Experienced educators team up with drama, art, circus, and movement professionals to offer kids in grades three to 10 an opportunity to create and perform their own show. The first week of the program is spent on skill development. The second week participants choose their specialties and tackle specific show business jobs - painting flats, memorizing dialogue, creating circus acts, learning dance choreography, and promoting the show.

Half-day, week-long sessions for kids in grades one to three introduce younger children to performing and visual arts through games and experiential learning activities.

Electives include professional instruction in circus arts, drama, music, and visual art.

Full-day sessions culminate in a performance. Campers receive a tee-shirt as part of registration.

Located in Alameda, the Altarena Playhouse Theater Camp offers children of all skill levels the chance to learn singing, dancing, improvisation, theater games, masks, directing, and audition techniques. The two-week session culminates in a showcase review that highlights all the skills learned that session.

Considered one of San Francisco's best bilingual summer programs, Amusez-Vous operates out of the French-American School. It offers children (pre-K through 12th grade) the chance to learn and enhance their French language skills with both academic and leisure activities in a fun and creative atmosphere.

The school offers an additional summer session at Ecole Bilingue in Berkeley.

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.

Art in Action offers art and camp activities that stimulate individual expression and build art skills. Kids learn about famous artists and explore a range of media such as painting, weaving, sculpture, and collage.

Camps are held in various locations throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara County. Advance registration is required.

ARt YoWZA Camps offer visual arts programs that feature zany inventions, magical paintings, and fun sculptures.

One Day Theme Camps may include: Pie in the Sky Camp (King Kong & Giant Cupcakes), Fantasy Camp (Dragons, Castles & Magic!), Wild Animals Camp (Roar! Lions, Horses & Lizards), Circus Camp (Clowns, Acrobats & Elephants), and Potato Disco Camp (Silly Groovy Fun).

One Week Summer Theme Camps include: About Me Camp (Making cool accordian books of our favorite things), Around the World Camp (Let’s go to Egypt, India, Japan, & Nigeria),
Fantasy Camp (Building Fantasy Treehouses, Vehicles, and Dragons), and Passion for Fashion Camp (Creating giant Fashion Portraits & Lip Gloss).

A paint-it-yourself ceramic studio specializing in activities for kids of all ages. the studio has a toddler play area and hosts birthday parties, day camps, afterschool programs, and toddler programs.

ArtWorks Fine Art Studio, formerly known as KidsArt, teaches children, teens, and adults the principles of fine art using a classically-based method, customized curriculum, and individualized instruction. Trained artists offer students a foundation in artistic skills and knowledge of materials. The year-round program starts with drawing, and progresses through watercolor, acrylic, oil, and advanced study courses.

ArtWorks offers Summer Workshops and Art Camps for children and teens, ages four to 16. Class descriptions and registration forms are available online or by calling the office.

By playing theatre games and learning to take risks in a safe environment, improv students develop the ability to tell stores collaboratively and work in the moment. An excellent tool for improving verbal expression, enhancing listening skills, building body awareness, and boosting self-confidence. Each session culminates in a showcase performance for family and friends.

Camp is offered during the month of July.

The winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the best Enviro-friendly Place in the Bay Area, this museum is about as hands-on as it gets, which means it gets high marks as a kid's destination. Located next to the Golden Gate Bridge, it's housed in a cluster of buildings that were once part of Fort Baker, a military installation that guarded San Francisco Bay.

The exhibits change every so often and successfully engage kids on many levels. Visiting exhibits have included The Monkey King, an interactive version of the
classic Chinese story of the mischievous monkey, or the bilingual Berenstain Bears exhibit which takes families inside the famous tree house where kids can play the "When I Grow Up game", or Joshua's Journey, where children "rope a steer" and cook vittles over the campfire while
learning about the black cowboys of the Wild West.

The Museum's latest permanent addition - Lookout Cove - is a 2.5-acre outdoor adventure zone with a 1595 shipwreck replica, a rocky sea cave, a crow's nest, a two-ton redwood log, and a climbable Golden Gate bridge!

Other constants include a science lab focusing on waves and wind, an arts studio in which kids can create something new to take home, and a Discovery Center for little kids, called Tot Spot, that is so engaging big kids are always trying to sneak in.

Bring lunch and picnic on one of the tables there. Or buy refreshments at the small cafe that caters to kids.

Day Camps: are offered in weekly sessions during the summer, and during the first two weeks of April for Spring Break. Themes include Acrobatic and Aerial Arts, Art Dabbler, Building Blocks of Architecture, Carpenter's Apprentice, Clay Play, Creative Drama, Creature Features, Drumming Magic, Elements of Art, Fort Building, House of Samba, Kids' Chemistry, Mural Magic, On the Bay, On the Spot Improv, San Francisco Science, Shipwrecked, Soapbox Cars, Treasure Hunt, and Water Wonders. Membership saves on camp fees. Materials fees may also apply.

