Camps

We've looked everywhere and these may well be the only ongoing cooking classes in town for kids - do let us know if we're wrong. Classes are offered at the Katherine Michiel's school after school or on Saturday mornings and participants can take a series, or one at a time.

Founder Roberta DesBouillons is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has more than 20 years of culinary experience. Her goal is to teach children how to cook and bake in a safe, fun setting, and to cultivate in them a lifelong appreciation of cooking. All classes are designed for children 10 years and older.

Kids have their choices of a variety of classes, such as Ethnic Foods, Cooking Italian, Healthy Vegetarian, and Easy as Pie. Students make two or three recipes per class, and are encouraged to taste everything, and to bring samples home.

Saturday morning workshops are given as single classes.

The Afterschool series is offered in two, three, and four-week segments.

Private lessons: Available to groups of up to five children, kitchen can be provided.

Parties: You're welcome to stage a birthday party with Apron Strings. Kids make their own pizzas from scratch and decorate the birthday cake. Cost depends on size, location, and menu.

Camps: Generally four or five days in length and ongoing through the summer and during school breaks.

Camp Galileo combines art, science, and outdoor activities with fun camp traditions to create a summer program K-5th graders love. Delivered by a highly talented staff, Camp Galileo's educational programming is developed in partnership with The Tech Museum of Innovation, the de Young Museum, and Klutz.

On a weekly basis, Camp Galileo programming focuses on specific art, science, and outdoor themes, with three unique weeks of programming offered. Each day campers rotate in teams of 16 between art, science, and outdoor learning activities, dividing their time equally between the three topics.

The Camp Galileo experience is topped off with games, theme days, and ... a rubber chicken mascot!

GoCityKids sent in a young camper to see what he thought. And, wow... we are highly impressed with the level of enthusiasm and professionalism at the camp. The staff makes a huge effort to get to know the kids and provide a positive experience for them. It is so much fun that the kids don't even realize it is educational, too! Our six-year-old camper said, "It seems like every kid at the camp is having a great time!" (This coming from a kid who literally cried when dropped off at his former camp!)

Galileo Summer Quest is a new program from the creators of Camp Galileo and The Tech Museum Summer Camps, featuring in-depth courses and leadership development for entering 5th-8th graders. The camp is offered at Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton.

Camp Galileo is located in 15 Bay Area communities - from the East Bay to Santa Clara. Check the website for a location near you.

This nonprofit summer enrichment program is run for the purpose of providing college-bound students with challenging summer classes. The program operates out of a public school facility, and is staffed by teachers from private and public schools.

Elementary school students take one morning class (9am-12:30pm) per session, plus up to three additional classes of one hour each in the afternoon. These cover a full range of subjects.

Middle school students may take up to five classes per session. Three periods in the morning run an hour and ten minutes each, while two periods in the afternoon run an hour and fifteen minutes each. These also cover a full range of subjects.

The winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the best Artsy Class for Teens in the Bay Area, the Presidio Dance Theatre Academy is the official school of Presidio Dance Theatre and offers artistic and cultural education. The ballet-based international dance program is open to students of all skill levels with a choice of two distinct tracts of training.

The Academy Tract offers elementary aged students one weekly dance combination class (Ballet and International Folk) and an optional weekly corresponding performance class (if the student wishes to participate in Presidio Dance Theatre's Spring Recital at the Palace of Fine Arts). The Academy also offers popular electives. This tract is for children who wish to explore the world of dance and receive enrichment in performing arts.

Les Petites Etoiles - Preschool Twinkles: An award-winning Preschool program for children ages 2.5 years and older. Twice a week, preschoolers are given an introduction to ballet and international dance, enriched with music and dance history appreciation. The Twinkles learn steps from the repertoire of Presidio Dance Theatre's Dancing Across Cultures, signature production. Each spring, the Twinkles join Presidio Dance Theatre Academy's Recital and perform at the Palace of Fine Arts.

