Thanks to Berkeley Playhouse, Claremont Kids Club, Sarah's Science, Trackers Bay, Abundant Summers, Camp Bladium, Monkey Business Camp, and The Crowden School for sponsoring our Guide to Winter Camps for East Bay kids' school breaks. Note that Berkeley Schools and Oakland Schools have different holiday breaks this year.
Call it childcare or call it camp: sometimes we need to give kids a fun place to go during school vacation days. Here are some options, along with pricing for a la carte days for those in need of Berkeley & Oakland winter break camps.
Abundant Beginnings Winter Camp (Oakland)
Committed to social justice and diversity while fostering a sense of mindfulness and responsibility in each child. Days are spent at a fabulous local park with time for children to play, dress-up and be the creators of their world. Winter Camp at Sequoia Elementary.
Dates: Dec. 31 – Jan. 4
Hours: 9 am to 3:30 pm, with before and after care available with prior arrangement.
Price: $65/day for ages 5 to 13 or $325/week ($80 per day for ages 2 to 4)
Bay Area Children's Theatre Camp (Oakland & Berkeley)
Camp with character(s). Acting exercises, theater games, crafts, music, and lots of storytelling for grades K through 5th. Two locations.
Dates: Dec. 26-31; Jan. 2-4 weekdays
Hours: 9 am to 3 pm or noon to 4pm
Price: $120 per day
Berkeley Playhouse Holiday Break Camps (Berkeley)
Dive into the world of theatre arts with Berkeley Playhouse’s grades K-2 and 3-6 holiday break camps. Each three- or four-day session will include curriculum and a final performance based on Seussical (Grades K-2) and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Grades 3-6).
Dates: (I) Dec. 26-29 (II) Dec. 31 + Jan. 2-4 (III is the 3-day camp) Jan. 2-4
Hours: 9 am to 3 pm
Price: $295 or $350 per session (no a la carte days)
Boys on the Go or Girls on the Go (Berkeley drop off)
Field trip camp for children age 9-13. Campers travel from Berkwood Hedge School by bus or BART to incredible local field trip destinations.
Dates: Dec. 26-28; Jan. 2-4
Hours: 8:30 to 3:30 with extended care available from 8am to 6pm
Price: $97/day; discounts for early registration or multiple days
Brushstrokes Studio (Berkeley)
This paint-your-own-pottery studio where children will do arts and crafts during a half-day camp for ages 6 to 10.
Dates: Dec. 21- Jan. 4 (excluding 12/25 and 1/1)
Hours: 9 am – 3 pm, extended care until 5:30
Price: $85/day
Camp Bladium (Alameda)
Includes a wide variety of activities: rock climbing, inflatables, basketball, dodgeball, kickball, arts and crafts, NERF®, Laser Tag, LEGO, and inflatable water slides (in warm weather). Each camp features a different fun theme. Lunch and snacks included. Ages 5-14.
Dates: Dec. 26-28; Jan. 2-4
Hours: 9 am to 4 pm
Price: $237 per 3-day “week”
Claremont Kids Club (Berkeley)
Spend winter break with the Claremont Kids' Club. Games, swimming, hiking, cooking, arts & crafts, music and more. Ages 3+
Dates: Weekdays between 12/17-1/4 (excluding Christmas Day, 12/25)
Hours: 9am- 3pm
Price: Day rate for non-members is $110. Weekly, daily half-day, and member rates available.
Circo Day Camps (Oakland)
At the Kinetic Arts Center, children will engage in clowning, trapeze, juggling, acrobatics, climbing and general circus happiness for 1st through 6th graders.
Dates: Dec. 26-28; Jan. 2-4
Hours: 8:45am- 4pm
Price: $85/day in advance; discounts for purchasing multi-day packages
Cooking Round the World (Alameda, Oakland)
A Plate of Pixar Winter Camp is for ages 6 – 13. Camp size limited to 24 children. Registration includes lunch, afternoon snack and apron. Recipe booklet emailed home at the end of the week. Other locations in Lafayette and Albany.
Hours: Full day 9-4; half-day 9-1
Dates & Rates for session one: Dec. 26-28 ($295/session, $195/half-day session);
Dates & & Rates for session two: 31 – Jan. 4 ($475/session, $325/half-day session)
Crowden’s Winter Strings and Piano Camp (Berkeley)
Crowden's fun, short Winter Camp features a variety of music activities, including an all-camp chorus, instrument technique and ensemble classes, music games, and visits by guest artists. Designed for beginning- to intermediate-level violin, viola, cello, or piano players; complete beginners welcome! Ages 7 to 16.
Dates: Jan. 2-4
Hours: 9am – 3pm with before and after-care available
Price: $300
East Bay Dance Center (Oakland)
Offers kids jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, tumbling and African dance with kids their own age and experience level for ages 5 to 16.
