Town camp reviews?
Are there any recent reviews folks can give of Oakland’s town camps (and which center you went to)? It’s hard to find any reviews of specific sites and the only first-hand review I heard was not positive but they’re definitely the most affordable camp option for us. Appreciate any positive or negative feedback. Would especially love to hear from any families with neurodivergent/high anxiety kids!
Jan 4, 2025
Parent Replies
I think the reviews you get will 100% depend on the site. My kids go to Lincoln Square and it is the greatest, and the greatness is directly because of the staff and the effort they put into making it a great experience. The kids are out and about almost all day (walking like 20k steps/day, taking bart and buses EVERYWHERE). I have no idea if other sites are comparable. Lincoln is also hugely in demand and fills up within a minute of registration opening, so I'd actually recommend you consider other locations to increase your odds of actually getting a spot.
I don't have any insight on how the camps work for neurodivergent kids. A lot of the staff are college-aged so they likely don't have a ton of training or experience working with neurodivergent kids. The camps do tend to be big, which probably gives you insight into the ~vibe~ (noisy and lots of activity) and might influence how much individualized attention and support the staff can provide (though like I said, I don't have any actual insight).
I have been sending my kids to Town Camp at Bushrod Park for several years now, and they always have a great time. George and his team are great. Everyone there genuinely seems to enjoy spending time with children, whether it's week 1 or week 6 - something I didn't see at many private camps.
Our family has attended summer camp at Redwood Heights for many years and their staff led by director Breht is always wonderful. They have re-inducted a special day at Joaquin Miller where there is a campout feeling (until evening) and lots of other fun traditions.