs, plus a Kid Zone, book giveaway, food trucks and entertainment.

Bay Area Summer Camps 2015

I've been behind on organizing my own kids' summer camps this year. But it's not too late to sign up for camp still. Today we're going to highlight some interesting camps to check out.

SAN FRANCISCO
Butterfly Joint - this new woodworking camp in San Francisco offers week-long sessions with objects to make like necklaces, wooden boxes, floating bookshelves and stools. Camps are small, limited to 15 students each.
Ages: 4-12
Times: 9-3
Where: Mission district

Take My Word For It - this writing class/camp focuses on creating self portraits with words
Ages: incoming 6-8th grade
Times: June 1-5; from 1:30-5
Where: private home in San Francisco;

Renegade Girls Tinkering Club - learn hands-on science with fun experiments and STEM work. Only a few spots left.
Ages: 6-10
Times: 9-3 with optional after care
Where: San Francisco

Coming Up: San Francisco Family Summer Resource Fair - Free

Not sure of your summer plans? Check out the annual San Francisco Family Summer Resources Fair on Saturday, February 7th. They'll have 150 exhibitors offering...family summer resources. Learn about camps, arts and crafts, activities, jobs (for teens), classes and sports. Look for free kid activities as well.

The event is free and is at the Balboa High School, 1000 Cayuga Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more info check sfkids.org or here.

Camp Mather Family Camp Registration Ends Soon

For San Francisco residents (and lucky non-SF residents who get in) - Camp Mather lottery registration ends on February 6, 2015. Camp Mather is in the High Sierras (outside Yosemite), and offers family camp that looks so awesome - activities and meals included.

To register, use this link and enter course code 39462. You can read more about it here. Nonresidents can apply as well, and will be processed AFTER residents. May 30-June 6 is inclusion week, for families with kids who have disabilities.

Stern Grove - Guide for Taking Families

I have many happy memories bring a picnic blanket and basket to Stern Grove on summer Sundays, for a free concert with friends. Somehow the weather always seemed perfect as we walked down the entrance ramp into the grassy grove. I wondered how that would change when I had kids.

Fast forward to now. I have kids. And the Stern Grove Festival has a ton of activities for families to enjoy. Here’s how to take advantage:

Kids Days

Interesting summer camps in the Bay Area

This is part of our summer camp series. We're lucky that there are tons of summer camp options in the Bay Area. It's impossible for me to cover them all, and there are lots of great websites out there that do. But we can highlight some that look a little different! Please comment below on your favorite camps.

These camps offer after-care, but I didn't put in specifics for that, nor for price since there are so many options available.

Hiller Aviation Camp - San Carlos
This aviation museum offers week-long summer camps in aviation and aerospace. All camps include hands-on activities and flying models, flight simulation sessions, aircraft demos, behind-the-scenes museum gallery explorations, aviation themed games and more.

Schedule: half and full day options
Age: entering grades K-8; high school students can apply to volunteer at camp
When: June 2 - September 5


Theater Camps
Hillbarn Summerstage - Foster City
Your child will be immersed in the performing arts in this camp!

Schedule: 9-1, 9-2, 9-3, 9-4, 12-6 depending on age
Age: ages 4-18; high school students can apply to volunteer at camp
When: June 16 - August 3 - various sessions

Retrodome's The Scene - Santa Clara
The California Academy for the Creative and Performing Arts, along with Guggenheim Entertainment runs this camp at Santa Clara University. If your child loves musical theater, including singing, acting and dancing, this is a great place for him or her!

Schedule: 9-3:30 plus two evenings for Conservatory students, and more evenings/some weekend days for Conservatory PLUS students.
Age: entering grades 3-8 for the Conservatory, and grades 7-12 for the Conservatory PLUS.  high school students can apply to volunteer at camp
When: July 7 - August 1

India Community Center Cultural Camp - Milpitas and Palo Alto
Lots of options for fun camps here, including Bollywood dancing, public speaking, cooking, Hindi camp, engineering, art, math, LEGOs, games, culture and more.
Schedule: 9-3 mostly.
Age: entering grades K-8
When: June 9 - August 29

Avid4Adventure - Corte Madera, Oakland, Berkeley

These week-long camps have the kids doing multiple sports, which might include rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking and stand-up paddleboarding. Even the little ones get to bike ride and climb the rock wall.

