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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Hands-on robotics and coding camp where kids build contraptions and program moving machines using LEGO and Strawbees Micro:bit.
2465 Bancroft Way
Outdoor fun and exploration including nature activities, art, swimming days, and field trips.
1301 Shattuck Ave
Focuses on advanced principles of motion and energy transfer through collaborative design challenges.
130 Memorial Pkwy
Focuses on advanced principles of motion and energy transfer through collaborative design challenges.
130 Memorial Pkwy
Introduces campers to design thinking and engineering principles through hands-on LEGO building and creative machinery challenges.
2465 Bancroft Way
Introduces design thinking and engineering principles through hands-on LEGO building projects.
130 Memorial Pkwy
Explores engineering and physics as students design and refine elaborate Rube Goldberg machines and functional structures.
2465 Bancroft Way
Build functional machines and Rube Goldberg contraptions while exploring physics and design thinking.
130 Memorial Pkwy
Campers unleash their creative potential by engineering imaginative Rube Goldberg machines that accomplish simple tasks in complex ways. The curriculum combines physics principles and maker-style thinking with sports, games, and a Friday family showcase.
University of California, Berkeley
Brushstrokes teaches pottery, sculpting, fusing glass, painting, and more in inspiring outdoor settings.
745 Page Street
A beginner-friendly half-day outdoor camp at the Berkeley Marina where campers rotate through kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and shoreline exploration.
124 University Ave
A half-day outdoor adventure camp at the Berkeley Marina where campers rotate through kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, shoreline exploration, and nature-based crafts.
124 University Ave
Campers explore Pacific Ocean habitats including beaches, lagoons, and cliffside walks while investigating marine organisms, dissecting squid, and learning about marine plastic pollution.
1771 Alcatraz Ave.
Campers explore Pacific Ocean habitats including beaches, lagoons, and cliffside walks while investigating marine organisms, dissecting squid, and learning about marine plastic pollution.
1771 Alcatraz Ave.
Led by certified UC Martial Arts staff, campers of all skill levels learn Judo, Taekwondo, and Yongmudo alongside supplementary activities like basketball, soccer, and arts and crafts.
2301 Bancroft Way
Led by certified UC Martial Arts staff, campers of all skill levels learn Judo, Taekwondo, and Yongmudo alongside supplementary activities like basketball, soccer, and arts and crafts.
2301 Bancroft Way
A unique program where students build and solve grade-level relevant math problems inside the game of Minecraft.
Berkeley, CA 94704
Brushstrokes teaches pottery, sculpting, fusing glass, painting, and more in inspiring outdoor settings.
745 Page Street
Campers explore and learn about the Big Sur redwoods, Mendocino coast and Sierra Nevada mountains.
2434 McKinley Ave.
Middle school students step into the shoes of world leaders, building skills in public speaking, debate, and diplomacy through interactive MUN simulations on a university campus.
260 Aldrich Hall
A day camp designed for middle school students to develop public speaking, debate, and research skills through Model United Nations simulations.
UC Berkeley
A day camp designed for middle school students to develop public speaking, debate, and research skills through Model United Nations simulations.
UC Berkeley
A week-long immersive overnight experience at UC Berkeley where middle school students develop public speaking, debate, and diplomacy skills through Model United Nations simulations.
UC Berkeley Campus
Students learn the ins and outs of level design and game design while learning to engineer in Minecraft by using Red Stone and basic code commands.
Berkeley, CA 94704
Brushstrokes teaches pottery, sculpting, fusing glass, painting, and more in inspiring outdoor settings.
745 Page Street
Students create custom items, mobs, and worlds through the power of programming in Minecraft.
Berkeley, CA 94704
We believe that Model United Nations is the single best activity to prepare today’s students to succeed in a changing world.
University Avenue and, Oxford St
We believe that Model United Nations is the single best activity to prepare today’s students to succeed in a changing world.
University Avenue and, Oxford St
A premier Model United Nations program hosted at UC Berkeley where students develop public speaking, debate, and leadership skills through diplomatic simulations. Both residential and day options are typically available.
UC Berkeley
A premier Model United Nations program hosted at UC Berkeley where students develop public speaking, debate, and leadership skills through diplomatic simulations. Both residential and day options are typically available.
UC Berkeley
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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