Best Summer Camps in the San Francisco East Bay – 2025 Parents Press Awards

Discover the best summer camps in the San Francisco East Bay for 2025, as voted by local parents in the
Parents Press Best of the East Bay Awards. From STEM and coding camps in Berkeley
to performing arts camps in Oakland and outdoor adventures in Walnut Creek and Alameda,
these camps are trusted and loved by families across the region.

About the 2025 Best of Parents Press Summer Camp Awards

Each year, Parents Press readers vote for the best summer camps in Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, and across the East Bay.
The voting process includes two rounds: nominations in March and early April, and final voting in April and May.
Winners appear in the August 2025 issue of Parents Press.

2025 Best Summer Camps in the East Bay – Winners & Top 5

Below is the full list of 2025 Parents Press Best Summer Camps in the East Bay by category, including
Top 5 programs and winners.

Academic Camps

• Top 5: Academic Talent Development Program, Bishop O’Dowd Summer Academy, Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley – Camp Été, Ohlone for Kids & Teens, Positive Minds Academy
• Winner: Academic Talent Development Program

Animal Encounter Camps

• Top 5: East Bay SPCA, Lindsey Wildlife Experience, Oakland Zoo, Sienna Ranch, Tilden Little Farm Camp
• Winner: Oakland Zoo

Aquatic/Marine Camps

• Top 5: City of El Cerrito Recreation Department, Eco Adventures – UC Berkeley, Kids For the Bay, Sail Alameda, Trackers Bay
• Winner: Kids For the Bay

Arts and Crafts Camps

• Top 5: Dancing Paintbrush Studio, Mocha, Monkey Business Camp, Mr. D’s Music Club, Village Music School
• Winner: Monkey Business Camp

Ballet Camps

• Top 5: Alameda Ballet Academy, DA Dance Center, Kids N’ Dance, Lareen Fender’s The Ballet School, San Ramon Valley Dance Academy
• Winner: Alameda Ballet Academy

Computer Science and Coding Camps

• Top 5: Coding Dojo, Off the Block STEM, Positive Minds Academy, TechKnowHow, Tinker Coop
• Winner: Tinker Coop

Culinary Camps

• Top 5: Bliss Belly Kitchen, Cooking Round The World, Kids Cooking for Life, Kitchen On Fire – Berkeley Kitchens, Sur La Table
• Winner: Kitchen On Fire – Berkeley Kitchen

Dance Camps

• Top 5: Alameda Ballet Academy, Dance 10 Performing Arts Center, East Bay Dance Center, Kids N’ Dance, Mr. D’s Music Club
• Winner: Alameda Ballet Academy

Faith-Based Camps

• Top 5: Camp Kee Tov, Eden Village West, Holy Spirit Preschool & School, Redwood Glen Camp, Sacred Heart Cathedral SF
• Winner: Holy Spirit Preschool & School

Foreign Language & Cultural Immersion Camps

• Top 5: Adventura – Summer Camp at EBI, East Bay German International School, Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley, Golestan School, Viva el Espanol
• Winner: East Bay German International School

General & Traditional Camps

• Top 5: Children’s Fairyland, Creative Play Center, Golestan School, Kids Country, Monkey Business Camp
• Winner: Monkey Business Camp

Gymnastics Camps

• Top 5: Bay Aerials Gymnastics, Bay Island Gymnastics, Diablo Gymnastics, Head Over Heels Athletic Arts, UC Berkeley Gymnastics Camp
• Winner: Head Over Heels Athletic Arts

Holiday & Vacation Camps

• Top 5: Bladium, East Bay SPCA, Monkey Business Camp, Oakland Zoo, Viva el Espanol
• Winner: Monkey Business Camp

Horse Riding Camps

• Top 5: Castle Rock Arabians, Five Star Equestrian, Kenilworth Stables, Sienna Ranch, Skyline Ranch Equestrian Center
• Winner: Skyline Ranch Equestrian Center

Leadership Development Camps

• Top 5: Academic Talent Development Program (ATDP), Adventures Leadership Program – UC Berkeley, Monkey Business Camp, Salesian College Preparatory, Walnut Creek Arts & Rec
• Winner: Academic Talent Development Program (ATDP)

Lego Camps

• Top 5: BrainVyne LEGO & Money Camps, Bricks 4 Kidz, City of El Cerrito Recreation Department, Off the Block STEAM, Summer @ Saklan Art & Science
• Winner: City of El Cerrito Recreation Department

Music & Singing Camps

• Top 5: Berkeley Playhouse, Crowden Music Center, Mr. D’s Music Club, Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir, Village Music School
• Winner: Mr. D’s Music Club

Nature & Outdoor Camps

• Top 5: Golestan School, Monkey Business Camp, Oakland Zoo, Sienna Ranch, Trackers Earth Bay Area
• Winner: Oakland Zoo

Overnight Camps

• Top 5: Camp Chrysalis, Camp Tawonga, Camp Gold Hollow, Camp Winnarainbow, College of Environmental Design – UC Berkeley
• Winner: Camp Tawonga

Performing Arts Camps

• Top 5: Berkeley Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Mr. D’s Music Club, Poison Apple Productions, Village Music School
• Winner: Mr. D’s Music Club

Preschool Age Camps

• Top 5: Berkeley School, Child Unique Montessori, Ecole Bilingue – Camp Été, Holy Spirit Preschool, Saklan School, Springfield Montessori School
• Winner: Child Unique Montessori

Sports Camps

• Top 5: Bishop O’Dowd Athletic Camps, Julia Morgan Girls Sports Camp, Lakeridge Summer Camp, Salesian College Preparatory Sports Camps, St. Mary’s Athletic Camps
• Winner: Salesian College Preparatory Sports Camps

STEM Camps

• Top 5: AoPS Math, Science and Language Arts Camps, City of El Cerrito Recreation Department, Creative Play Center, Off the Block STEAM, Salesian College Preparatory
• Winner: Creative Play Center

Teen Focused Camps & Summer Programs

• Top 5: Academic Talent Development Program (ATDP), AoPS Math, Science and Language Arts Camps, Camp Tawonga, Head-Royce Summer Sports, Ohlone For Kids & Teens
• Winner: Academic Talent Development Program (ATDP)

Plan Your Child’s Summer in the East Bay

Use this 2025 Parents Press Best Summer Camps guide to find the top
summer camps in Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Walnut Creek, and other East Bay cities.
Whether your child loves STEM, arts, sports, or the outdoors, there’s a perfect East Bay summer camp for them.

Frequently Asked Questions About East Bay Summer Camps

What are the best summer camps in the San Francisco East Bay?

The best summer camps include award-winning programs in Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Walnut Creek
offering STEM, arts, sports, and outdoor adventure activities.

Which camps won the 2025 Parents Press Best Summer Camps awards?

Winners include Oakland Zoo for animal and nature camps, Monkey Business Camp
for general and arts camps, Tinker Coop for coding, Camp Tawonga for overnight camps,
and ATDP for academic programs.

When does voting for the Best East Bay Summer Camps take place?

Nominations happen in March and early April, and final voting occurs in April and May.
Winners are published in the August issue of Parents Press.

Which types of summer camps are most popular in the East Bay?

Popular options include STEM, coding, performing arts, outdoor adventure, sports, day camps, and sleepaway programs.