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Contents

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July / August 2017

Publishers Robert and Tracy McKean Art Director Debbi Murzyn Account Managers Carol Flores, Sophie Archer Contributors Aaron Crowe, Erika Mailman, Haley Reen, Rona Renner, Mary Ann Scheuer, Susan Solomen Yen Advertising Sales & General Info sales@parentspress.com Mailing Address 875-A Island Dr, Ste 421 Alameda, CA 94502

Features

11 30 Summer Camps 2017 Still looking for some great summer adventures? We have ‘em!

43,000 copies of Parents’ Press are distributed to more than 1,400 Bay Area locations. Send letters to the editor to editor@parentspress.com Family Fun Calendar submissions are due six weeks prior to publication date. Send calendar information to calendar@ parentspress.com Parents’ Press is published monthly. ©2017 Parents’ Press

Departments 4 Bookshelf Audio Books Bring Pleasure

8 Growth & Development Understanding Behavior

4 11 Book Titles Summer Reading List

8 Naughty or Nice Not Just at Christmas

5 Singleminded Summer Vacation

9 Family Cents Parent’s Money Habits

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5 Hoverboard Safety Tips for the Family

10 On the Go Gold Rush Road Trip

6 Kids’ Culture Dressed for Success

37 Family Fun Calendar

7 Screen Free Summer Reduce Your Child’s Device Time

FAMILY FUN

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July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 5

By Allyson Bogie MaryAnn Ann Scheuer Byand Mary Scheuer

Bookshelf Audiobooks Bring Pleasure and Support for Reading Time

arents and teachers sometimes wonder if listening to audiobooks helps children develop reading skills. If you don’t have a book in front of you, are you really reading? In order to look at this question, we have to understand the complex processes that are involved in reading. What happens when we read a book? How does the story come alive in our minds? What helps us understand the information the author is trying to convey? Reading definitely involves decoding skills — making sense of the string of letters and shapes on the page. These skills are very important for children, but they are not the whole picture. Understanding the story, thinking about the author’s message, using imagination to make a movie in your mind — these comprehension skills lie at the heart of what it means to be a reader. They’re what bring kids back to books again and again. These broader comprehension skills come from recognizing the words used, understanding the story structure, and connecting the story to your experiences and knowledge. It’s important to recognize that reading is a thinking process, and that much

goes on beyond decoding the individual words. The question then becomes: If these are the elements that impact comprehension, how do we support children developing and maintaining these thinking skills? Audiobooks allow children to focus on the key skills of understanding words and the overall story, and this helps develop their deeper comprehension skills. This happens when children listen to audiobooks on their own, not just when they listen and read. As a third-grader told me last week, “When you read you have so much in your head. When you listen, it’s easier.” One of her classmates added on, saying, “The audiobook reads the book really fluidly, so it’s easy to understand what they’re saying. They’re really expressing the story. They don’t just talk.” In 2015-16, WestEd conducted a research study in Berkeley that examined the impact of audiobooks on literacy skills for second- and thirdgraders. Students listened to a selection of stories each week, without reading the books at the same time. They were just listening and enjoying the stories. Students were asked to listen three times a week at school (each time for

Audiobooks allow children to focus on the key skills of understanding words and the overall story, and this helps develop their deeper comprehension skills. 20 minutes) and twice a week at home (again for 20 minutes). The results were clear and remarkable. Students who listened to audiobooks on a regular basis developed stronger reading skills — attaining 58 percent of their annual reading gain in just 10 weeks. In the study, the students who listened were three months ahead of the control group. How did they do this? Let’s look more closely at the component parts of reading development that the study measured. Students who listened to audiobooks increased their reading comprehension skills three times more than their counterparts. Their vocabulary gains outpaced their control group counterparts by seven times. All of this made students want to read more. We see this in their increase in reading motivation by four times, relative to their control group.

11 Book Titles to Freshen Up Your Summer Reading List

nce summer rolls around and school lets out, kids find themselves indulging in several funfilled activities, and school is quickly forgotten. Summer reading is an effective routine to help prevent kids from sliding down that slippery slope of learning loss. Reading for fun could develop into a lifelong habit that will not only help with gaining knowledge but will also aid in acquiring important life skills such as empathy, acceptance and gratitude. It is not very difficult to find the right book for even the most reluctant reader. The expert curators at SmartFeed have put together an extensive list of books encompassing different genres for kids of all ages. Find below a few of the highly recommended book titles. The complete list of summer reading books can be found here (https://www.thesmartfeed.com/ staff_picks/summer-reading). Guess How Much I Love You (Ages 1+) https://www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/23989 Little Nutbrown Hare sets about to show how much he loves Big Nutbrown Hare but he always seems to be oneupped by his parent’s unequivocal love for him in this true classic for the littlest readers.

