These camps are consistently well-received by parents across the Bay Area. They aren’t all strictly STEM-focused—instead, they offer something different and meaningful for kids during the summer, like time spent outdoors, hands-on experiences, and real social connection. That balance feels more important than ever as screen time continues to rise.We’re intentional about what we include.
- 🚀 Smart Savings: Grab early-bird camp deals before they expire
- 🏃 High Demand: Join the camps filling up fast across the Bay
- 🔍 Parents favorites : Discover the summer camps Bay Area parents love
Camps with notably mixed or concerning reviews didn’t make the list, though we still encourage families to do their own diligence—especially around who operates the program and whether their promises are consistently delivered across locations.
Common red flags parents mention include combining age groups or curricula when enrollment is low, or instructors lacking clear training or background check.
And of course, events like Camp Mystic are a reminder that while we may not know every detail of what happens behind the scenes, what all parents ultimately want is simple: for their kids to be safe, supported, and genuinely happy while having a great summer.
For families seeking high-quality technical education and hands-on engineering, parents should refer to our dedicated coding and robotics classes and camps post to view our vetted monthly activity schedule and top program picks.
💵 Discount Ending This Month
Camp Galileo — Multiple Bay Area Locations
Locations: San Jose, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Fremont, Berkeley, Oakland, San Mateo, SF, Marin, and more
Ages: Pre-K–8th grade
What’s cool: Flagship STEAM camps with rotating themes, real engineering challenges, and take-home projects. Very polished curriculum and staff training.
Price: ~$575–$795 per week (varies by location & grade)
Discount / Deadline: Early-bird discount ends this month (save $50/week)
Registration status: Spots filling fast
Extended care: Yes (AM & PM, extra cost)
Link: https://www.galileo-camps.com
Camp EDMO — Bay Area Locations
Locations: Los Altos, Palo Alto, San Mateo, Oakland, SF (varies by year)
Ages: 5–14
What’s cool: Maker-centered curriculum with a strong SEL focus and excellent counselors. Known for consistent daily structure.
Price: ~$509–$750 per week
Discount / Deadline: Discount ends this month ($50 off)
Scholarships: Available; deadline April 1
Extended care: Yes
Link: https://campedmo.org
TechKnowHow — San Francisco & Peninsula
Locations: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Burlingame, San Mateo (varies by session)
Ages: 5–14
What’s cool: LEGO robotics, Minecraft coding, and game design, with end-of-week demos. Strong fit for kids who like tangible outcomes.
Price: ~$595–$695 per week
Discount / Deadline: Discount ends this month ($50 off per week)
Registration status: Popular weeks filling quickly
Extended care: Limited; location-dependent
Link: https://www.techknowhowkids.com
Call of the Wild Camps — Berkeley, Oakland, Cupertino, Vacaville
Locations: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Burlingame, San Mateo (varies by session)
Ages: 5–14
What’s cool: Outdoor nature immersion with hiking, survival skills, ecology, and team-building—real wilderness experiences close to home.
Price: ~$550–$625 per week
Registration status: Open now; $50 off coupon code EBSUM26 registration until February 28
Camp hours: 9:00am–3:00pm
Link: https://www.inspirebehavior.com
Kids for the Bay Summer Camp — Berkeley
Ages: 5–11 (plus middle/high leader programs)
What’s cool: Environmental science + outdoor adventures focused on Bay ecology, habitat restoration, and leadership—small groups with a 7:1 camper-to-staff ratio.
Price: $565 per week
Registration status: Open now; $20 early-bird discount until February 10
Camp hours: 8:30am–3:00pm
Link: https://kidsforthebay.org
⚡️ Filling Up Fast
Stanford Camp Cardinal — Stanford, CA
Ages: 5–12
What’s cool: Campers build skills across multiple sports while learning teamwork, leadership, and positive coaching in a classic college setting.
Price: ~$525–$575 per week
Registration status: Many weeks already sold out
Link: https://stanfordcampcardinal.totalcamps.com/About%20Us
UC Berkeley Youth Recreation Camps — UC Berkeley
Ages: ~6–18 (varies by program)
What’s cool: Wide range of camps including kayaking, paddle adventures, arts and crafts, skateboarding, martial arts, and teen leadership.
Price: $663–$1,105 per week (program dependent)
Registration: Opens soon (Feb 10–11, staggered)
Extended care: Not offered
Link: https://recwell.berkeley.edu/youth-recreation/summer-camps/
🏕️ Popular Camps
iD Tech Camps — University Campuses
Locations: Stanford, UC Berkeley, SF State, Sacramento, Palo Alto, Santa Clara
Ages: 7–17 (13–18 for select campuses)
What’s cool: On-campus immersion in AI, coding, robotics, and game design. Small class sizes; older students work at near-college level.
Price:
• Day camp: ~$1,129 per week
• Overnight (select campuses): higher
Discount / Deadline: Early enrollment discount ends March 31 (up to $100 off)
Registration status: Stanford fills fastest
Extended care: Not offered
Link: https://www.idtech.com/summer-camps
Adventure Day Camp — Los Altos Hills, San Ramon, Moraga
Ages: 4-14
What’s cool: 200-acre working ranch with animals, hiking, creek play, and wilderness skills. A Peninsula classic with multigenerational loyalty.
Price: ~$850–$950 per week
Registration status: Waitlist only for most years (typically sells out by late January)
Extended care: Not offered
Link: https://www.adventuredaycamp.com
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Lawrence Hall of Science Camps — Berkeley
Ages: 1st–6th grade
What’s cool: Hands-on engineering, space science, and physics using real science labs and planetarium access. Trusted academic STEM.
Price: $1,295 per week
Registration status: Open now; popular themes sell out by early March
Camp hours: 9:00am–4:00pm
Link: https://lawrencehallofscience.org/visitors/summer-camps
✏️ Registration Open Soon
The Tech Interactive – Tech Challenge: “Raise the Roof!” — San Jose
Ages: 4th–12th grade
What’s cool: Iconic Bay Area engineering challenge where teams design and test lifting devices over multiple months. Excellent for serious STEM students.
Price: ~$700–$800 per program
Registration status: Interest form open; early registration recommended for Feb–March workshops
Extended care: Available (4–6pm, additional $100 per week)
Link: https://www.thetech.org/education/camp/
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