The Junior Company Tract: The Academy's Junior Company tract is a Pre-Professional Program for students ages seven to 17. All students must audition for placement in this tract. Junior Company members commit to attending dance classes three days per week and participating in seasonal theatrical performances, as well as national and local special event performances, television, and touring opportunities. Junior Company members work with a number of Presidio Dance Theatre's resident choreographers and perform with the Company and guest artists.

The training continues the traditions of Russia's Imperial Ballet School and the Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre and are taught with the French vocabulary of ballet direction. Costumes are designed for the Junior Company (at no cost to parents), primarily by the costume artists of the Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg.

Presidio Dance Theatre Summer Camp program includes Orientation to Ballet and Folk (ages five to eight) and Beginning and Intermediate Ballet and Folk (ages eight to 17) from 10am-4pm in five weekly sessions. Kids explore the world through dance, drawing from a variety of international cultures and folk dances. Kids also learn dance history, costume and make-up for stage, health and nutrition, and do visual art projects. Students register by the week. Additional weekly Specialty Camps include: Hula Camp and Hip-Hop Camp. Extended care is available 8:30am-10am and 4pm-5:30pm.

Preschool Morning Summer Camp is offered to young children, three to five years of age. Classes include pre-ballet, folk, arts and crafts, arts enrichment, and creative dance theatre. (9am-12n, Mon-Fri in five weekly sessions).

Jamboodas (formerly JAM) was founded in 2001 by Charity Kahn - mother, musician, composer, author and recording artist - as a vehicle for bringing the joy of music and movement to children and their families.

A 45-minute Jamboodas class takes you and your child on a sound-and-motion journey incorporating singing, creative movement, percussion jams, scarf dancing, and improvisation, using original songs from Charity's JAMband CDs. Jamboodas is a child-inspired, child-tested pathway to the joy music brings, and an excuse to sing and dance and shake your bones!

Tuition is $198 for the 10-week session, and includes two CDs of original music. Siblings over eight months can attend for $130/quarter; siblings under eight months are free. Jamboodas classes take place at DSG Studios, at 564 Monterey (cross street Foerster). Each 10-week session culminates in a family sing-along, dance-along concert.

Summer Camp for children entering kindergarten through second grade, includes music, dance, art, poetry, yoga, picnics, and play. Enrollment is limited to 20 spots.

Locations of classes and performances vary; please check the website for current schedules and information.

This Daly City dance school offers classes just for fun, as well as a performance program for those with starry-eyed dreams of the stage. Says Artistic Director, Malu Rivera-Peoples, of the school's philosophy, "The goal, beyond teaching dance, is that each child feels special, unique and beautiful. Building self-esteem comes first."

Through Westlake's general program, tots as young as three can take tumbling and a ballet/tap combo class. Older children can choose courses from hip hop to hula and from jazz dance to musical theater. Private voice and piano lessons are also available for $20 per 1/2 hour. General program classes cost $75 and meet twice a week for three weeks.

Students with more serious aspirations may opt for Westlake's by-audition-only performance program, which involves intense training in technique, along with a commitment to prepare for competitions and performances.

Camps: During the summer, half-day and full-day camps are available for three weeks.

Call for current schedule and brochure.

Girl-centered sports camps where the focus is fun and fitness!

Campers spend a week playing soccer, dodge ball, capture-the-flag, kickball, flag football, jungle gym relays, and other recess games. Teamwork and fair play are emphasized and having fun while getting fit is the goal. Tailored to include all fitness levels!

Camp runs from 9am until 3pm with an hour lunch break. Parents pack a sack lunch; drinks are provided.

Fair Oaks offers a Fiesta-themed day camp for kids ages two years through 5th grade. Kids must be potty trained. Programs are offered for half or full days.

Monkey Business Camp offers summer and school break camps for children, ages five to 10, in Berkeley and Oakland. Programs balance structure and spontaneity and aim to create a fun loving, respectful community.

The group also offers a field trip program, Girls on the Go, a youth leadership program, and winter and spring camps.

Kid's Night Out parties give parents a night off
while children enjoy an organic dinner, art, games, and theme-based activities.