6 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

Steam Train, Dream Train 1-2-3 (Ages 2-4) https://www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/22139 Perfect read-aloud book for little kids with trains, counting numbers from 1 to 10 and cute animal antics. My Heart Fills with Happiness (Ages 2-4) https://www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/21050 A comforting book for little ones (and grown-ups) that tells about the little things in life, when shared together with loved ones, that bring us the most joy. The Thank You Book (Ages 4-8) https://www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/the-thank-you-book Piggie is feeling grateful and is on a mission to thank everyone, but Gerald is worried that Piggie will forget to thank someone very important...find out who that is in this last book of the wildly popular Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems. We Found a Hat (Ages 4-8) https://www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/we-found-a-hat Two turtles are in a pickle when they stumble upon one hat that looks good on both of them. Young readers will enjoy the hilarious turn of events in the story, which ends with a wonderful resolution to the conflict.

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker (Ages 6+) https://www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/hiawatha-and-the-peacemaker The inspiring story of Hiawatha, a brave Mohawk warrior, and his spiritual guide, the Peacemaker, who are crucial in bringing about peace and unity among the five warring Iroquois nations during the 14th century. Pax (Ages 8-12) https://www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/pax Set against the backdrop of a war and its terrible consequences of loss, suffering and separation, this story of an unconditional and loyal friendship between a boy and his fox is heartwarming and emotional. Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer (Ages 8-12) https://www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/23552 City girl Sophie Brown is learning the ropes of life on a farm, which her father inherits from a great-uncle, where she ends up learning to care for and protect a flock of chickens with superpowers! Written in an epistolary format, this book will be a delight for middle-grade readers. Roller Girl (Ages 9-12) https://www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/roller-girl Themes of girl power, teamwork, perseverance and friendship feature heav-

As a teacher and librarian, this study confirms exactly what I’ve seen with my own eyes. When students listen to audiobooks, they are more engaged, they understand stories better and they WANT to read more. This is because audiobooks help them develop their vocabulary, give them access to more complex text and help them create a fuller mental picture of stories. As a parent, I’ve used audiobooks on long car trips but I’ve also used them at home. When my daughters were younger, we would listen to an audiobook while I prepared dinner and they colored at the kitchen table. Other children I know enjoy building with Legos while they listen to an audiobook. Listening can also be relaxing at bedtime. Listening to audiobooks provides essential support to the development of reading comprehension. But even better, it helps readers young and old discover the rich world of stories.

By www.TheSmartFeed.com

ily in this graphic novel that revolves around 12-year-old Astrid, who is gearing up to perform in her first-ever roller derby bout even as her best friend for life seems to be slowly drifting away from her. Will she able to save her friendship from imminent doom? Will she forego her dreams for roller derby? The Girl Who Drank the Moon (Ages 10+) https://www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/the-girl-who-drank-the-moon Winner of the 2017 Newbery Medal, this book tells the story of Luna, a young girl who is raised by the Forest Witch after she is offered up as part of an annual sacrificial ritual to protect the people of her homeland. An enchanting story interwoven with fantasy, magic, friendship and love, tween and teen readers will be thrilled by this book. The Sun Is Also a Star (Ages 14+) https://www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/the-sun-is-also-a-star Two strangers who are brought together by fate end up falling in love with each other. As cliché as this sounds, it’s the beautifully written coming-of-age story of how they come to realize they are meant for each other that will captivate the hearts of young adult readers.

By Susan Solomon Yen

Singleminded Summer Vacation

ur most memorable summer vacation as a family was a cross-country trip from Boston to California. We landed at LAX and visited all the Southern California landmarks — Hollywood, Universal Studios and Disneyland — before heading north to San Francisco where our oldest son had just moved. It was two weeks of family togetherness. Well, we certainly appeared to be together, but the truth is my husband and I were already living apart. Even though his home was 30 miles from the children and me, he often visited on weekends. This was not the only time we traveled as a family during this tumultuous period. I think he was still conflicted and maybe a little guilty about leaving us. Perhaps these shared vacations were his way of saying he wasn’t ready to abandon us completely. If the children had any expectation that Mom and Dad were getting back together because we were on a vacation, they did not reveal it. Shortly after returning home, we legalized our separation and within the year began divorce proceedings. Since then the vacations we have taken have been separate.

Traveling on Our Own One of my proudest moments as a mother took place when I was still married. My husband, who was on a trip to Asia, had a stopover in Paris and asked me to bring the children and meet him there. Our three oldest boys were two, four and seven at the time. I was nervous about making this trip, but I had been to France before and spoke passable French. The boys and I spent four days on

our own. In one of those “what was I thinking” moments I even let the sevenand four-year-old walk to the patisserie for bread and chocolate by themselves. It was pre-9/11. Several years later the children and I took another solo trip from Boston to California. The two youngest and I clocked 1,600 miles on a rental car traversing south to north again. But I am a nervous traveler and I’m not very adventurous. I also had to work during that season when my kids were on school break, so for my children to truly enjoy summer vacations, I had to ask friends to include them in their own plans. For two summers, my daughter went to New Hampshire with a large family who somehow managed to squeeze her into the car amidst luggage, toys and water gear. My youngest son, Jake, went to Michigan for six weeks with one of his best friends. In later years, he flew on his own from Boston to San Francisco to join his oldest brother in a celebration of their shared birthdays.