Dates: Dec. 26-28; Dec. 31; Jan. 2-4
Hours: 9:30 am to 3:30 pm with extended care available from 8 am to 6 pm
Price: $62/day
Habitot (Berkeley)
Includes winter-themed activities in cooking, art, science, storytelling, movement and music for ages 3 to 5. Limited to 12 children. Curbside drop-off and pick-up available.
Dates: Dec. 26-28; Dec. 31; Jan. 2-4
Hours: 9am to 2pm
Price: $75/day, $500/7 days
Hello Stitch (Berkeley)
During this three day mini-camp, campers work on different fun & crafty projects each day with both machine and hand stitching to broaden their sewing skills.
Dates: Jan. 2-4
Hours: 9am to 3pm
Price: $255/3 days
JCC Winter Camp (Berkeley)
Includes activities on site as well as hikes, games, gaga, crafts, and dance parties.
Dates: Dec. 24-28; Dec. 31-Jan. 4
Hours: 8 am to 6 pm
Price: $320/week with no camp on 12/25 or 1/1 and early dismissal on 12/24 and 12/31.
Kids N Dance (Oakland, Lafayette)
Dance adventure and youth theater offerings for all interests. Starting as young as 3 years old with activities through age 16. This year includes Moana, Orphan Annie, and Princess Tales for preschool-aged performers!
Dates: Dec. 26-28; Jan. 2-4
Hours and prices: vary by program
Lawrence Hall of Science Camp (Berkeley)
Engage with science, experiment with cool substances, interact with a live animal, and even make new friends for grades K through 6th.
Dates: Jan. 2-4
Hours: 9am – 4pm
Price: $115/day (discount for members)
Monkey Business Winter Camp (Berkeley)
Activities include making a fleece hat, group games, treasure hunting, LEGOs, painting, face painting, bubbles, basketball, climbing and, decorating a New Year's tree with wishes for 2019 at the Berkwood Hedge School. Ages 4.5-10, with youth leaders 11+.
Dates: Dec. 26-28; Dec. 31; Jan. 2-4
Hours: 8:30am – 3:30pm with extended care available from 8am until 6pm
Price: $97/day with early registration and multiple-day discounts available (youth leader fees differ)
Monkey Ninja Camp at Athletic Playground (Emeryville)
Turn your world upside down. Get ready to climb, invert, swing, vault, flip and gain a new perspective with this parkour and acrobatics camp.
Dates: Dec. 26-28 for ages 5 to 8; Jan. for ages 7 to 12
Hours: 9am to noon or 12:30 to 3:30pm
Price: $89/half-day session (they can be combined)
Sarah’s Science Winter Camp (Berkeley and Oakland)
Offers DIY hands-on science projects for kids ages 4 to 11 to design, build, and take home each day. All materials included. Plus creative arts and crafts, active outdoor play, and experienced and nurturing staff.
Dates: Dec. 27-28, Dec. 31, Jan. 2-4
Hours: 8am to 5:30 pm
Price: $120/day ($100/day for 3 or more days)
Trackers Bay Winter Break Camps (Berkeley drop off)
Winter break camps get into the spirit of the changing seasons so kids go out and have a great time in rain or shine. Learn fun wilderness and folk crafts for the season. Take part in a role-playing story, developing new skills along the journey. Maybe even make waffles or practice archery. There's no limit to the adventures you can have. For age 4 through 18.
Dates: Dec. 26-28; Jan. 2-4
Hours: 8am to 4pm with extended care available until 6pm
Price: $115/day
One to drive to: Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) (Walnut Creek)
Explores animal-themed activities, games, crafts and daily visits with ARF therapy animals. For ages 5 to 10.
Dates: Dec. 26-28; Jan. 2-4
Hours: 9 am – noon
Price: $135/week
We carefully researched this guide and apologize for any errors or totally-awesome-but-already-sold-out camps. If we missed your favorite this year, please share it below in the comments!
Thanks to Berkeley Playhouse, Claremont Kids Club, Sarah's Science, Trackers, Abundant Summers, Camp Bladium, Monkey Business, and Crowden for sponsoring our Guide to Winter Camps for East Bay kids' school breaks. There are so many fun choices, you'll never hear, “MOOOOMMMMM! I'm bored!”
[Photos provided by our sponsor camps as indicated, all rights reserved]
Bliss Belly Kitchen is offering a Holiday Chocolate making camp January 2-4 in Berkeley! Cooking, Yoga, Mindfulness, fun, and Farm to Table food!
Art Yowza is awesome! This art camp in Alameda serves ages 5-11. It’s fun!
The kids go on a heroes journey to make art that raises environmental awareness. Every school holiday focuses on a different art media (painting, sculpture, drawing, cartooning, mixed media) paired with eco-themes related to clean air, single use plastics and alternative energy, etc. The campers use their skills to do good in the world.
http://www.ArtYowza.com
East Bay SPCA has a winter animal camp in Oakland and Dublin for 1st-5th graders. The kids get to spend time with the cats and dogs and help out at the shelter! eastbayspca.org/wintercamp