With the choice and variety of summer camps available in 2013, boredom won't be an option.
Organizations, from the area colleges to your local parks and recreation department, offer dozens of camp choices for science, nature, sports, music and more. Whether you're looking for an all-around experience or a more focused camp, this list features a few in your town and nearby. (You can suggest your favorite camps, too, in the comments below.)
Lamorinda
Location: Lafayette
Name: Roughing It Day Camps.
Type of camp: Outdoors and fresh air for ages 4 and up.
Cost: Varies widely by camp choice: See pricing here.
Where: Lafayette Reservoir.
When: Different camps run June 24 to Aug. 16.
Registration: Underway here or by phone.
Details: Hiking, boating, fishing, nature, horseback riding and sports in atraditional camp atmosphere.
For more information: (925) 283-3795.
Location: Moraga
Name: Saint Mary's College Gaels Summer Camps.
Type of camp: Sports residential and day camps for boys and girls ages 6 to 18.
Cost: Varies by selection. See web site.
Where: Saint Mary's College, Moraga.
When: Sessions run June 17 to Aug. 2, with half days, full days, extended care.
Registration: Online here.
Details: Camps for baseball, basketball, lacrosse, rugby, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball, plus an "all-sport" camp for kids who like variety.
For more information call: (925) 631-4FUN or (925) 376-6003.
Location: Orinda
Name: BandWorks Summer Camp.
Type of camp: Rock band camp for ages 8 to 12.
Cost: Residents $267 per week; non-residents $293.
Where: Orinda Community Center, 28 Orinda Way.
When: Three morning or afternoon sessions: July 15-19; July 22-26; July 29-Aug. 2.
Registration: Through Orinda Parks & Recreation Department or online here.
Details: Exciting BandWorks School of Rock taught by musical pros.
For more information: (925) 254-2445. For other Orinda-sponsored summer camps, click here.
Walnut Creek
Name: City of Walnut Creek 2013 Day and Sports Camps.
Type of camp: Wide assortment for ages 4 and up.
Cost: Varies by selection. Payment plans available.
Where: Varies by camp choice.
When: Weekly sessions from June 10 to Aug. 23.
Registration: Began March 4, in person at Walnut Creek City Hall or online here for day camps, or here for sports camps.
Details: Art, sports, space, animals, chess, language, carpentry and more.
For more information call: (925) 943-5858.
Name: Camp Edmo
Type of camp: Arts, science, animation for pre-K to grade 4.
Cost: Arts & Science $369/week; animation $444/week. Multiple week/sibling/refer-friend discounts offered.
Where: Murwood Elementary School, 2050 Vanderslice Ave.
When: Weekly sessions from July 8 to Aug. 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Extended services available.
Registration: Open now via website.
Details: Activities designed by Edventure More in partnership with the California Academy of Sciences and Museum of Children’s Art.
For more information call: (415) 282-MORE (6673).
Name: Camp EdTech
Type of camp: Video, animation, photography for kids in grades 5 to 8.
Cost: $469 per week, with discount packages available.
Where: Murwood Elementary School, 2050 Vanderslice Ave.
When: Weekly sessions July 8 to Aug. 2, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Extended services available.
Registration: Open now via website.
Details: Kids learn video gaming, digital photography, graphic design and animation.
For more information call: (415) 282-MORE (6673).
Concord
Location: Concord
Name: City of Concord 2013 Summer Camps
Type of camp: For ages 2 to 15, camps include sports, skateboarding, counselor training, Backyard Explorers, swimming, field trips and Kinderprep. Details will be in April's Summer 2013 Activity Guide.
Cost: To be announced.
Where: Will vary by camp selection.
When: To be announced.
Registration: Information coming in April.
Details: Sneak peek at summer camps in the Winter/Spring 2013 Activity Guide.
For more information: (925) 671-CITY.
Name: De La Salle High School Athletic Summer Camps.
Type of camp: Sports for 4th- to 9th-graders.
Cost: Varies by selection.
Where: De La Salle High School, 1130 Winton Drive.
When: Various sessions June 8 to 27.
Registration: Underway here.
Details: Highly regarded camps that sell out quickly, with football, track, conditioning and other specialized offerings.
For more information call: (925) 288-8100.
Pleasant Hill
Location: Pleasant Hill, San Ramon
Name: Diablo Valley College For Kids
Type of camp: Summer college program for kids in grades 4 to 9.
Cost: $50 per class in session one; $55 per class in session two. Photography classes cost more. Details here.
Where: Diablo Valley College, 321 Golf Road, Pleasant Hill, and San Ramon campus at 1690 Watermill Road.
When: Two sessions, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, June 8 to July 3, and July 9 to 25.