From Visitation to Vacation While I missed my children, I did not worry about them while they were away. We communicated often and I trusted the families they were with. I wish I could say the same about the trips Jake took with his dad. By the time we divorced, most of my children were independent college students. Only Jake was still at home and still connected to his father. Unfortunately, our communication had just about completely broken down. When he took Jake on vacations, he did not tell me where they were going or when they would return. Needless to say, I was not

Hoverboard Safety

comfortable with this and eventually the visitation agreement was changed. San Mateo-based family and marriage therapist Sarah Proemsey encourages parents to respect each other and to keep those lines of communication open. “I think it is important for parents to continue to function as a team when it comes to parenting. That means making some decisions together because you are keeping in mind the needs of the child.” Proemsey continues, “Having the stage set for healthy communication allows the child to be a part of this process, which will increase their feelings of safety.” And I would add, confidence in the parent who is traveling with the child. “When divorce is in the picture, it is

even more important for the parents to exemplify respect and cooperation for the good of the family. Having this healthy system in place is fundamental and makes it easier to do things like vacationing with trust,” says Proemsey.

Time and Travel It took a while to choose which week to travel this summer. Jake has a summer job so probably won’t be going anywhere. He will once again celebrate his birthday with his brother, but they live in the same state now. I’m going to San Diego with my daughter. Their father? He’s in Paris again—with his new family. Susan Solomon Yem is singleminded about raising her five children to adulthood. She’d like to hear your stories about single parenting. Contact her at susansyem@gmail.com

By Tracey Sutherland, cPNP Trauma Nurse Practitioner, Children’s Hospital

elf-balancing scooters, commonly referred to as hoverboards, became wildly popular in 2015, when several manufacturers developed similar versions and marketed them in the United States and around the world. Right from the start of their popularity, safety issues were identified, leading to significant consumer concern and soon after, thousands of recalls. There have been several deaths directly linked to the use of hoverboards, whether related to injury while using the board or fire while recharging. Emergency Departments, pediatric as well as adult facilities, around the world began to see an acute elevation in hoverboard injury. Falls from the boards lead to concussions and more serious head injuries, fractures, internal abdominal injuries, hand injuries, and even death. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Committee (CPSC) launched a safety investigation and linked the hoverboard’s lithium-ion battery pack to the source of the fires. They developed a voluntary safety standard and urged suppliers to only import and sell those boards that were certified by the CPSC. This helped make the newer versions of the hoverboards much safer, however, safety issues remain and not all the boards have been certified to CPSC standard. Fatalities related to uncertified hoverboard fires have occurred as recently as 2 months ago in the U.S.

Due to the increase in hoverboard related traumatic injuries, the Department of Health in several countries has recommended a minimum age of use as well as restricted where the hoverboards can be used. Some cities in the U.S. have banned their use on public streets, restricted use to bike lanes or have implemented speed restrictions. What does this all mean to the consumer? Can a hoverboard be used safely? If you’d still like to enjoy the use of a hoverboard, here are some tips to follow to keep you and your family safe:

• Check online for all recalled hoverboards to be sure the device you currently have is not on the list. www.cpsc.gov/recalls • Purchase the board from a reputable source and know who to contact should you have any issues. Only purchase a hoverboard from a manufacturer that has been certified as safe by the CPSC. A certified device will have indication that the product is UL 2272 compliant. • Let the device cool for an hour or more prior to re-charging and store it in a cool vented area free of combustibles. Have a fire extinguisher close by. • Re-charge the battery during the day in an open well-ventilated area. Do not charge the hoverboard unattended or at night while you are asleep. • Do NOT ride near vehicular traffic. • Safety equipment must be donned for every ride for every user. This should include: helmet, elbow and knee protection, and wrist guards for protection from falls. • If you choose to dispose of your hoverboard, take it to the local recycling center for safe handling of the lithium-ion battery.

