335 camps found • Ages 3–19 • Prices from $100/week
Berkeley's summer camp ecosystem is one of the most intellectually varied in the Bay Area, shaped by UC Berkeley's presence, a strong progressive community ethos, and the Tilden Regional Park system in the hills. Families in Berkeley tend to be highly engaged with camp selection, and the market reflects that — you'll find programs here that simply don't exist elsewhere in the region.
UC Berkeley is the defining anchor. The university runs summer programs through Lawrence Hall of Science — one of the Bay Area's premier science education institutions — with camps for ages 5–17 spanning biology, physics, engineering, and environmental science. The Cal Sports Camps program uses university athletic facilities to run one of the strongest youth sports camp lineups in the East Bay, including swimming, soccer, gymnastics, and basketball. Registration for Lawrence Hall and Cal Sports camps opens in early January and competes with parents from across the East Bay.
Tilden Regional Park defines Berkeley's outdoor camp scene. The Little Farm, Tilden's steam train, and the park's extensive trail network serve as the backdrop for nature-based camps from providers who have operated in these hills for decades. Environmental Volunteers and several other East Bay Regional Park District programs use Tilden for summer programming. The Tilden Merry-Go-Round area near the Environmental Education Center is a reliable hub for younger kids' nature camps.
In the Elmwood and Rockridge neighborhoods (Berkeley-Oakland border), families have strong access to arts programs — ceramics, printmaking, figure drawing, and theater. The Berkeley Rep Theatre runs summer theater programs that are among the most competitive in the Bay Area for serious young actors. The Berkeley Art Center also runs seasonal programs.
Berkeley's independent school community (The Crowden School, Black Pine Circle, Crestmont) runs summer programs open to outside families, often with an arts or Montessori focus that's harder to find in more suburban markets. The Berkeley YMCA's Camp Lair O' the Bear in the Santa Cruz Mountains is a beloved week-long residential option for older kids.
Financial aid is more broadly available in Berkeley's camp ecosystem than almost anywhere else in the Bay — a reflection of the community's values. Many providers don't advertise this prominently, so ask directly when you inquire about a program.
Last updated: 2026-05-03
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Children ages 5-12 enjoy supervised outdoor time at Strawberry Creek Park participating in games, arts and crafts, sports, and swimming.
1260 Allston Way
Students learn to code games or apps in JavaScript, explore AI in Python, and discover machine learning while mentored by elite instructors from top universities.
5100 Sierra College Blvd
Campers code games or apps in JavaScript, explore AI in Python, jump into data science, and discover machine learning while enjoying campus life at Caltech.
1200 E California Blvd
Helps 11th and 12th graders use storytelling techniques to craft compelling profile articles and personal essays for college admissions.
2121 Berkeley Way
Teens entering grades 9-12 gain hands-on leadership experience and outdoor recreation safety skills while assisting with family or youth camps.
Lot #7 Echo Lakes Rd.
A leadership and mentorship program for theater-loving students in grades 8-12 to develop leadership skills while assisting professionals in summer musical theater camp activities.
2640 College Avenue
The Lawrence Hall of Science (The Lawrence) is a renowned resource center for preschool through high school science and mathematics education, as well as UC Berkeley's public science center, with exciting hands-on experiences for learners of all ages.
1 Centennial Dr
Master Minecraft world building and MakeCode programming to create dynamic elements and storytelling scenarios.
130 Memorial Pkwy
Teaches Minecraft world-building and coding within the MakeCode platform, focusing on game scenarios and storytelling.
2465 Bancroft Way
Superfun summer camp classes for girls that revolve around science, engineering & design!
2027 Seventh Street
An intensive two-week academy focusing on Python programming and data science for teens.
Stanford University
An intensive, two-week pre-college program where teens build a professional portfolio project in data science and machine learning while experiencing collegiate life.
Berkeley, CA 94704
Creative students explore 3D modeling with Blender, edit professional photos with Adobe, and bring their ideas to life with 3D printing.
5100 Sierra College Blvd
Campers explore creative tech by editing photos with Adobe, 3D modeling with Blender, and bringing designs to life with 3D printing.
