Steve and Kate’s Camp – Walnut Creek

This camp is for kids that are comfortable self-​directing their activities. The first year my daughter attended, she was not that comfortable with this concept. The kids truly pick what they want to participate in; which means shyer kids might miss out on activities they want to try if they are not «brave» enough to join in. This problem dissipated the second year, when my daughter was a little older and had a blast! She loved the dance studio, huddles, bread-​making studio, animation studio, spontaneous shows, etc. She also loved the lunches, which are tasty and included. I loved not having to remember to pack a lunch every day. The program is so flexible, which I love, and you get a refund for days you do not use. This is a no-​lose situation!

I was surprised to read the negative reviews, though I may understand where they are coming from. This camp is for kids who can self-​direct and keep themselves entertained with many options at hand. It is not as rigid in its instruction as Galileo, etc. As rambunctious as my kids are, they always found to do and were very happy. The reason for my review is the staff. Young as they may be, I found them personable, professional and, yes, accountable. It so happens that our billing was mishandled. It took a couple of phone calls, but was not a big deal and was remedied effectively. To my big surprise I got a nice gift card in the mail yesterday with profuse apologies for their mistake. This was long handled, we did not have any grievances over it, and they clearly did not have to follow up in any way. I think it is this type of service that sets this camp apart. Sarah was outright amazing. Thank you for a great experience and see you next summer!

I cannot say enough great things about Steve and Kate’s Camp! I have two sons, ages 4 and 7, that attend the camp in Walnut Creek. This camp was recommended to us by one of our close family friends that have three boys and attended last summer. We purchased the summer membership, so they can attend everyday as my husband and I work full time. Every day is a different adventure. My boys have learned how to bake delicious bread, sew, make movies, and build a space ship out of cardboard. They also really enjoy the special activity of the week — especially the cars. The director, Sarah Sanchez, is wonderful with children, extremely professional, and very organized. The other staff are energetic, friendly, fun, and always seem to be smiling. My boys truly look forward to waking up and spending the day at Steve and Kate’s. We are already planning on signing up for next summer. It is a blast!

My daughter attended Steve and Kate’s camp in Walnut Creek this summer. Several parents from our daughters school recommended the camp so we decided to give it a try. As it was our first camp experience I did not know what to expect, I was completely blown away. The staff at the camp are completely amazing. They are organized, knowledgeable, committed to each and every camper and fun.
My daughter had the best time at camp and is asking to go back next year already. As a parent I can not wait to sign her up again. It was engaging and fun while be structured and flexible for parents.
Kudos to Sarah and her staff for running a top notch camp!

My 8 year old daughter attends Steve and Kate’s camp in Danville. We are new to the area, and although both my kids (8 and 16) have been to different summer camps in the Bay Area for many years, I have never been so impressed, nor has my daughter had such an awesome experience. Flexibility for parents, Structure, Fun, Safe, AWESOME!!!
The camp is structured very well with numerous ongoing daily activities, as well as exciting weekly activities that change each week. Meals and snacks are healthy and delicious!!! The counselor to child ratio is really low and everyone is incredibly kind and friendly, attentive and fun. ***Scott, the Danville site Director and Mandy have really been incredibly warm and supportive to my daughter, as well as myself. They always stop to share with me a special moment about her day. Each child is really seen and engaged with. They create a family fun atmosphere of adventure and laughter and I trust that her every need is met.
There is video equipment, computers, sound studios, music, video screens, and games, crafts, materials to create and explore… and a multitude of safe and exciting outdoor activities that keep her stimulated and active. My daughter loves the «Style Studio» where she sews with real sewing machines, and creates wonderful things. She comes home with homemade bread every day that she makes too. She is most often in the «Dance Studio» dancing and singing, which she loves! When needing to decompress, she will sit in the Lounge and plays games like Foosball, Mancala and chess or read books and colors.
The real Steve visited the site and my daughter felt like she met a celebrity and I was given a photo of them together. She thought that was super cool.
I really cannot say enough wonderful things about the staff, or the camp. I am not just a parent, but also a former Early Childhood Educator and believe that there is nothing quite comparable to this camp. She is having the BEST summer. I am incredibly grateful… and you will be too.

Our 1^st grader is having The Best time at Steve and Kate’s Camp in Walnut Creek this summer. There are many activities he can choose from every day, he always participates in the sports activities but I was blown away when he brought me home a «scarf» he had sown for me and he bakes bread daily to snack on. He makes real movies (approx 10 – 20 seconds but still a movie) using their iPads and special app, is always so excited to tell me what went on when all the kids are together and playing the games like antlers up. The counselors are energetic, the food is delicious and healthy, the activities are endless. I feel like he is very safe and well taken care of there, we will definitely be going back next summer!