July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 7

By Haley Reen

Kids Culture Dressed For Success

efore being a parent, I would never have imagined how challenging it would be to dress my children. I don’t mean putting little legs into leg holes, I’m talking about that ominous collection of special circumstances that eliminate so many kinds of clothing items from the possible pile. Between the school dress code, my personal dress code for my children, my youngest’s sensory needs, my budget, and what’s on the market, there are a lot of limits on what I can buy for my kids to wear to school. Sometimes I look in envy at kids in their uniforms, but then again I know my own kids would fight me on the uniform every single school day if it were part of our curriculum. Shopping is complicated with two kids, a tight budget, special needs, and a lot of rules, but I do it! I am sharing my wisdom with other parents who are at their wits end trying to find quality clothes their kids can and will wear for school. My top tip is to shop off season in the next size up. Kids are going to keep growing. They will fit in even the biggest clothes you buy, eventually. If a favorite online retailer is having a clearance on parkas and winter boots this month, that’s the time to buy! Get those things you know will be perfect next winter or even the winter after that. My next tip for parents of girls, especially rowdy girls like mine, shop for jeans and shorts in the boys section. I can’t be the only parent who squirms at the length of most shorts in the girls department. But boys shorts come to the knee, and boys jeans are tougher and more durable. The boys department also has more to chose from in the shirt department for parents who, like me, have strict rules about characters, logos, extra distracting bits of flair on the clothing, and impractical sleeves and necklines. With a solid polo shirt and a denim scooter, and no one will be the wiser that the shirt came from the boys section. My most utilized tool is definitely thrift stores, consignment stores, consignment apps, and other parents with older kids! Kids grow so fast sometimes they don’t have time to ruin an outfit before it is too small, and most parents I know have a pile in the garage of outgrown stuff. Get a bunch of families together, bring the piles, and it’s a free for all with everyone going home with new stuff and getting rid of the old.

What doesn’t get taken can be donated to children in need within the community. There are a few new online options for the thrifter crowd. Poshmark, Thread Up, and Tradesy are all consignment apps. If your kid loves a specific type of shirt and it’s discontinued or hard to find, these apps allow users to search by name brand and size for items. The discounts are huge and some items are even brand new with tags still on, most are very gently worn. I recently bought a whole summer’s worth of shorts and tees for sixty bucks! Some parents need to touch and feel things before buying, and some kids need to have a choice in the clothes they wear or they may refuse them. In those instances, brick and mortar thrift stores are the best option. The Bay Area has quite a few, and they are clean, organized, and have quality gently used items. Here are some favorites:

Thrift Town — Richmond El Sobrante boasts the best thrift stores in the Bay, because Thrift Town stores are kept meticulously organized.

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The prices are unbeatable, a dollar or less for many things. One drawback with these stores is that the merchandise is as-is. It can be pulled, stained, or missing buttons, or smell bad. Always check first, there are no returns! Sign up for their VIP program for even more discounts. 3645 San Pablo Dam Rd., El Sobrante. 510-222-8696.

Kelly’s Corner — Laurel Heights This store has lots of great reviews online. In addition to the used kid’s clothing, they also carry some baby gear and toys, and do awesome gift wrapping! They carry local artist’s products too. 3901 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 510531-6810

Bird and Bean — Berkeley Bird and Bean is a little more upscale than other stores on this list, but they have a variety of price points, and lots of sample sale items from brand names that are usually too expensive for many families.This store has items that are

more unique and stylized than the average kid’s clothing store. Elmwood is a cool neighborhood to stroll and this store also hosts a toddler music group. 3212 College Ave., Berkeley. 510-328-6485

Kids Are People Too — Castro Valley This store is a gem, especially because the owner, Sharon, is great at her job. Meticulous about what consignment she accepts, shoppers can be sure they will not find items with rips, stains, or missing bits. Customer service at this spot is A++, and prices are right. 3326 Castro Valley Rd., Castro Valley. 510-247-1258

Monkei Miles — San Francisco Monkei Miles is a refreshing burst of bargains in one of the most expensive cities in America. Here, guests will find brand names ranging in price from Old Navy to Mini Boden. This store is on trend yet affordable, and everything is EUC ( that means Excellent Used Condition!) 1523 Irving St., San Francisco. 415-6503031

Bloom — San Rafael This shop is not only a great place for shopping, they donate professional wardrobes to unemployed women so that they may interview and work with confidence. There isn’t much in the way of baby clothes or kids clothes, but there are on-trend and upscale brand items for teens, which is almost unheard of in the thrift world. Seriously, these are used items teens would actually be willing to wear! Everything is pressed and clean, the store is beautiful, and the customer service is great, plus parents might find treasures too. 1557 4th St., San Rafael., 415-453-1694, www.bloommarin.org Haley Reen is an East Bay-based freelance writer.

Screen Free Summer

s a screen-free summer possible? Andy Crouch, author of The TechWise Family, offers some tips for reducing the amount of time kids spend with their devices this summer: • Create a low-technology living space, whether at home or in a vacation dwelling: Fill it with things that reward creativity, skill, and active engagement: board games, books, journals, Legos and other building toys, art supplies, musical instruments, sports equipment and pool or beach toys. Push technology and cheap thrills to the edge. •

Protect the rhythms of life: If an entirely screen-free summer seems daunting, commit to regular techfree times: one hour each day, one day each week.

• Put devices to bed before you go, and don’t reach for them first thing in the morning. Your children—and you—will have a much more restorative night’s sleep. • Sing. Crouch is a big advocate of learning to to sing well—not in the sense of singing in perfect tune or like a professional, but in the sense of bringing heart, mind, soul, and strength to our singing. Get some songbooks or print out lyrics for family sing-a-longs. •

Spend time outside, in nature, without phones or cameras to hand. If you need a picture, sketch it rather than shoot it.

