Spring Break is a wonderful time to try something new. Thanks to Inspire’s Call of the Wild outdoor education camps, Cal Youth Camps, KidzToPros Spring Break Camps, Kinetic Arts, El Cerrito Martial Arts, and The Crucible’s Spring Break industrial art camps for sponsoring our Guide to Spring Camps for East Bay kids school breaks.
It’s that time of year: Spring Break! Families with school-aged children are either fantasizing about travel plans or arranging childcare for the days that schools are closed this April. Here is a list of programs that offer one-week sessions during the spring recesses. We love these camp providers for enriching our children’s days during the spring school holidays. FYI, Oakland (OUSD) and WCCUSD Spring Break is April 1-8, Berkeley and Albany Spring Break is April 4-8. Alameda Spring Break is April 11-15.
East Bay Spring Break camps
Cal Youth Programs & Camps: Spring Break Camps (Berkeley)
Cal Youth Programs & Camps is offering two special spring break camps: Strawberry Canyon Youth Camp (SC), a comprehensive recreational day camp for ages 5–11, and Cal Adventures Spring Break Camp, where campers can learn and enjoy kayaking, sailing, and paddle boarding at the Berkeley Marina, for ages 9-13.
Circo Day Camp at Kinetic Arts Center (Oakland)
Spring Camp options are filled with clowning, trapeze, juggling, acrobatics, climbing and general circus happiness. Your child will leave exhausted…and with many fun memories! Ages 8+
El Cerrito Martial Arts (El Cerrito)
Since 2008, these award-winning camps have been held in El Cerrito each spring. Kids participate in daily martial arts and kid-friendly meditation, outside creative play, arts and crafts with free time to socialize or play. Camp runs from 9-6 pm daily with flexible drop-off and pick-up times.
KidzToPros Spring Camp (Fremont)
Kids ages 4-12 can expand their creativity and sportsmanship by exploring new fields that could fuel their future. On-campus Holiday Camps bring together KidztoPros' most popular activities for a mix of STEM, sports, and arts -- from Minecraft coding and LEGO robotics to basketball and origami. Many locations.
The Crucible Spring Camp (Oakland)
In The Crucible’s Youth Camps, students, age 8+, get hands-on learning STEM concepts through the industrial arts, experimenting with different media and techniques, and connecting with creative mentors and new friends.
Call of the Wild Spring Nature Camps (Oakland)
Inspire's Call of the Wild spring nature camps are adventures in the forests of the East Bay! Kids ages 5-10 (grades K-5) enjoy outdoor enrichment in biology and language arts. Kids hike and climb, read and write, explore nature, journal, tell wilderness stories, create and play animal themed games, and more. They also celebrate diversity and welcome kids with disabilities. Rain or shine.
Alameda Young Naturalist Club Spring Camp (Alameda)
Ages 6 to 12 can do leatherworking and build survival skills. Spend 4 days learning tips and tricks for surviving in the wild with limited resources: build temporary shelters, forage for wild, edible plants, practice fire building, archery, and outdoor cooking.
Albany Rec Spring Camps (Albany / Kensington)
For ages 5-13, Albany Rec offers five days of spring camps for kids: Minecraft coding (ages 9-13), Fairytale or Marvel Cooking (ages 6-12), Art Camp (ages 7-10), and LEGO engineering (ages 5-10). Fees range based on hours and materials. More info on p. 18 of the linked recreation guide.
Camp ANV (Acta Non Verba) Spring Break Mini Camp (Oakland)
Campers participate in gardening, cooking, dance, archery, and visual arts. They take fantastic field trips and can earn money from the harvest.
Camp ANV serves youth ages 5-18.
East Bay SPCA Animal Camp (Oakland, East Bay (Other))
East Bay SPCA Animal Camp is the purr-fect fit for children who are passionate about pets, want to make a difference for shelter animals, or just need a little experience before adding a furry friend to the family. Grades 1 to 5.
Emeryville April Break "Rec" Camp (Emeryville)
Campers will rotate through programs throughout the day such as: art projects, sports, cooperative games, music, dance, cultural studies, group projects, environment awareness, with off-site trips to Bay Area attractions. For ages 5 to 12.
Fad Pad Spring Break Playshops (Oakland)
Kids, grades K to 6, enjoy fun art and drama games at Mary Ellen's home studio. All art, gardening, and cooking supplies are included in the fees. Themes for spring break include Harry Potter, animals, and sewing.
Junior Center Spring Break Camp (Oakland)
Wild Paint and Collage Camp students will create mixed media art through the exploration of texture and layering. Projects will include marbling, spin art, and collage. For ages 6 to 8.
Lifetime Tennis Spring Camp (Walnut Creek / Concord)
Tennis camp grouped by ability levels so children can work on their skills. Ages 7 to 15. Morning sessions are also available for younger players.
Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA) Spring Break Camp (Oakland)
MOCHA campers work on a variety of innovative, hands-on, COVID-conscious art projects based on weekly themes. For children, ages 5.5-12 (grades 1-7).
Piedmont Rec Spring Camps (Piedmont)
For ages 5-12, Piedmont Rec offers five days of spring camps for kids: Art (ages 8-12), Aloha Mind Math (ages 6-12), and LEGO (ages 5-7). Fees range from $190-$595/session based on hours and materials. More info on p. 37 of the linked recreation guide.
Spring Break ZooCamp (Oakland)
Kids, grades K to 5, will play learning games, have free play, enjoy animal encounters, see behind the scenes, and do whole-camp activities like song sessions and group games.
Trackers Bay Spring Camp (Berkeley)
Trackers camps offer real skills woven into outdoor adventures. Learn fun wilderness and folk crafts; or take part in a role-playing story, developing new skills; or stealth on a mission and practice woodcarving. One-day camps with options for grades PreK-10, and affordable after care.
Online Spring Break camps
While not my first pick for straight-up childcare needs, the following virtual spring camps caught my eye:
Dungeons & Dragons Spring Break Camp from Gaming Together (4/4 to 4/8, 4/11 to 4/15)
EDMO Spring Break Camps (3/28-4/15)
iD Tech Virtual Camp (4/4 to 4/8, 4/11 to 4/15, 4/18 to 4/22)
If none of these choices fits your spring camp needs, check out our Summer Camp Guide to find even more places that might have a week of spring camp when you need it!
Thanks again to our sponsors who make this guide to spring break camps possible: Inspire Behavior, El Cerrito Martial Arts, Kinetic Arts, KidzToPros, Cal Youth Camps, and The Crucible.
[Photos provided by the sponsoring camps and used with permission]
3 thoughts on “Spring Break Camps in the East Bay (2022)”
Camp Chrysalis is offering a 6 day overnight camp at Pinnacles National Park 4/3-4/8 http://www.campchrysalis.com/spring/index.html
Yama Kids Yoga https://www.yamakidsyoga.com/seasonal-camps
Lindsay Wildlife Experience is offering a spring break camp.
https://lindsaywildlife.org/events/wildlife-heroes-camp/