Family Programs: The Museum organizes art workshops, and dramatic performances. Check the website, or the GoCityKids calendar, for upcoming events.

Parties: The museum's birthday party room is available in 90-minute slots on Saturdays and Sundays between 10am-3pm. A birthday party package includes exclusive use of the party room for one and a half hours, and free admission to the Museum for the day for party guests. Limit of 30 children maximum; 30 adults. Cost runs $200 (members), $225 (general), and up.

The winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the best Day Camp for Teens in the Bay Area, Berkeley Repertory Theatre draws theater artists from around the country to work on a variety of classic, contemporary, and new plays from September through July.

Berkeley Rep's productions are staged in two theatres - the 400-seat Thrust Stage and the 600-seat proscenium Roda Theatre. Both offer intimate theatrical environments with no seat further than 49 feet from the stage, and a clear view of the action, even for the very short.

The Berkeley Rep School of Theatre offers a wide variety of educational programs, including weekly classes for kids and teens, a Spring Break Camp, and a Summer Theatre Intensive for kids entering grades 6-12. Complete listings of current classes can be found online.

Bird School of Music provides instrumental and vocal instruction, band supervision, and dance classes for children. The site also houses art space, a performance venue, a recording facility, and a yoga studio.

Does your kid love to rock out to the radio? At the Blue Bear School of Music, young musicians can learn to play and write the kind of music they like to hear. Blue Bear is one of the few music schools of its type in the country, offering private lessons, group classes, and band workshops in Rock, Pop, Jazz, Blues, and other popular music styles. Instruments taught include guitar, piano, drums, flute, clarinet, and voice.

Musicians of all ages and all levels can find day or evening programs to suit their needs. Older kids can participate in "After School Band Workshops," a ten-week program that runs throughout the year.

Little Bears Music Program: Children four months to five years old and their parents and caregivers can explore music and movementthrough age-specific classes, as well as mixed age classes.

During the summer, young musicians (ages nine-16) can enroll in the "School of Rock" at Blue Bear, and learn from professional rock musicians in unique "Play-in-a-Band" weeklong day camps. Camps run on weekdays from 10am-3pm during June, July, and August. For more information, call Dennis Criteser at 415.673.3600

Cal Shakes Artistic Learning Program offers classes in Shakespeare playshops, stage combat, winter and spring break acting intensives, and a summer theater camp.

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.

Camp Invention summer day camp programs run for one week, and students rotate between five thematic modules - focused on science, math, history, and the arts - that build upon what was learned the previous day.

Typical programs are for students entering first through sixth grades and run Monday though Friday from 9am to 3:30pm and camps are taught by certified teachers from the community.

Children learn through teamwork, creative problem solving, and inventive thinking in one of two programs - Create and Encounter. During the week in the Create program, children can become automobile engineers, become outer space pioneers, and more. During the week in the Encounter program, children can launch an expedition to the deep sea , and design their own carnival games.

Check the website for the closest camp and to register.
New camp locations are being added each summer.

Camp Invention summer day camp programs run for one week, and students rotate between five thematic modules - focused on science, math, history, and the arts - that build upon what was learned the previous day.

Typical programs are for students entering first through sixth grades and run Monday though Friday from 9am to 3:30pm and camps are taught by certified teachers from the community.

Children learn through teamwork, creative problem solving, and inventive thinking in one of two programs - Create and Encounter. During the week in the Create program, children can become automobile engineers, become outer space pioneers, and more. During the week in the Encounter program, children can launch an expedition to the deep sea , and design their own carnival games.

Check the website for the closest camp and to register.
New camp locations are being added each summer.

Capuchino High School is part of the San Mateo Union High School District, serving Burlingame, Foster City, Hillsborough, Millbrae, San Bruno, and San Mateo.

The school hosts a summer camp for kids ages 13 and older, Digital Filmmaking for Teens, presented by professionals in the field. Kids bring their creative stories to life by learning filmmaking techniques used by the pros. Participants shoot and edit footage with digital cameras, direct or act in films, mix music and sound effects, and design special effects and animations.

Kids create a short film and end the session with their own DVD. Applications used in the camp include Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, Livetype, and DVD Studio Pro. For more information, visit the website or email dbigue55@gmail.com.

The Cathedral School Summer Program takes place on the school campus, right next door to Grace Cathedral. It's open to girls and boys entering first through sixth grades, and offers a combination of enrichment exercises and sports.

The camp is broken into two sessions, each three weeks long, and offers a wide range of classes that challenge campers both creatively and physically. During the morning classes (9am-12n) campers spend time in enrichment courses of their choice, exploring different topics in a small class
setting. Morning classes may include skill building, drama, science, and computers.