•

Allow time for boredom. Don’t attempt to keep your kids entertained every second. The fact is, the more you entertain children, the more bored they will get! Allow them time to use their imagination and creativity to explore the world around them, instead of filling all their times with screen-mediated entertainment.

Crouch, a senior strategist at the John Templeton Foundation, wrote about his philosophy on technology and kids in his new book, The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals Ranked National Leader in 9 Pediatric Specialties U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals Rankings 2015-16

From broken bones to a serious illness, a children’s hospital makes all the difference. ucsfredefiningpossible.org July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 9

By Rona Renner, RN

Growth and Development Understanding Behavior Through the Lens of Temperament Question:

The Lens of Temperament

“My four-year-old daughter Molly is a bundle of energy, and I just can’t keep up with her. My older son is content playing by himself or reading a book, but Molly wants my attention all of the time. Will she always be this way, or can I train her to be more like her brother? It’s only when the TV is on that I get a break to hear myself think.”

For all parents, understanding a child’s temperament is an important way to make sense of behavioral issues, social interactions and power struggles. Temperament traits can stretch or change over time, but acceptance of your child’s current temperament is a first step in figuring out strategies for more harmony at home. “Temperament” is a person’s first and most natural way of responding. It’s the way we move in the world. It’s the “how” of behavior — for example, how adaptable, persistent or intense a person is. Some children are high energy right from birth (and sometimes in utero) and want to climb and run non-stop, while others are happy to just watch you while you cook. Children come into the world with a style all their own. In the 1950s, parents (especially mothers) were blamed for all behavior problems. The pioneers in temperament research, Drs. Stella Chess and Alexander Thomas, were convinced that children had innate differences that played a key role in determining a child’s behavior. They knew competent and loving parents who had challenging children. Chess and Thomas defined these differences as nine temperament traits: sensitivity threshold, activity level, intensity of reaction, rhythmicity, adaptability, mood, approach/withdrawal, persistence and distractibility. There are many factors that influence your child’s behavior — including

Answer: Chances are Molly will always be a high-energy and interactive child, but as she gets older you should be able to direct her energy into creative or athletic outlets. Your son’s mellow temperament probably lulled you into thinking you could have a peaceful and quiet home life. At all stages of development, active and intense children need help directing their energy and often want someone around for company. Parents like you find they can get a break when the TV is on or if another child is around to play. Stay mindful of not using the TV more than the healthy limits you have set. Kids like Molly love attention and can be draining for parents who are lower in energy or stressed. Have a plan ahead of time to prevent frustration and yelling when your child’s energy gets too much for you. Setting up an art table can help, or having a child record a story or song. Try having a dance session with fun music while getting the table set for dinner. Creativity is required with spirited kids.

Naughty or Nice? Not Just at Christmas By Susan Solomon Yem

y oldest son was an adolescent when my mother died. Although he was quiet at the funeral, he was impossible in the car ride to the cemetery. No amount of correction either his father or I attempted, worked. We finally decided keeping our distance for the remainder of the day was the only option. It did not occur to me until much later, that my son’s behavior was not naughty; it was his reaction to the loss of his grandmother. From that experience I realized that a child’s bad behavior might not be naughtiness; it may just be a response to a circumstance. Mountain View based family coach, Susan Stone Belton (www. susanstonebelton.com), says, “Naughty behavior is a request for parents to pay

attention. Kids usually misbehave when they are hungry, tired, frustrated or need attention.” Susan explains that sometimes children just do not have the energy or the words to communicate. “Misbehaving earns our attention and the child gets what he needs.” Chantal Dubuisson-Myllymaki, a Parent Education Instructor at Family Paths (www.familypaths.org) in Oakland, encourages parents to identify a child’s positive actions more than the negative. “If parents are spending the majority of their time focusing on the negative behaviors, they might be overlooking the efforts children are making to behave.” She adds that it is a child’s job to fit into the family — to feel significant and loved. “If a child is made to feel

10 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

“Temperament” is a person’s first and most natural way of responding. It’s the way we move in the world. It’s the “how” of behavior parenting style, environment, genetic makeup, past events and siblings. Temperament is one part of the equation. There are no good or bad temperaments, but some children have temperaments that may be more challenging than others. So much depends on your own temperament, and how well you and your child fit with each other. For example: Your high-energy daughter wants you to play ball with her when she wakes up, but you have lower energy and like to read the paper. Her high energy gets on your nerves, even though it’s normal for her. Set a routine for how long you will read and help her decide what she’ll do till it’s time to play with you. Set a timer. Your son is slow to warm, and when you go to a friend’s house he wants to sit on your lap. You’re outgoing, and it’s hard for you to tolerate his caution. Give him time to get comfortable, and then he’ll be more likely to play with other children once he’s checked out the situation. You are fast adapting, high intensity and yell easily. Your daughter is low intensity, sensitive and slow to adapt. Lower your voice and calm down before you react to difficulties getting dressed in the morning. Take three deep

