Spring Break is a wonderful time to try something new. Thanks to Kinetic Arts, Legarza, El Cerrito Martial Arts, Monkey Business Camp, and KidztoPros 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 schools are closed this April. Here is a list of programs offering one-week spring recess sessions. We love these camp providers for enriching our children’s days during the spring school holidays. FYI, Oakland (OUSD), Berkeley (BUSD), Albany, and WCCUSD Spring Break is April 3-7. Alameda Spring Break is April 10-14.
East Bay Spring Break camps
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.
Hours: 9 am to 6 pm
Price: $400 for full week
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.
Hours: 9 am to 3 pm
Price: Varies by location and duration
Legarza Kids has been developing youth through play in the Bay Area for 34 years. Not only do they have basketball, all-sports, and S.T.E.A.M. options, but also the best coaches around. They help kids grow no matter their level. Find half-day and full-day options as well as free extended care. They put the FUN in fundamentals this Spring Break!
Hours: 9 am to 4 pm
Price: $445 per week of full-day camp. $195 per week for half-day.
Recreational camp in Central Berkeley with roots in the Bay Area for 24 years. Games, nature connection, art, cooking, and other unplugged fun with creative, dynamic staff. Campers ages 5.75 to 10 with youth leaders ages 11+ (some exceptions for ages 5.25 and older).
Hours: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Price: Camper/CIT: Camper/CIT: third tier $630, second tier $725, first tier $820 | scholarships, payment plans & reduced prices available for ages 14+
Instruction in aerial arts, physical theatre, and juggling. Your circus star will be divided into age appropriate instruction groups and be given a well-rounded circus experience they will never forget. Whether a circus ace or a circus fledgling, program participants will emerge with fresh new skills, elevated energy, and boosted morale every darn day!
Hours: 9 am to 4 pm
Price: $495 per week / Save $50 until 3/12
Alameda Young Naturalist Club Spring Camp (Alameda)
Ages 6 to 12 can cook over the fire, roast marshmallows, and make wood-fired pizza. They will also spend time out on the land, exploring the coastline, playing games, running an obstacle course, and caring for small animal friends.
Hours: 9 am to 3 pm
Price: $480 per 4-day session
Albany Rec Spring Camps (Albany / Kensington)
For ages 5-13, Albany Rec offers five days of spring camps for kids: Minecraft or Pokemon LEGO engineering (ages 6-10) or Celebrity Chefs (ages 6-12). Fees range based on hours and materials. More info on p. 15 of the linked recreation guide.
Hours: Varies by program
Price: $250-$330 per week
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, and tell wilderness stories. They also celebrate diversity and welcome kids with disabilities. Rain or shine.
Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Price: $607.35 for 5 days
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. In Oakland or Dublin.
Hours: 9 am to 3 pm
Price: $415/week | Financial assistance available
UC Berkeley Youth Recreation Strawberry Canyon Youth Camp (Berkeley)
UC Berkeley Youth Recreation Programs & Camps is a comprehensive recreational day camp for ages 5–11 at Strawberry Canyon. Swim lessons will be offered weather permitting.
Hours: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Price: $500 per week
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.
Hours: 9 am to 4 pm (extended care is 7:30 to 6 pm)
Price: $150/week for residents | $155/week for non-residents
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.
Hours: 9:30 am to 3:30 pm with optional extended care from 8:30 am to 6 pm
Price: $105 per day plus $10 per half hour for extended care
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.
Hours: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Price: $200 – $350 per week on a sliding scale
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.
Hours: 9 am to noon
Price: $345/week Resident | $380/week Non-Resident
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).
Hours: 9 am to 3:30 pm with extended care 8am to 5:30
Price: $85 for single day | $385 per week
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.
Hours: Varies by program
Price: $190-$565 per week | Non-residents pay $25-$30 more.
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.
Hours: 9 am to 4 pm
Price: $465 per week | $435 per week for members
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.
Hours: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm with extended care from 7:30 to 5:30
Price: $112/day for most programs
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.
[Photos provided by the sponsoring camps and used with permission]
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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)
12 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/
https://www.adventures4kidz.com/kids-camps In Alameda SUP camps
Jumpin’ Gymsters offers spring break camp https://www.jumpingymsters.com/springbreak
http://www.futurestarbaseball.com/Summer-Camp-2023.html Future Star Baseball Camp 4/3-4/7
https://www.axeoakland.org/store/springbreakcamp Another spring break camp for 2023
https://www.wildonesartcamp.com/book-online Wild Ones Art Camp Spring break camp 2023
https://www.epworthberkeley.org/summer-camps Spring Break Camp 2023
https://campscui.active.com/orgs/OneVillageSports#/selectSessions/3203737 One Village Sports offers spring break camps 2023
https://camppacwest.com/spring-break-camp/ Spring break Camps 2023
https://www.lemonblossomcreations.com/summer-camps Spring Break Camps 2023 in Walnut Creek