Sign up for kids' Bay Area summer fun now

Saturday is the first day of Spring.  Which means it's time to plan your child's summer activities.  The Bay Area offers a wide range of choices.  Children can attend day camps that specialize in sports, computers, LEGO® building, singing, chess or horsemanship, among other things.

Keeping children engaged and learning during the summer months is not only good for their education, it's good for their mental health, future success, family relationships and safety.  Children who don't get enough adult interaction are at risk of abusing drugs, joining gangs, having teen pregnancies and other risky behaviors. 

In some cases parents must leave for work before camp starts, and don't return until after camp ends.  "We're here to fill in the gap," says Shelley Culp, who owns the local College Nannies & Tutors franchise with husband Dave, "Our nannies will take your children to camp and pick them up, and even stay with them if you want."

Some families' summer schedules are so hectic, it's hard to fit in an entire week of camp.  Preplanned or last minute vacations, on-going lessons, or splitting child custody with a co-parent can all make things more difficult.  For those families, and families who want a more personalized summer program for their children, Shelley has the answer.

"Our new blog has a list of exciting and educational outings that your children can enjoy with our full-time or part-time nannies," says Shelley, "If your child wants to be a pilot, his nanny can take him to aviation museums and a virtual flight center.  If she wants to build or race boats, her nanny can take her to boating museums and go boating on the Bay.  If parents ask, their nanny can even plan a new theme each week or two, to really keep things interesting."  The Culps are placing summer nannies and mannies now.

The following is a list of Bay Area summer camps and activities.  If your favorite camp or summer activity is missing from the list, please add it in the comment section below.

Berkeley Chess School

• Summer Camp, (Berkeley, Alamo, El Cerrito, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Walnut Creek)

Cal Adventure Camps (W.C. Sports Association)

• Summer Youth Sports Day Camps
• Specialized Athletic Training Camps

Cal Shakes

• Summer Theater Program, Lafayette

Camp Edmo

• Camp Edtech, Moraga

College Nannies & Tutors 

• Individualized full-time, part-time or on-call role model child care with educational summer excursions.  (Serving Danville, Lamorinda, and surrounding communities.)

Contra Costa JCC

• Summer Camps, Lafayette

The Crucible

• Youth Summer Camps, Oakland

East Bay Regional Park District

• "Roughing It" Day Camp, Lafayette

Galileo Learning

• Summer Quest
• Tech Museum Summer Camp

Golden Gate Boys Choir and Bellringers

• Music Camp, Lafayette

Husky House

• "Everything Under the Sun" Summer Camp, Lafayette

ID Tech Camps

• Computer Camp, Moraga

JFSLA

• Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy, Moraga

Lafayette Parks, Trails & Recreation Department

• Camp Awesome
• Computer and LEGO® Summer Camps

Rancho Del Lago

• Horsemanship Camp, Briones

St. Mary's College

• Summer Sports Camp, Moraga

Saklan Valley School

• Camp Saklan, Moraga

Sarah Science (Oakland, Berkeley and San Ramon)

• Summer Camp - "This Land Is Your Land"

Seven Hills School

• Adventure Day Camp, Walnut Creek

Sew Now

• Summer Fashion Sewing Camp, Lafayette

Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation

• Camp ARF, Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek Recreation Department

• Computer and LEGO® Summer Camps