Special for Frisco Kids readers:

The first 50 campers to sign up for East Bay locations get $50 off. Plus you can get an additional $15 off using the code "Frisco Kids" (which is still good even after the first 50 camper bonus is over).

Schedule: 8:45-2:30

Age: Pre-K to 7th

When: June 16 to August 15

Laurel Street Arts - San Carlos

Crafts for boys and girls, and might include mosaics, soap making, glass painting, polymer, pottery painting and glass fusing.

Schedule: half-days

Age: Grades 2-8

When: June 16 to August 29

Other Camp Posts:

Edventure More and Camp EdTech

Cooking camps

Apple camp and more

Saving money on overnight camp supplies

Bay Area Kids' Cooking Classes and Camps

As part of our summer camp series, do you have a budding chef on your hands? Time to check out some Bay Area kids' cooking schools. Here's some to consider:

By yamakazz (Flickr)**

Camps

Paulding and Company's COOK
These culinary classes for kids ages 9-18 (broken up by age group) are held in Emeryville. The hands-on courses range from ethnic cooking (Chinese, Italian, French), to baking, to culinary leadership training. 

Cindy Toque Cooking
Based in Palo Alto, this camp is for kids 10-17, and includes competitions, field trips and hands-on projects. Cooking topics include pizza/pasta, cookies, chocolate and chili - each with their own week.

A Little Yumminess
Our friends at A Little Yumminess are hosting camp again this summer. The San Francisco and Marin camp is for kids ages 7-9. If interested, get on their list, because they're mostly sold out, and they only offer two weeks of camp, which focus on foods from several different countries each week.

In the Kitchen (ITK Culinary)
This organization offers a two hour Sunday cooking class once a month for kids, in Marin. They also have a spring break camp the week of April 14. The classes are hands-on, aimed at kids 4-14.

Galileo Camps
Galileo Camps offer some culinary camps as well, as one of their "majors." This summer they're offering a class in decadent desserts, and one in international foods, for 5th to 8th graders. They have more than 40 Bay Area locations - check the website to see when/where these are being offered.

Classes Bean Sprouts Café and Cooking School
Bean Sprouts Cooking School (and the cafe) opened at the Bay Area Discovery Museum last fall. 
It's for kids ages 2-10 (divided up by age). Their Imaginibbles classes began in October. The 10-week class series for children ages 2-6 included dishes as featured on Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect and Good Morning America. They focus on tasty, healthy recipes along with playful presentation and recipe steps. I couldn't find any current classes listed, but check in with them if you're interested.

Photo: **CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), 
via Wikimedia Commons

Spring and Summer Camp Fairs 2014

There are two big camp fairs this weekend

San Francisco

Still planning camp for the summer? Heck yeah! This weekend is a summer camp fair in San Francisco. It includes summer activities for children, youth and families. It's free, brought to you by a number of organizers. They'll have 150+ exhibitors with camps for all ages - toddlers to teens.

When: Saturday, March 8 from 10-2
Where: Balboa High School
Cost: Free
More details: here 


MARIN
Also this weekend is the Marin Camp Fair on Saturday. It includes almost all the area day camps, plus sleepaway and overnight camps too.

When: Saturday, March 8 from 10-1, with free pizza lunch
Where: Dominican University in San Rafael (1475 Grand Avenue)
Cost: Free
More details: here 

Summer Camp 2014 - Edventure More's Camp Edmo and Camp EdTech

--This is the first in our summer camp 2014 series. Thank you to Edventure More for sponsoring this post.--

Photo courtesy of Edventure More

We want our kids to have fun at camp, burning off energy, making friends, and maybe even learning something! It’s easy to do those things at a camp that partners with the California Academy of Sciences and the Children’s Creativity Museum. Experts there help plan fun and educational activities that make the kids excited to return to camp each day. Read more about how they do that here, and read at the bottom about getting $20/week off if you enroll in Edventure More’s enriching camps, Camp Edmo and Camp EdTech, by February 28!