breaths before responding, and then redirect her. Strategies for addressing temperament can be as simple as providing fun activities and chores to keep highenergy kids busy, plenty of transition warnings to kids who adapt slowly, and making sure spirited kids get healthy food and the sleep they need. Parenting strategies also include making time for yourself, paying attention to your needs and getting help from the “village” around you. Keep thinking about your child’s strengths and passions. Sometimes you won’t know if a behavior is because of inborn traits, environmental factors, developmental stages or past experiences. See it as a puzzle with many pieces, and when you put them together you get a picture of a child who is complex and beautiful. Rona Renner, RN (“Nurse Rona”), is a nurse, a parent educator and a temperament specialist. The mother of four grown children and grandmother of two, she is the author of “Is That Me Yelling? A Parent’s Guide to Getting Your Kids to Cooperate Without Losing Your Cool.” Rona has been a radio show host for over 15 years and is currently a producer and host of “About Health” on KPFA radio 94.1FM. You can learn more about her at www.nurserona.com.

unimportant, insignificant, and unloved they might fall into negative behavior to establish a role in the family.” To help parents determine if their child is entering a negative cycle of behavior, Family Paths uses a tool called the Mistaken Goals of Misbehavior. “This helps parents and caregivers to notice how they feel when children mistakenly display negative ways of gaining attention and seeking power.” Identifying their own emotions helps parents not only understand what their children are feeling, but find ways to deal with the behavior.

had a monumental temper tantrum in the car because I would not buy him a toy at the mall. It took a lot of willpower on my part, but I kept quiet. Because I was not reacting to him, he ran through a litany of reasons why his was the saddest life, including, “You don’t love me. No one likes me. I hate myself.” I was fascinated by this toddler’s attempt at manipulation. My lack of response finally dissipated his fervor and he settled down. He never attempted that type of tantrum again. “Actions are usually indicators of something else in the child’s life that could be tilting his or her sense of balance and feelings of being grounded,” says Chantal. “Often the child who is behaving the worst is the one who needs support, comfort, and understanding the most.”

Limits and Rules Susan’s book, Real Parents, Real Kids, Real Talk (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011) teaches parents how to build healthy, loving relationships with their children. One of her recommendations is that parents set limits and create rules; “kids like knowing what is okay and what is expected. I encourage parents to set a rule, determine the consequence and follow through.” An immediate response to bad behavior teaches the child that Mom and Dad mean what they say. “The hope is that this kind of follow through will result in the child making better choices the next time,” says Susan. “Behavior management is all about teaching our kids to stop, think, and make the right choice.” Chantal offers, “giving a child an acceptable alternative is productive. Let them know what to do, rather than what not to do,”

What Is He Really Saying? When my youngest son was two, he

It’s the Behavior, not the Child It is important to not label a child naughty as Susan counsels; “Children might act in a naughty way, but the child is not naughty. When we label a child, that label can become a selffulfilling prophecy. Children are good. Their behavior might be bad.”Chantal advises, “pay compliments to your children often when they are well behaved. “ She also suggests that parents be positive role models. “Be courteous and gracious to your children and they will turn out to be like you.” As the mother of five, Susan Solomon Yem has experienced all kinds of parenting. Tell her your stories at susansyem@gmail.com

By Aaron Crowe

Family Cents Poor Money Habits Parents May Be Teaching Their Kids

ctions can speak louder than words, as any parent who has seen their children mimic their bad behavior knows. A swear word may slip out of a child’s mouth, for example, or they follow your lead and play on their phone for hours. Poor money habits by parents can also teach kids the wrong lessons. If left unchecked, they can lead to poor money decisions later in life. Here are some bad money habits parents can turn around to teach their children about money:

Impulse Buys Some impulse purchases can be fun. An ice cream treat after a tough week at school or a movie out as a way to break up the monotony of staying home too many nights can be worthwhile motivators for kids to do better in school or at least be a fun break. But if you can’t afford them, or spend too much on an expensive impulse buy — such as the latest technological gadget that you’ve coveted for months — then it can show a lack of restraint in how you shop. Even small impulse buys, if made often, can show your child that it’s OK to buy something without giving it much thought and that you always get what you want. But small purchases add up, and a better lesson would be to give up such purchases and put that money aside in a vacation fund for the whole family to enjoy the benefits of giving up short-term joys for long-term planning of a family vacation. Every parent has probably had their child ask for a candy bar or something while waiting at the grocery checkout line. Telling them no can be difficult,

but it beats raising a child who thinks they’re entitled to everything they see.

Not Letting Them Work for Their Money Giving kids an allowance is a great idea — if they work for it. Like indulging impulse buys, handing your kids some cash each week without them doing anything in return for it can lead them to equate you with being a bank. Money doesn’t just appear in your pocket magically. You work for it. And so should they, up to a degree. Parents provide clothing, shelter, food and other necessities through age 18, and even then, some kids are funded less than others as children age. What teen wants their parents picking out their clothes for them at the store? By earning money with chores or at a part-time job, kids can learn the value of a dollar and can find out firsthand how many hours of work it takes to afford that pricey pair of pants they want.

