Day Camps in El Cerrito & Richmond

Archived Q&A and reviews ▼

Archived Q&A and Reviews

Questions:

Summer Camp in El Cerrito?

March 2016

Most of the summer camps I see are in Berkeley or Oakland, which is out of the way for us. Has anyone used a camp located in El Cerrito or close by? EC Dad

Have you ruled out the many camps run by the city of El Cerrito? They offer a huge variety of camps all summer long, and even provide transport between most of the specialty camps. AnonMom

Check out the camps offered by the city of El Cerrito recreation department. There is a wide selection of camps and some are pretty affordable. The explorer camps run from 7-6 and aren't too expensive. Amy

Growing Light Montessori School of Kensington has a Summer Camp for children aged 4.5 - 7 years old. The Live Oak Classroom Camp can be utilized from June 13, 2016 - August 5, 2016. Camp is available as an entire summer or by a week-by-week basis. Emphasis is on arts and crafts, movement, creativity, and dance. Also, the head teacher of that program integrates Spanish on a daily basis. My two granddaughters participated in the program last summer and loved it. They are located in the Arlington Community Church at 52 Arlington Rd, Kensington. Contact: 510-527-1278

You should check out the camps offered by The Kid Effect (http://www.thekideffect.com/camps/index). They will be held in El Cerrito on the campus of Montessori Family School on Cutting Blvd. My daughter is currently participating in an after school program they are offering, and it's amazing. They do a great job of teaching complex science and engineering concepts in a hands-on, fun, and artistic way. Her class is a ''derby race'' theme where the idea is for the kids to test various designs to make the fastest car, meanwhile, learning the physics behind aerodynamics and getting a taste of robotics and programming. They incorporate some art into it as well which has been great for keeping my daughter's creative side interested. It looks like the summer camps will be a fun mix of robotics and theater arts. Great for getting kids to use their whole brains! Check it out. STEM-loving mom of art-loving kid

Hello Fellow EC Neighbor, You should check out the El Cerrito Recreation Center brochure. There are lots of camps in El Cerrito. Cost effective, well run, fun, and close! Over the years, my kids have enjoyed a variety - Circus Camp, Photography, Cooking, Sports Camp, Flag Football, Tennis, Explorers, Junior Explorers, Swim Camp - so many. Some of them fill up fast, but the larger camps often have spaces. You can find info at the Community Center. The brochure is also on line. Loving El Cerrito

Yes, there are camps in El Cerrito! Check out either City of El Cerrito Recreation Dept camps or Steve & Kate's camp. Local mom

Well, most EC kids spend at least part of their summers at a city of EC camp. It's a great way to mingle with kids from other elementary schools. Roughing It picks up from Kensington Library. EB Parks is doing a week of daycamp at Miller/Knox shoreline in Richmond. Hilltop Y does camp although I have never personally known anyone who's done it. Plenty of EC families use University Village or the Albany Y to fill in. Painter's Pot in Richmond does some weeks. Richmond Art Center does some weeks. You didn't say how old your child was so I can't give you specific recommendations, but you'll find plenty of choices. EC Mom

In the Richmond Hills (off Arlington) there's a great camp run by Crestmont School. My daughter goes to the school as well as the camp, but about half the campers last year were from the community (not the school). The campus is about 2 minutes off of I-80, or about a 5 minute drive north on Arlington from El Cerrito. There's a different theme each week lead by a specialty teacher (water, nature, cooking, etc.), but there's also enough time and space for free play. It is also relatively inexpensive (about the same price as the city camps). Check it out www.crestmontcamp.organd see if it fits you. Crestmont Campers!

Summer Camp Close to Richmond Annex?

March 2015

We live in Richmond Annex, and I'm looking for a day camp for my 6 year old this summer. I'd rather not drive down to Berkeley or Oakland if I can avoid it. Has anyone recently used the El Cerrito city camp or something else near here? The reviews for this area are pretty old. Thanks! Richmond Dad

Crestmont School is offering six, 1-week sessions of summer camp starting June 29th this year. The campus is at 6226 Arlington in the Richmond Hills, about 2 minutes off of I-80. The camp is open to all K-6th grade kids, not just the ones who attend Crestmont. There's a different theme every week, and the price is very reasonable. Our kindergarten daughter does vacation camps and the aftercare program at Crestmont, and she LOVES it. The website is www.crestmontcamp.org. Happy Crestmont Camper

There are lots and lots of half-day options around. For full-day, there's many too. The City of EC (which I will be trying with my own 6 year old this summer), Richmond Y, Albany Y, City of Albany (? okay, not sure if there's a full day option), University Village Albany. Many kids-oriented places cobble together full day options - EC Martial Arts, 4Cats, Painters Pot are just some of the ones I've noticed. City of EC and Richmond Y are the cheapest.