My 2 girls attended steve & kates 2013 for the first time. They were ages 5 and 12. We liked the Walnut Creek and Danville sites, but had a horrible experience at the Fremont site.
The Fremont camp was disorganized and my little one got ran over by the older kids. We attended their last week of camp, and the counselors were all so nonchalant, sitting seemingly uninvolved with the kids. Will not go to that site again
The Danville and WC site was enjoyed by both my kids. The rules and play were very different at all 3 camps. I was a bit shocked that there was such a nonconformity between the sites. It took a bit for my girls to get used to. Danville seemed better established, while WC seemed to be just finding their way as they kept changing their rules.
I think my younger was able to get more out of the camp then my older daughter. My older daughter resolved herself to helping out at camp to try to win better prizes (which they kept changing rules on how much she had to do in order to earn something; making promised prize often no longer obtainable because rules changed by the time she earned enough points for it) Sewing machines were impossible to get to even though they promised to add machines if there was high demand.
I have my daughters at a new camp this year, which they both agree is much better but is a lot more money.
My older daughter preferred Backyard Explorers in Concord for younger grade (K-​3^rd), which is equivalent in cost but further away (and no lunch provided).

I like this camp. My daughter seemed to like it too. She didn’t know anybody but she usually makes friends pretty fast. The security is good at check in /​check out. They provide lunch (yeah), they made bread, had a lot of activities. She enjoyed the movie making the most. I can’t commet on the counselers at the camp other than the check in /​check out. They all seemed involved and engaged. My favorite part about this camp is the flexibility of the days you purchase, drop in any day any location. Works for me and our crazy schedule.

My daughter went to Steve and Kate’s at Park Day in Oakland last year and we are definitely going again. I was uncertain at first because of the parent reviews that suggested it was especially hard for shy kids. Mine is but I needed the flexibility that only Steve and Kate’s offers and she loved it, learning to make new friends every day that built her confidence so much. The camp felt safe, clean, and really creative. I felt good about the staff. They knew her name quickly and greeted me every day. She’s been to camps where the staff didn’t know her name after two weeks. If I had a question or concern, they responded right away – It is a great balance of fun and structure in a very nice outdoor/​indoor environment.
I highly recommend Steve and Kate’s and would encourage every parent to attend an open house or contact the staff directly. As a parent, nothing beats knowing that she will have a great time, learn lots, meet new people, learn new things, play outside, and I can go when and where I want! Thank you.

This is my daughter’s second year at this camp and at this location. I felt the need to write a review due to recent changes my daughters have noticed in comparison to last year. They have done away with the electronic games such as the WII and X-​Box., which I must say I was pleasantly happy about this. If I wanted my children to play video games then they can stay home. This year I’ve noticed that my girls are coming home starving which is not something that was an issue last year. Now my girls are above average and are big eaters so I wasn’t too concerned at first, however by day 3 of this «I’m starving’, I decided to investigate. I called the counselors who told me that this was a particular busy week and that they had been running out of food and they had a meeting and they decided to increase the amount of food. I’m glad the counselors had a meeting concerning this issue but does it need to take 3 days to figure out that kids are starving and food is running out.
On to week 2, my daughter and her friend were taunted at camp and sand was thrown into their faces and hair. I understand that this is not a reason to call me but it would have been nice to have been informed of these events when picking up my child and her friend. The counselors never mentioned anything. The only reason why I was made aware of said events were do to finding sand in my child’s hair right before bed!
I am still a fan of Steve and Kate’s, I just feel they need better communication among the counselors. I would like to know my child is not starving nor are they getting bullied on the playground

HORRIBLE CAMP!!!
My son just attended the camp in Oakland. First off, the staff was bad. One of the staff was arguing with me saying that my son was not at that camp, went through this for a few minutes, had to spell out my name at least a half dozen times, apparently I had to spell really really slow, because finally she realized that she was spelling it wrong. Ok, so the IQ of staff doesn’t need to be above room temperature. If this was the only thing, it wouldn’t be a problem
The really big issue I have with them is this. They were play «banana tag» and another kid collided with mine, he was knocked out and woke up a minute or so later screaming in pain. He was benched and we were called. The phone call consisted of «oh, there was a little accident but he is fine now, he is just going to be benched for the rest of the day». No mention of passing out, no mention of him screaming, no mention of hey you might want to have him checked out. When he was picked, we saw that his face was all bruised, swollen and she found out he passed out (this was several hours). We took him to the doctor where we found out he had a concussion, CAT scan revealed nothing wrong (thankfully) but if a child is knocked out, a parent should know, not just «he had a little accident but He’s fine», apparently, they can’t spell but they are Drs and can tell a kid is just fine.
Lack luster (putting it mildly) staff in the Oakland facility. My son did NOT enjoy this camp (this isn’t even taking the accident into consideration). Said the activities we blah and that he didn’t really care for it, didn’t bother finishing the term we had paid for.
Don’t give them money, send your child to Galileo Summer Camp instead (my son loves this one). I don’t feel my son is safe at this camp, he will NEVER go there again! Not just because of the accident, they don’t bother checking ID or verifying who a person is when they are picking up a child.
DON’T BOTHER, NOT WORTH IT!!!