The afternoon classes (12:30pm-3pm) are dedicated to
sports and other outdoor activities, where
teamwork and good sportsmanship are emphasized.

Classes are taught by Cathedral School for
Boys faculty, as well as by educators from
other independent schools throughout
the Bay Area.

The entire summer catalogue is available at summer@cathedralschool.net.

Children's Fairyland features rides, puppet shows, children's theater performances, farm animals, arts and crafts, talking storybooks, plus thirty storybook sets. It's the perfect place for the younger child.

Our favorite activities include riding the Jolly Trolly and the Tiny Tiny Ferris Wheel, the top of which you can practically touch. Other diversions are provided by local child entertainers on weekends, and puppet shows are
held every open day at 11am, 2pm, and 4pm.

Old West Junction! The newest exhibit at Fairyland brings to life a Wild West-themed town (sized just for kids) with a "real" stable, bank, jail, and water town slide.

Parties: You can rent one of three special party places, including the Cinderella or Japanese Tea Garden areas. The Birthday Party package includes: invitations, admission for each child and one accompanying adult; cake, complete with candles, ice cream, and punch; and a complete table setting and party hats. You are welcome to bring your own food and supplies but no alcohol or cooking is allowed.

A host sets up the area, serves the cake and refreshments, and cleans up. Your birthday child receives a Magic Key and a crown presented at the puppet show of your choice, which can be shown at 11am, 2pm, or 4pm. Call the birthday party hotline to make reservations: 510.238.6877.

Fairyland's summer camp program offers kids ages five to 10 the opportunity to learn performing and acrobatic skills from professional performing artists. In addition to performance skills, participants explore the park, interact with the animals, garden, swim, and create arts and crafts.

Family membership starts at $75/year.

An enrichment program that teaches Chinese history to middle school students. This standards-based program, taught by credentialed teachers, is enrolling only 30 students. The six week program offers weekly fieldtrips, free lunches, and extended care.

Admissions Director:

John Leiner

Applications deadline:

January 11

Chinese American International School (CAIS) is a preK-8th grade independent school that offers a unique, bilingual immersion education in American and Chinese culture and language. The student body is made up of many different ethnic and racial groups and cultural backgrounds, and the school welcomes all families that are interested in providing their children with a bilingual and multicultural learning experience.

The curriculum is taught in both English and Mandarin, so students gain higher levels of comprehension and broader perspectives in subject areas taught.

Class size: Current enrollment 410; averages 17 per classroom.

Programs: Advisory, Art, Computer, Cultural, Dance, Enrichment (after school), Extended Day, Language Exchange Program, Language Support, Chinese & English Library Support, Math, Music & Movement, Physical Education, Science, Student Services, Team sports.

Facilities: Café, Gym, two libraries, four multi-purpose rooms, two playgrounds, computers & laptops available, wheelchair accessible.

Lunch program: Yes.

Afterschool program: Extended day program until 6pm; enrichment classes available.

Uniforms: No.

Report cards: Grades and comments.

The school also hosts offers a unique summer camp opportunity for children ages three to 13. Students learn Mandarin in an activity-based camp under the guidance of experienced teachers. No prior Chinese language is neccessary to participate in the camp, and students are separated by language expertise, as well as age, to ensure that each child gets the most out of their experience. Visit the camp website for more information.

Campers also practice martial arts, calligraphy, dance, and music.

Cipriani offers Summer Camp Programs for children going into kindergarten to ninth grades.

Camps include field trips, special events, sports, arts and crafts, cooking, swimming, gymnastics, and karate lessons (extra charge). A separate camp is offered for middle school kids with a ropes course on-site, and other special programs.

Located in the old West Poly High Gymnasium across from Kezar Stadium, this is the real thing for instruction in circus, Chinese acrobatics, and aerial arts.

The Circus Center, founded by former members of the Pickle Family Circus in 1984, is the only professional circus training facility North America. Circus Arts classes are offered for children as young as 18 months; more sophisticated classes, as in acrobatics and aerial arts, are available for children ages seven to 17.

Parties: If you want to stage a party here, the staff will do its best to help you unleash the trapeze artists and tumblers among your guests. You can schedule a party for evenings and weekends.

Summer Camp: Every summer, the Circus Center hosts a camp for kids ages seven to 15. Campers learn acrobatics, clowning, juggling, stilt-walking, trampoline, the flying trapeze, and aerial arts. Newly annointed circus performers strut their stuff at one of five performances.

City Ballet is a serious ballet school under Artistic Director Galina Alexandrova, it offers
instruction in the classic Russian Vaganova training, modeled after the training program at the Bolshoi Academy in Moscow.

Pre-Ballet is offered at age four; Children's Ballet begins at age six to pre-professional.

Note: Advanced levels can require students to take classes up to eight times per week.

