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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Students build multi-level games while learning programming concepts like variables and object-oriented programming.
Berkeley, CA 94704
Teens immerse themselves in a simulated game studio to create advanced portfolio projects using Unreal Engine 5 over two weeks.
Berkeley, CA 94704
Teens immerse themselves in a simulated game studio to design and develop projects using Unreal Engine 5.
Stanford University
Combines Minecraft world modding with CodeCombat challenges to teach sophisticated programming techniques and game logic.
130 Memorial Pkwy
Combines Minecraft world modding with CodeCombat challenges to teach sophisticated programming techniques and game logic.
130 Memorial Pkwy
Discover Bay Area Camps by GrowFit! Sports camps for kids aged 4-12, facilitated by passionate educators. Unforgettable, fun-filled experiences in 7 localities during all school breaks. With GrowFit, every break is a fun multi-sport experience!
2722 Benvenue Ave
A specialized Model United Nations day camp for high school students focusing on diplomacy, debate, and research skills held at the UC Irvine campus.
UC Irvine
A Model United Nations summer program for high school students held at UC Berkeley, focusing on public speaking, debate, and international diplomacy.
UC Berkeley
An intensive overnight Model United Nations program at UC Berkeley where high school students develop leadership, research, and public speaking skills.
UC Berkeley
An intensive overnight Model United Nations program at UC Berkeley where high school students develop leadership, research, and public speaking skills.
UC Berkeley
High school students of all experience levels enhance their leadership, debate, and negotiation skills through MUN simulations and global problem-solving labs.
260 Aldrich Hall
High school students of all experience levels develop advanced leadership, negotiation, and research skills through immersive Model UN simulations.
UC Berkeley Campus
High school students of all experience levels develop advanced leadership, negotiation, and research skills through immersive Model UN simulations.
UC Berkeley Campus
A rigorous, two-week pre-college experience for teens to build portfolios in machine learning, VR, and game development.
9500 Gilman Dr
Students learn to code in JavaScript or Python, explore artificial intelligence, and discover data science and machine learning on a college campus.
9500 Gilman Dr
Learn digital arts by editing photos with Adobe, 3D modeling with Blender, and exploring 3D printing.
6000 J Street
Campers build Roblox obbys, create Minecraft mods, and design 3D levels with Unreal Engine. Expert instructors help students turn their gaming passion into technical skills.
6000 J Street
Campers craft BattleBots®, work with VEX robotics, and explore autonomous driving, sensors, and microcontrollers.
311 W Peltason Dr
iD Tech summer technology camp at UC Berkeley. Coding, game design, robotics, and AI courses taught by expert instructors for ages 7-17.
Campers learn to code a game or app in JavaScript, explore AI in Python, and discover machine learning in a small-group setting.
1200 E California Blvd
Kids and teens learn to code games or apps in JavaScript, explore AI in Python, and discover machine learning and data science.
311 W Peltason Dr
Students build Roblox obbys, create Minecraft mods, and design immersive 3D levels using Unreal Engine.
311 W Peltason Dr
Weeklong STEM camps at Caltech that balance high-level tech skill building in coding and robotics with traditional outdoor camp games and social activities.
1200 E California Blvd
Weeklong sessions strike a balance between STEM skill development and traditional summer camp fun like outdoor games.
Stanford University
An intensive 2-week pre-college experience for teens to build professional-grade portfolios in coding, AI, or game dev while living on campus.
1200 E California Blvd
An intensive 2-week overnight experience for teens to build portfolios in coding, AI, or game dev and interface with industry professionals.
351 Charles E Young Drive West
Active learning and experiential education for children, teens, and adults in the San Francisco Bay Area. We provide outdoor nature camps, PreK-6 tutoring, PreK-12 English and ESL tutoring, and more!
Lake Anza Parking Lot, Lake Anza Rd, Berkeley, CA 94708
An intensive remote course to hone mastery of topic, plot, and characterization while publishing at least one polished anthology piece.
Berkeley, CA 94704
For campers who have completed Novice Sailing to refine skills and develop confidence in higher afternoon winds.
124 University Ave
For campers who have completed Novice Sailing to refine skills and develop confidence in higher afternoon winds.
124 University Ave
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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