Edventure More’s award-winning camps are for kids entering kindergarten through eighth grade, split up by age, of course. They’re also offered all around the Bay Area.

Here are some of the fun things your kids can do at each camp:

Camp Mather Lottery Registration 2014

For San Francisco residents - Camp Mather lottery registration ends on Februrary 7, 2014. Camp Mather is in the High Sierras (outside Yosemite), and offers family camp that looks so awesome - activities and meals included.

Details about proof of residency and how it works is here. Nonresidents can apply as well, and will be processed AFTER residents.

Coming Up: Recycling Camp

We did a lot of camp posts for this summer, and I realize that there's still time left! I saw this and had to post.

Diablo Recycling is offering two hours camps every Thursday in August in Pittsburg, CA. The kids can learn about recycling first hand - at a recycling site! Campers get a tours of the 90,000  square foot facility featuring the recycling machine (Big Blue) and his buddy, the baler (Big Wall-e). You'll learn about the 4 Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle, respect the earth). You'll learn about what types of recycling materials are acceptable, play interactive games and make art from reusable items. They even provide a healthy snack!

When: 10-noon, Thursdays in August (you would attend one session) - August 8, 15, 22, and 20
Who: all ages - adults welcome - camp limited to 30 participants
Where: 1300 Loveridge Road, Pittsburg, CA
Cost: Free
RSVP: Adriana Medina by phone: (925) 771-2721 or email Adriana@Garaventaent.com

Still looking for Bay Area Camps?

I know summer has started and camps are in full swing. But some of us are still getting those last minute camp plans made! Here are a few suggestions for camps to look into (below). And some camp posts you might have missed:
Bay Area camp ideas and also here and here
Saving money on overnight camp supplies
Stern Grove's free camps and activities
Activity Hero consolidates camp ideas and sign-up in one website

APPLE CAMP
As I mentioned in a previous post, Microsoft stores are offering some free camps. Turns out Apple is too. These 1.5 hour free camps (3 days in a row - 3rd day is optional and will exhibit the creations) will teach your 8-12 year olds will learn to shoot their own footage, create a song in GarageBand on an iPad, and put it all into a movie with iMovie. Learn more about Apple movie making camp here.

CHILDREN'S CREATIVITY MUSEUM
The Children's Creativity Museum (former Zeum) offers camps for kids ages 3-5, 6-7 and 8+. Depending on the age, they might focus on video or computer game design, fairy tales, communication/friendship and creativity. Prices range depending on the age/hours.

COOKING FOR TWEENS/TEENS
For your little (not so little) chefs, Paulding and Company in Emeryville offers cooking camps for kids ages 9-18 (age groups are broken up). They have some great programs, including "The Perfect Pig" for meat-lovers to learn about butchering skills and pork cuts, and cooking it up. This one is for kids 13-16, and runs July 22-26. Other classes include "advanced cooking techniques," "pasta making," "advanced baking," "the lucky lunch box" and others. Classes run about $540 for the week.

Saving Money on Overnight Camp Supplies

I hope this doesn't come too late, but in case you're sending your kid to overnight camp and you're still shopping for gear, read on! This is a revised post from last year that was quite popular, so I wanted to rerun it. Here are my tips for saving money on overnight camp clothing, bedding, etc.

Bedding:
Sheets: While we have plenty of sheet sets in our linen closet, the camp specified cot-size sheets. Can you go buy those at Target? Nope. You have a couple options. To save money, just buy a fitted cot sheet, and use your own top sheet and pillowcase. You can buy fitted cot sheets for $8-10 each.