9500 Gilman Dr
Creative students edit photos with Adobe, 3D model with Blender, and explore the world of 3D printing.
311 W Peltason Dr
An experiential outdoor camp for 10-12 year-olds exploring the Bay Area through hiking, climbing, tidepooling, and paddle boarding with a focus on leadership development.
124 University Ave
An experiential outdoor camp for 10-12 year-olds exploring the Bay Area through hiking, climbing, tidepooling, and paddle boarding with a focus on leadership development.
124 University Ave
The ED 2025 Family Guide camp in Berkeley offers a diverse summer experience for children aged 6-12. Participants can explore a wide range of academic subjects, arts, dance, math, sports, and STEM activities.
A fun-filled week of hands-on experiments and investigations including exploring the Lawrence Hall of Science, investigating aquatic life at Strawberry Creek, and studying honey bee ecology at Blake Gardens.
1771 Alcatraz Ave.
A fun-filled week of hands-on experiments and investigations including exploring the Lawrence Hall of Science, investigating aquatic life at Strawberry Creek, and studying honey bee ecology at Blake Gardens.
1771 Alcatraz Ave.
Explorer Camp is a recreational day camp for children ages 5-6, offering a variety of activities including sports, swimming, arts and crafts, chess, dance, and nature exploration with weekly themes like Outer Space and Superheroes.
Strawberry Canyon Recreational Area & Pool, UC Berkeley
Explorer Camp is a recreational day camp for children ages 5-6, offering a variety of activities including sports, swimming, arts and crafts, chess, dance, and nature exploration with weekly themes like Outer Space and Superheroes.
Strawberry Canyon Recreational Area & Pool, UC Berkeley
Nature discovery for older campers ages 8-11, featuring in-depth studies of habitats and wildlife through field trips to the Oakland Zoo, Crab Cove, and the Exploratorium.
1771 Alcatraz Ave.
Nature discovery for older campers ages 8-11, featuring in-depth studies of habitats and wildlife through field trips to the Oakland Zoo, Crab Cove, and the Exploratorium.
1771 Alcatraz Ave.
Writers explore short stories across genres to study plot, theme, and style, developing a portfolio of their own original short fiction.
2121 Berkeley Way
Encourages students to tap into personal experiences and quirks to create writing that is authentically theirs and distinct from AI-generated content.
2121 Berkeley Way
Campers explore dance, theater, public speaking, and culinary projects, including weekly pool visits.
2800 Park Street
Focuses on generating new work through daily prompts and craft strategies, followed by revision and sequencing to create a personal chapbook.
2121 Berkeley Way
A comprehensive two-week workshop for teens focused on full-stack web development and integrating AI into modern engineering applications.
Berkeley, CA 94704
Teens kick-start their careers by learning full-stack engineering and AI integration in a intensive two-week format.
Stanford University
Showing 30 of 335 camps
Yes — Lawrence Hall of Science runs one of the Bay Area's top science camp programs for ages 5–17, covering biology, physics, engineering, and environmental science. Cal Sports Camps uses Cal's athletic facilities for swimming, soccer, gymnastics, and basketball. Both open registration in January and fill quickly.
Tilden Regional Park in the Berkeley Hills hosts several nature-based camps through East Bay Regional Park District programs. The Environmental Education Center at Tilden is the main hub. Several independent providers also run trail and wilderness programs in the hills above North Berkeley and Kensington.
Berkeley camp prices range from $200–$350/week for city programs and nonprofits to $500–$700/week for private specialty programs. Lawrence Hall of Science camps run approximately $400–$550/week. Many providers offer financial aid — Berkeley has one of the highest rates of aid availability in the Bay Area.
Berkeley has some of the best arts programs in the East Bay. Berkeley Rep Theatre runs summer intensives for youth actors. The Berkeley Art Center and Crowden School of Music offer summer sessions. The Elmwood and Rockridge areas have several small-batch studio arts programs in ceramics, painting, and printmaking.
Lawrence Hall of Science and Cal Sports Camps open in January — register immediately as they sell out within weeks. City parks programs open in February or March. Independent arts programs vary, but most open January to March. Berkeley is a competitive market; don't wait until spring.
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