Not Setting Up a Bank Account for Them If your kids don’t have a savings account or college savings account by age five, you’re doing them a disservice. Heck, if you don’t have a savings account or retirement account, you’re doing yourself a disservice and teaching them the poor habit of not saving for the future. Birthday money and part of an allowance can be put into a child’s savings account. Regular trips to the bank to make those deposits can show them how banks work and why they should save.

If your kids don’t have a savings account or college savings account by age five, you’re doing them a disservice.

As children become teenagers, parents can help teach them about managing money by helping them get an ATM debit card, checking account and possibly a credit card with a low limit.

You Don’t Follow a Budget or Have Good Money Habits Just like the first tip on curbing impulse spending, parents’ money habits can filter down to their children. If you and your spouse don’t have regular talks in front of your children, or at least within earshot of them, then you’re doing them a disservice by not talking about how you make money decisions together. You don’t have to detail every expense in your budget, but your kids should have a general sense of what you’re budgeting for and why.

If you pay your bills late and constantly complain about how you can’t afford the gas bill each month, you’re setting a poor example for how to deal with basic bills. Show them how you budget for that bill each month and where cuts may have to be made to accommodate for it. Even if you make some parenting errors regarding money habits, try not to get yourself too down about them. These errors are learning opportunities at any age, and even learning them when you have children gives you a chance to correct them and lets the next generation learn from your mistakes. Aaron Crowe is a freelance journalist in the Bay Area who specializes in personal finance writing. He writes for various websites and has worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers throughout California. He also writes about his family’s personal finance journey at CashSmarter.com.

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NEXT STOP: FAMILY FUN

On the Go Gold Rush Road Trip

etting your kids a visceral taste of the Gold Rush isn’t as difficult as you may think. Less than a three-hour drive from Oakland lies Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, the very spot where James Marshall knelt and picked up a hunk of gold, starting the whole stampede West to find more of it. The state parks website calls it “one of the most significant historic sites in the nation” — and it’s worth a day trip or even staying overnight. German-born Swiss pioneer Johann Suter, later called John Sutter, started this sawmill on the South Fork of the American River. He arrived when California was a Mexican province and established a fort in present-day Sacramento (more on that later). He created the Coloma sawmill to process lumber to build a city near the fort. One day, Sutter’s employee James Marshall

to dip candles or saw a log? Besides this monthly fun, October 12-15 is “Coloma Gold Rush Live.” Stretch your legs by finding the statue of James Marshall, erected over his grave in 1889. From the mill site, follow the trail marked “Marshall Monument,” which provides a nice, steep hike of 1.5 miles to see the statue. For more information, visit the official Marshall Gold Discovery website at http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_ id=484. To sign up for the free fourthgrader state park pass (which covers everyone who can fit in the car with the student), visit https://www. everykidinapark.gov/ On your drive back to the Bay Area, spend an hour or two at Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento. Built in 1839 by Sutter, this waystation provided respite for wagon train emigrants exhausted from

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was looking at the tailrace where water emerged from the waterwheel and saw a glint of gold. He and Sutter pored over books to determine whether the chunk he picked up was truly gold, and they tried to keep the discovery quiet. Sam Brannan, however, the man who founded San Francisco’s first newspaper, enjoyed dispensing news — he was gleeful when shoppers at his store paid with real flakes of gold. He inquired the source and promptly spread the word. He is said to have literally run up and down the streets of San Francisco (perhaps even the street today named for him) shouting, “Gold! Gold on the American River!” Ironically, he was unable to publish the news in his California Star because all his employees bolted for the gold fields. Today’s sawmill is an operational replica; you can see preserved timbers from the original at the Coloma site. At the Marshall Gold Discovery State Park, check out the wonderful, small museum that shows how the gold discovery impacted Native American tribes in the area, and visit many restored buildings that help interpret the past. Often, the blacksmith foundry is running and you can watch the sparks fly and maybe get a ring made from a square nail. The old county jail ruins are interesting, as are the two Chinese stores that survived racist looting and destruction of Coloma’s Chinatown, and even an 1880 fire. Pan for gold or jump into the river on a raft or kayak. Best of all may be wading into the cold river, imagining the men standing there for hours trying to find that tell-tale glint. On the second Saturday of every month, there is a Living History program with costumed interpreters displaying old-time crafts and inviting your participation: want to learn how