If you want the softer jersey knit sheets with fun designs (which of course my kids did),

Coming Up: Free Kids' Art Camps, Workshops and Activities at Stern Grove

Stern Grove Sundays were one of my favorite things to do before kids. We'd bring a blanket, picnic and the newspaper and grab our spot in the (hopefully) sunny area to await the fabulous free concerts. I know some people bring their kids to these events, but my kids aren't so good at sitting still in a crowded area and waiting for the show to start. It turns out there are activities for kids from noon to 1:00 for these Sunday concerts. Crafts, dance lessons, singing and hands-on music..Look at the Stern Grove Sunday schedule here, with kids activities here.

Stern Grove offers three different types of kid activities: Kid Stage, which takes place before hte concerts. Then there's Kids' Days, with separate programming on separate days, and Kids' Camp, which is a three day camp that runs for several hours. They're all listed here.

Activity Hero: Sign up for Camp/Classes on One Site AND Easy Earn Money for Your School - Sponsored

Is your school or organization looking for an easy way to raise money, while also helping parents simplify their lives? Bay Area-based ActivityHero can help. It’s offering a program where your school or organization can get $5 for each new camp or class a parent books using ActivityHero.

ActivityHero was started by Bay Area  moms who, like all of us, found the process of finding and signing up for after-school and summer programming cumbersome, confusing and time consuming. They started a company that makes the process easy. I’ve posted a few times in the past about SignUpForCamp.com, a website that aggregates different summer camp options and allows you to learn about and plan your camp registrations on one site, and coordinate with friends if you want. With similar goals and users, Sign Up For Camp merged with ActivityHero – so now you have camps AND classes all on one website – making it useful year-round.

If you’re interested in getting your school or organization on board, you need to have your representative send the school/organization name to info@activityhero.com. Once you’re in the program, you’ll get $5 for each new class or camp registration (a minimum of two registrations needed to activate payment).

The site has a very strong presence in Palo Alto (485 camps alone within 10 miles of Palo Alto), Berkeley and San Francisco, but covers other parts of the Bay Area as well including the San Jose area. The beauty with using ActivityHero is that many of the camps/classes use the EasyEnroll form, so you only have to fill out the paperwork once . The website uses that information to help you register for multiple classes and camps, so no more filling out forms over and over with the same information. It’s all online and saved.

Disclosure: ActivityHero is sponsoring this post, though Frisco Kids is a big supporter of any website that helps us earn money for our schools, makes our lives easier and helps us find cool things for our kids to do.

More Bay Area Camp Ideas

A few days ago I posted about some awesome Bay Area camps. I wanted to add a few more to that list.

Youth Spark Summer Camps by Microsoft - emphasizing technology and creativity, these camps focus on digital movie making, storytelling, digital photography and making video games. take place at Microsoft stores (one theme per week). The bad news: the parent/guardian has to stay IN THE STORE during the camp. So no dropping off and going to work, to Peet's Coffee, to the grocery store or to clean the house (as if!).
Where: Bay Area locations with in-store theaters, including Palo Alto, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Corte Madera
When: varies by store. For example, Palo Alto's camps run through August, for 2 hour sessions (each week is a different theme/time). You sign up for a week at a time.
Who: Ages 8-13
Cost: Free
Additional info: finding the info you need is a little tricky on their website. Pick your store and look for the "Register Now" bar on the right side after scrolling down. That will pull up the dates/times/details. It doesn't look like a link, but it is. Then use the calendar function to find out when the camps are running, and details. It's easier going once you get to that page.

Star Wars Camp - This isn't a freestanding camp, but rather a blueprint for how to run your own Star Wars Camp. For those homeschooling readers out there, or parents who have their kids home in the summer, it can also provide some ideas for you to do with the kids too. LucasFilm came up with a Star Wars camp kit where you can make your own Star Wars camp with movie-related games, crafts and activities. And it's free!

