Camp Galileo- Alameda

My 7-​yr old had a fabulous time! He already has told me that he IS going again next year! He has been to several summer camps in Alameda and he by far loved this one the best. Fun all day, small groups, enthusiastic staff who always seem to be excited to see the kids. Greeting every child each morning by name (as soon as they knew the names) was one of the best things. Also great before and after camp care and an optional lunch plan that he wanted as soon as he saw what the other kids got. He never wants school lunch so that was a break for me. Highly recommend this camp!

We have tried a few day camps here in Alameda, but this one is our new favorite!
My kids spent a week at another science camp here in town, and liked it. But then I heard from a friend that Galileo is even better, and it is! My kids were very skeptical at first, but after the first day they were thrilled. They didn’t want to go home at the end of the day.
They have wonderful videos on their website. After seeing them, I thought «this is too good to be true»…but it really is as good as it looks online.
The teachers all have a great way with the kids. I saw kids who were having behavioral problems, and there was always a staff member right there to redirect the child in a positive way.
They really balance Science, Art, and physical activity. Rather than just let the kids loose on the playground, they do all kinds of organized games. And, they are really learning about Art and Science from a person who has studied and has a degree in that subject.
My son’s lead teacher is an Aerospace Engineering major, and an Eagle Scout (!) My daughter’s lead teacher has a Masters in Child Psychology. All of the staff are amazing people.
Almost all of the staff has a BA, BS, MFA, or MA in Arts or Science. Many other camps around town seem to be run by high school kids.
At the end of the week, both of my children came home with all kinds of of projects, and stories.
The themes are really fun and engaging. This week was Route 66.
They take kids as young as Pre-​K (Nebulas). I was a little nervous as this is my daughter’s first summer in a camp. I was thrilled to see that they run the Nebulas class like a Kindergarten class on steroids. I could really tell that the teachers in that group had great trainings with little ones.
They also have a program for kids from 5^th-​8^th grade.
We will definitely be back, and highly recommend it!

My son (rising Kinder) attended Camp Galileo at Almond for the first time this year. It was his first camp. The counselors were astounding, the projects were impressive, and my son was so enthusiastic about it that he asked to stay the full-​day, attend more weeks each evening. This is a boy who’s slow to warm to new situations. Not at Galileo.
This camp had him running more, creating more, thinking more, engaging more than anywhere he’s ever been. We’ll be back again next year, with my daughter as well!
[And for what’s worth, we had no problems with the Choice Lunch program — my son liked the food, after a year of making lunches, I appreciated the convenience!]

My son (5^th grade) and my daughter (2^nd grade) have attended Camp Galileo for the past few years and I have nothing but great things to say about their experiences. From the programming to the instructors and helpers, the camp has been top notch.
The themes for the art and science components of the camp have always been so creative and my kids always have a difficult time deciding which weeks to choose (you can, of course, choose all four but our summers tend to be pretty full). This year, the art and science themes will be complementary and I think that will make the weeks even better. The science projects always spur my kids on to be critical thinkers, to make mistakes (mistakes can be great!), and to persevere until they find solutions to their problems. The materials are basic, not unnecessarily fancy. Making a bridge out of popsicle sticks takes a lot more thought than using prefabbed bridge parts. The art projects let my kids be expressive while still learning about technique and various styles. My son, who is not particularly artistic, proudly brought home a piece of artwork last year that he declared to be «awesome» and his «best ever». I love the confidence my kids get at Camp G!
My kids also enjoy the fun theme days (mustache day was a particular hit last summer!) as well as the great outdoor games they participate in every day.
This year, my son will be moving on to Galileo Quest and I am excited to see what he creates next. I’m also thrilled that the camps will be offering a lunch service, «Choice Lunch» — which I have heard good things about.
We are all looking forward to another great summer at Galileo and would highly recommend it when you are thinking about camps for your kids!