Registration: Informational brochures expected mid-April.
Details: College faculty teach enrichment courses in such subjects as fine arts, music and science.
For more information or to receive brochure, call: (925) 685-1093.
Name: Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA Lessons.
Type of camp: YMCA staff reports no camps will be offered for summer 2013, but swim and childcare activities planned.
Cost: See YMCA web site.
Where: Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA, 350 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill.
When: To be announced.
Registration: Online.
Details: Check back with the YMCA's site for updates.
For more information call: (925) 687-8900.
Location: Pleasant Hill
Name: City of Pleasant Hill 2013 Summer Camps
Type of camp: Assortment of activities for all-ages.
Cost: To be announced.
Where: Varies by camp selection.
When: To be announced soon on www.pleasanthillrec.com.
Registration: Contact Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District, 147 Gregory Lane.
Details: Expected in city's summer 2013 activities guide, "Spotlight," due out March or April. Pleasant Hill Dolphins Swim Team info here.
For more information call: (925) 682-0896.
Martinez
Name: John Muir Mountain Day Camp
Type of camp: Nature and exploration for ages 8 to 12.
Cost: Not yet announced.
Where: John Muir National Historic Site, Martinez.
When: August 2013.
Registration: No info yet available; check web site for details.
Details: Draw, paint, explore, sing, hike, cook and interact with park rangers at John Muir nature camp.
For more information: (925) 680-8807 or email info@muircamp.org.
Name: Rancho Saguaro Summer Horse Camp.
Type of camp: Horse camp for kids 5 to 17.
Cost: Contact facility staff at (925) 372-5867.
Where: Rancho Saguaro, 1050 Pereira Road.
When: Weekly, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., through summer.
Registration: Underway by phone or online.
Details: Dynamic week of riding (maybe jumping, maybe bareback) for all skill sets, with campers learning horsemanship in the saddle and on the ground.
For more information call: (925) 372-5867.
Elsewhere in East Bay
Name: Junior Lifeguards East Bay Parks
Type of camp: Water safety, CPR, rescue, first aid for ages 8 to 13.
Cost: $125 for half-day sessions, either 9 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for Alameda County and Contra Costa County residents.
Where: Pleasanton/Livermore (Shadow Cliffs); Berkeley (Lake Anza); Castro Valley (Cull Canyon); Antioch (Contra Loma); Oakland (Lake Temescal).
When: Pleasanton/Livermore July 8 to Aug. 16; Antioch June 17 to July 19; all other locales June 17 to Aug. 16.
Registration: Underway. Details here.
Details: Week-long sessions of core lifeguard curriculum sponsored by East Bay Regional Park District.
For more information: 1-888-EB-PARKS (1-888-327-2757) Option 2.
Name: Tilden Nature Day Camps for ages 8 to 15.
Type of camp: Three camps: Camp of the Wild for ages 9 to 12; Little Farm Camp ages 8 to 11; Advanced Little Farm Camp, ages 12 to 15.
Cost: $200 to $250 per week for residents. (Non-residents fees are higher.)
Where: Tilden Nature Area north of Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley.
When: Weekly sessions July 1 to Aug. 2, varies by particular camp. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details here.
Registration: underway.
Details: East Bay Regional Park District hosts outdoor cooking, animals, nature, plants, gardening. Curriculum varies by camp/age group.
For more information call: 1-888-327-2757 (option 2, then 3).
Location: Oakland
Name: Oakland Zoo Camps for 2013.
Type of camp: Science and nature for pre-K through high school.
Cost: Ranges by camp from $196 to $316 for members; $216 to $336 for non-members.
Where: Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road.
When: Various sessions June 17 through Aug.16.
Registration: Member registration begins March 11; non-members March 18.
Details: Numerous offerings. Age-appropriate, outdoor activities and animal discovery.
For more information: ZooCamp Hotline (510) 632-9525 x280 or email Summer Camp Registrar.
Location: San Leandro
Name: Nike Golf Camps
Type of camp: Golf for boys and girls, ages 7 to 16.
Cost: Weekly rates. Full-day $425; half-day $239.
Where: Monarch Bay Golf Club, 13800 Monarch Bay Drive, San Leandro.
When: Weekly sessions June 17 to Aug. 23.
Deadline for registration: Online registration underway here.
Details: Small-group instruction from PGA pros for kids of all abilities. Includes lessons, course play, hat, balls, workbook, prizes.
For more information call: 1-800-NIKE CAMP.
For our Tri-Cities area summer camp guide, including San Leandro and Castro Valley, click here.
For our Berkeley area summer camp guide, click here.
For our Tri-Valley summer camp guide, click here.
If you know of other summer camps in your area, please share them with us in the comments below.