Laurel Street Art Camp - this arts camp features pottery, glass fusing, mosaic, soap making, glass painting, polymer clay and weaving projects.
Where: San Carlos
When: 6/17 - 8/30/13 - sessions run one week, and they're 3 hour sessions; some sessions already have wait lists
Who: Grades 2-7
Cost: $245-295 per week

Gailileo Camps - learn to be innovators and explorers with this kids. Themes this summer include
Medieval Adventure, African Safari, and the Art and Science of Circuses, Rides and Carnivals. The themes are created in cooperation with Klutz, the de Young Museum, the Tech Museum of Innovation and the Chabot Space & Science Center.
Where: 38 campus locations including the Peninsula, East Bay, South Bay, San Francisco and Marin
When: Dates vary by location; full days, though Pre-K and K can by half day.
Age: Pre-K through 8th, broken up into appropriate age groups
Cost: $25 discount through May 31, using code 2013INNOVATE. One week starts around $399 but discounts for additional weeks

Some other Frisco Kids camp posts:

Frisco Kids summer camp guide - from 2013

Care package ideas for overnight camp

How to save money on overnight camp supplies

3 mid-summer camps to consider

This post is sponsored by Gailileo. All opinions are my own.

Awesome San Francisco Bay Area Camps - 2013

If you're like me, you've thought a lot about summer plans and maybe have signed the kids up for some camp. But you're not done! I found some great camps that look interesting, educational and most importantly - are FUN. What are your favorite camps? Post in the comments section.

Gailileo Camps - this one is great because it has 38 Bay Area locations on the Peninsula, East Bay, South Bay, San Francisco and Marin, and it gets rave reviews by parents and kids. Activities includes art, science and outdoor activities. 5th-8th graders can choose photography, film making, cartooning, fashion, inventor camp, video game design, web design, go-karts, cooking, LEGO robotics and more. Spots are filling up quickly (and some have waiting lists), so look now if interested.
Where: 38 campus locations
When: Dates vary by location; full days, though Pre-K and K can by half day.
Age: Pre-K through 8th, broken up into appropriate age groups
Cost: $25 discount through May 31, using code 2013INNOVATE. One week starts around $399 but discounts for additional weeks

La Toque Cooking Camp - pick a theme (chocolate, pizza/pasta, chili) and that's what you'll do that week. Field trips and hands-on cooking lessons for young chefs.
Where: Palo Alto - private home
When: June 3-7, July 1-4, July 15-19; week-long sessions, half-day except for full day field trip
Age: tweens/teens
Cost: $200-250

Hiller Aviation Camp - hands-on experiments, testing robots, model aircraft and rockets, flight simulators and more.
Where: San Carlos
When: June 3 - August 28, week-long sessions; full and half-day options available (mostly full day)
Age: grades K-8
Cost: varies

Dragonfly Jewelry Making Camp -This camp combines an hour of morning yoga or dance moves, jewelry making and local eco-exploration.
Where: South San Francisco, San Francisco and Burlingame
When: June 12 - August 2 at various locations. They offer single days, half days and full days.
Age: 5+
Cost: varies based on option. Camp from 9-3 is $385/week

Chabot Space Center Science Camp - classes at this Galileo camp range include LEGO Robotics, video game design, rocket labs, music and technology, GPS treasure hunts, Mars Explorer and more.
Where: Oakland
When: June 24 - August 2; weekly; half and full day options.
Age: Grades 3-7
Cost: varies depending on option

The Retrodome Musical Theater Conservancy Camp (The Scene) - Lessons in acting, singing, dancing, improv, musical theater history, script analysis and then a full production of School House Rock Live.
Where: Santa Clara University campus
When: July 15 - August 9 from 9-3:30
Age: Grades 3-8
Cost: $1045

Jack London State Park - this one is more for my Marin/Sonoma readers. The park is offering a day camp for one week only, following in the footsteps of Jack London. Activities include creative writing, arts/crafts, hiking, and a Whole Foods lunch. For info call (707) 938-5216 or email kbuchanan@jacklondonpark.com
Where: Glen Ellen
When: June 10-14 from 9:30-3:30
Age: 6-8th grades - limited to 20 students only
Cost: $100

This post is sponsored by Gailileo.