This review in on the Pleasant Hill/​Walnut Creek site only.
This last summer, our family had a terrible experience with this camp. My son, who’s is in 1^st grade and just turned 7, was expelled from this camp. He and his best friend were caught playing/​being silly in the bathroom on 3 different occasions within a 2 month period. I was told that due to the safety of other children and the staff members that he and his best friend would not be allowed back to camp. Not one time before he was «kicked out» was I advised that playing/​being silly in the bathroom could lead to being kicked out of camp.
What was SOOOO serious about what they were doing in the bathroom you ask?
1. Daring each other to walk out of the bathroom with their shorts down (underwear up),
2. Sitting on a urinal fully clothed,
3. Being part of a group of kids who stood on the top of a toilet and watched another child go to the bathroom in the next stall,
4. Knocked loudly on the bathroom stall while one of them used the bathroom and shouted «Let me in?»
5. While changing from water clothes to regular clothes, trying to be funny by running around naked the bathroom while making funny sounds.
Does this sound like they might have needed some supervision? YES. Does it sound like something a 6 – 7 year old would do? YES Does it sound like something to be expelled for? NO
After he was expelled, I spoke with the East bay Director, she apologized for this occurrence and said «this is a learning experience» for her staff.
I think Steve and Kates needs to do a better job to evaluate their staff, make sure staff understand child development and that they have the ability to discern the difference between a severe behavior issue from normal childhood behavior.
I would caution parents that just because this camp was voted Best of the Bay, Best of East Bay, etc. Not all of Steve and Kates sites are created equal.

This camp didn’t fare very well for us at all. I’m writing this in case if you are counting on the refund. We did 4 days and my son didn’t want to go back. He’s never done that with a camp given he’s been to the various one’s in the area of Dublin and San Ramon. We did the 4 days in July and now I’m waiting for Sep 14 to get my refund. At least I can get a refund as I purchased a package for 20 days. To get my refund I had to call the main director then she told me to call the site director. I talked to both and they handle the situation well, but its a drag having to wait so long for $ 900 but I guess at least I can get a refund. We returned to the San Ramon Park and Rec for their camps.
The issue we had was the counselors couldn’t get a handle on the kids’ behaviors. My son would be in morning huddle and watch the other kids slap their faces. Or he’d go to filmaking and there wasn’t enough equipment so taking turns was a huge issue as once it was your turn the other kids started pushing and shoving to get it from you. He really wanted to learn film making but it was a situation where the counselor just handed him the equipment and felt there were so many kids that he couldn’t get the counselor’s attention to show him how as he didn’t want to take the chance of breaking the equipment as it was good equipment as they’ve advertised.
This just came down to a personality issue and it didn’t work for him. Once I sent him back to San Ramon’s Pk & Rec camp, he was fine. He said it was just too much drama at the other camp.

My son went to the El Cerrito location this summer and I couldn’t have been more pleased. He is just about to turn 5, so he was in the Kindercamp program, which made all the difference. There was an amazing counselor, Bridget, there all summer who was in charge of the kindergarteners. She made sure that my son was warmly greeted every morning and facilitated his activities every day. When I mentioned that my son loves baseball, she made sure to include him with some older kids who were playing (my son would have been hesitant to join them on his own), and they ended up being buddies all summer.
We had a rough week or so when my son started having a hard time being left off for the day, and all of the counselors worked with us to get him back into the groove. They were all very aware of his temperment and could give me detailed feedback on how he had spent his days. And my decidedly non-​artistic, uninterested-​in-​crafts son made a pillow and some music CDs, much to my amazement.
The location was excellent – it felt very clean and safe and secure, no matter what the enrollment that day was (and that’s yet another thing we loved – the flexibility for attending as we chose, day by day). Last but not least, my son loved the food and I loved not having to make a lunch for the whole summer! All in all, a great experience and I dearly hope that they come back to El Cerrito next year!

This summer was the first time Steve and Kate’s Camp had a location in Pleasanton, and I’m already counting down the days until they re-​open next summer. My two kids — about to be first and third graders — had the best summer ever, thanks to this day camp.
I sent my kids twice a week, which was perfect for our needs. I loved the flexibility. I picked which two days a week to send them, and I chose the days based on the amazing «daily specials» activities. Every day there was something new and exciting to try, plus the everyday activities kept my kids entertained and busy. They were always excited to go, whether to continue working on a sewing or knitting project or to try out the new giant water slide or just to check in and hang out with their favorite counselors.
The counselors were all fantastic — they made sure the kids were engaged, and they were all fun and cool people themselves. I loved that the camp hired only kind, bright, and cool college-​age counselors. They’re young enough to relate to the kids, but old enough to deal with the kids’ problems.
I don’t have a single negative thing to say about Steve and Kate’s Camp. It made summer so much fun for my kids, and the counselors and camp directors were always calm, professional, engaged, and on top of everything. Even the camp tear down was done in a professional yet easy-​going way! Seriously, signing up for Steve and Kate’s Camp was one of the best experiences I’ve given my kids yet.