Local Summer Camps for Kids

A time that young ones eagerly anticipate each year, summer vacation often strikes fear into the hearts of parents and caregivers, who foresee the angsty freedom and pent-up energy about to be unleashed upon their worlds.

Though there are still three months to go before local kids are set loose for summer break, many parents are already thinking about how they will occupy their children’s time over the nearly three-month vacation. The nostalgic tradition of summer camp is the solution of choice for many, striking that perfect balance of entertainment and education.

Luckily, the Peninsula is ripe with options for outdoor explorers, scientists in the making and all other varieties of learners who need to foster their curiosity over the summer. Here are just a few of the camp choices available:

• Camp Stulsaft in Redwood City. This nature-oriented day camp offers week-long sessions for Polliwogs (ages 3-5), Tiny Timbers (ages 5-7) and Explorers (ages 8-12), with a different theme each week. Campers of all ages enjoy hikes, sing-a-longs, nature lessons and more at the large and scenic Stulsaft Park, with older Explorers enjoying an overnight camp-out in the park. Registration has already begun for sessions running mid-June through mid-August. Call (650)780-7839 for more information.
• Galileo Learning (multiple locations across the Bay Area). A constant parent favorite, Camp Galileo teaches problem-solving and discovery to kindergarteners through fifth graders, nurturing science and exploration skills in a day camp format. Most sessions take place in schools, with peninsula locations in Burlingame, Belmont and Hillsborough, among others. Parents of older students can enroll in Galileo Summer Quest and Tech Summer Camps. Call (800)854-3684 for enrollment details.
• Camp Happy Hall in San Bruno and Millbrae. Running from June through August, this day camp focuses on a different theme each week through a variety of activities, from swimming and woodworking to yoga and photography. Register by calling (650)583-7370.
• College for Kids at Skyline College in San Bruno and The College of San Mateo. To give your youngsters a fun academic workout this summer, College for Kids immerses them in a collegiate atmosphere minus the grades and tests. Two-week sessions engage them in different class “periods” with topics that range from Moviemaking & Claymation to Lego Engineering, providing educational lessons in a dynamic and enjoyable format. Though their registration page is currently under construction, details are available by calling (650)574-6149.
• Mountain Camp Woodside in Portola Valley. This camp is a bit far down the Peninsula, but if the real “going away to camp” experience is what you’re looking for, it is one of the few easy-to-reach options that still provides some natural scenery. Resident camps for seven to 14-year olds begin in mid-June, and run for one-week increments, with the option to book multiple weeks for your child. Kids stay in gender-separated dorms and get to participate in a number of indoor and outdoor activities. Mountain Camp Woodside also offers Day Camps for those who don’t want to part with their little ones for a whole week. Call (650)576-2267 for more information.