One week summer dance workshops are offered for Level I and II (ages 6-8, Monday through Friday, 9am-12n, featuring ballet, jazz, and musical theater.

Creative Learning through Arts Programs (CLAP) specializes in educational and entertaining performing arts programs for children. Enriching courses and fun themes expose participants to various forms of the arts while nurturing their self-esteem and encouraging creativity and self-expression.

Visit the CLAP Arts website for class locations, summer camp listings, parties, and other program information.

CLAP Arts actors and dancers are also available for birthday parties.

Check the website for CLAP Arts locations.

A ceramics/art camp held in an artist's studio that features storytelling, daily hikes/picnics, gardening, kitchen science experiments, beach day, ice cream and butter making, puppetry, and other activities.

Color Me Mine of San Rafael is a paint-your-own pottery studio that offers a wide variety of pieces to paint - both practical and whimsical.

A private party room is available for birthdays and playgroups.

The Community Music Center (CMC) occupies a historic Victorian in the Mission District of San Francisco with a branch in the Richmond District area and extension programs throughout the city. It's a place that provides low- and no-cost music instruction and concerts.

Classes: Generally, students must be eight years or older to begin private music lessons. Students under eight are encouraged to enroll first in the group classes - Music for Children or Piano for Kids. Violin students may begin instruction at age six by consent of the instructor. Private voice students must be at least 16.

Students must have their own instruments, which can be rented or bought from music stores and often can be purchased secondhand. CMC has a limited number of instruments available for rent.

Camp CMC: A week-long music summer camp designed for students ages 9-14, who are currently enrolled in private instrument lessons and have had at least two years of study on their instrument. From 9am-3pm, activities alternate
between chamber group, ensemble, theory and musicianship classes. Participants also engage in several activities designed to develop general musicianship skills, such as playing percussion instruments, singing, and rhythmic movement. Additional activities are scheduled for
extended hours (3-5pm) students. Students share their work at the end of the week in an informal performance.

CSMA hosts kids concerts, has a fantastic birthday party program, and offers art and music classes and summer and vacation art camps.

Art parties are offered for children in preschool through middle school. Select from several fun themes the program is tailored to your child's age level. Kids complete 2-4 projects, depending on age and selection of projects. Prices start at $200 for 1-10 children. The cost is $10 extra for each additional child, with a maximum of 20 children. Parties are held on Saturdays and Sundays, and reservations must be made at least three weeks in advance.

Admissions Director:

Pamela Thorp

Deadline for applications:

Kindergarten due December; check with school for exact date

Grades 1st-7th due January; check with school for exact date

Part of a four-school complex (Schools of the Sacred Heart), Convent Elementary School offers the unique experience of an independent Catholic, single sex education within a coed community. Emphasis is placed on achieving the highest level of scholarship while learning to take on leadership roles as responsible, compassionate, and contributing members of society.

Convent offers a rigorous academic program with an emphasis on cross-curricular studies. The core curriculum includes literature, language arts, foreign languages, social studies, mathmatics, computer technology, art, music,
physical education and religious studies.

The school is located in the neighborhood of Pacific Heights and shares a campus with Convent of the Sacred Heart High School and Stuart Hall for Boys. Stuart Hall High School is located at 1715 Octavia Street.

Schools of the Sacred Heart is part of the 21-member nationwide Network of Sacred Heart schools all of which commit themselves to a personal and active faith in God, a deep respect for intellectual values, a social awareness which impels to action, the building of community as a Christian value and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.

Every summer Sacred Heart hosts a coed summer program which includes academic, artistic and sports classes.

Grades: K-8th

Class size: 15-20. Current enrollment is 324.


Facilities: Two theaters, gym, library, computers, internet access. Wheelchair accessible

Programs: Art, Music, French, Spanish, Latin, Enrichment, Community Service, Clubs, Team Sports

Lunch Program: Yes

Afterschool Program: All grades, coed with Stuart Hall for Boys. Includes academic, artistic, and athletic classes.

Uniforms: Yes. Varies by grade level.

Report cards: Grades and comments.

Summer programs: Every summer Schools of the Sacred Heart host a coed summer program. Each three week session provides an array of classes including: academic enrichment and support classes, languages, test preparation, basic skills, science, sports, drama, art, and technology. Extended care is offered for grades K–6 in both the morning and afternoon. K-6 classes are located on Broadway between Fillmore and Webster in San Francisco. The 7 –8 grade classes “Prep for Success in High School” are offered at the Stuart Hall High School campus located on Pine and Octavia. A Counselor in Training program for students in grades 7-8 is also offered in conjunction with the K-6 program.

For more information or to be placed on the mailing list, please contact: Colleen McGarry, K–6 Program at 415.292.3159 or mcgarry@sacredsf.org. For grades 7-8 and High School Program, contact Ray O’Connor at 415.345.5817 or oconnor@sacredsf.org.