the push over the Sierra (including the survivors of the Donner Party disaster). The rebuilt adobe structure, abandoned when the Gold Rush began, sports walls 2.5 feet thick and 15 feet high. It’s now a state historic park. Sutter’s treatment of the Native Americans he pressed into service at the fort makes for an important teachable moment for older kids. Check the website for living history events that might make a longer stay profitable. For kids deeply interested in history and eager to have an immersive experience, the Sutter’s Fort Trappers Camp gives them a week of “living” at an 1840s fur-trapping camp, in either Red Bluff or Colusa. If a week is too long, the 24-hour Environmental Living Program may be more attractive; it’s for elementary-age students and includes an overnight stay at the fort. Circling back to Coloma, students can participate in the “California Gold Rush Adventure” offered through Coloma Outdoor Discovery School — in fact, many Bay Area schools bus fourth-graders up for this program. You can choose a one-, two-, three- or four-day experience of learning Gold Rush history, culture, music and ecology, including meals and overnight accommodation. To learn about the fort, visit https:// www.suttersfort.org/ For more on the week-long camp, visit https://www.suttersfort.org/exploreand-learn/trapper-s-camp. For the overnight at the fort, visit https://www.suttersfort.org/exploreand-learn/environmental-livingprogram-elp. For the Gold Rush adventure at Coloma, visit https://cods.org/program/goldrush.html.

Every year it seems to get bigger and better: Our annual Readers’ Choice Best Of list. Read on to find out what voters from around the Bay picked as their favorite schools, enrichment programs and family attractions throughout the Bay Area. * denotes a tie

AS VOTED BY EAST BAY VOTERS

GOLD: Oakland Zoo (Oakland) SILVER: Lawrence Hall Of Science (Berkeley) BRONZE: East Bay Spca Animal Camp

(Dublin, Oakland)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD:

SILVER:

East Bay Regional Parks (Oakland

Hills) BRONZE:

Sienna Ranch (Lafayette)

Best Academic Summer Camp

Best Aquatic and Water Sports Camp

Sarah’s Science - This Land Is Your Land (Berkeley, Oakland) SILVER: Ecole Bilingue De Berkeley (Berkeley) BRONZE*: Ohlone For Kids And Teens (Fremont, Newark) BRONZE*: Quarry Lane School (Dublin)

GOLD: Cal Swim Camp (Berkeley) SILVER: Richmond Yacht Club Youth Summer

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: The Saklan School (Moraga) SILVER: Viva El Espanol (Lafayette,

Pleasanton) BRONZE: Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond)

Best Animal Encounter Summer Camp A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

Thanks for voting us BEST . . . Traditional Summer Camp Science Summer Camp Academic Summer Camp

Nature & Outdoor Summer Camp Holiday & Vacation Camp Science Class Counselor-InTraining Program

After School Enrichment Program

Lindsey Wildlife Museum (Walnut

Creek)

CAMPS

BEST OF 2017

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Camp (Richmond) BRONZE: Alameda Community Sailing Center (Alameda)

Join us for — rockets, robots, critters, catapults, knights, ninjas, and more in our award-winning camps, classes, and workshops.

Space is available in all programs.

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Swim Center - Swim Camp (El Cerrito) SILVER: Walnut Creek Aquanuts (Walnut Creek) BRONZE: Canyon Swim School (El Sobrante) GOLD:

Best Arts and Crafts Summer Camp

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD:

Monkey Business Camp (Berkeley)

For more information (510) 581-3739 or www.sarahscience.com July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 13

BEST OF 2017 Steve & Kate’s Camp (Multiple Locations) BRONZE: Camp 510 (Oakland)

Best Digital Arts Summer Camp

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD:

GOLD: Lawrence Hall Of Science (Berkeley) SILVER: Digital Media Academy (Multiple

Best Ballet Summer Camp

Best Faith-Based Summer Camp

SILVER:

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

City Of El Cerrito, Recreation Department (El Cerrito) SILVER: Adventure Day Camp (Lafayette) BRONZE: Richmond Art Center (Richmond)

Locations) BRONZE: Mr. D’s Music Club Summer Camp (Oakland)

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts (Lafayette, Oakland) GOLD*: Oakland Ballet Company Boot Camp (Oakland) SILVER*: Alameda Ballet Academy (Alameda) SILVER*: Berkeley Ballet Theater (Berkeley) BRONZE*: Shawl-Anderson Dance (Oakland)

GOLD: Camp Kee Tov (Berkeley) SILVER: Camp Gan Israel (Berkeley/

GOLD*:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts (Lafayette, Oakland) SILVER: Orinda Ballet (Orinda) BRONZE: Lareen Fender’s The Ballet School (Walnut Creek) GOLD:

Best Circus Arts Summer Camp

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Kinetic Arts Center (Oakland) SILVER: Camp Winnarainbow (Berkeley) BRONZE: Trapeze Arts (Oakland)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department, Clownsnotbombs Circus Camp (El Cerrito) SILVER: Clowns Not Bombs (Bay Area) BRONZE: Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts GOLD:

(Lafayette, Oakland)

Best Counselor In Training (CIT) Summer Program As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Sarah’s Science - This Land Is Your Land (Berkeley, Oakland) SILVER: Camp Winnarainbow (Berkeley) BRONZE: Tracker’s Earth (Berkeley) GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department LIT Summer Program (Leaders In Training) (El Cerrito) SILVER: Adventure Day Camp (Walnut Creek) BRONZE: Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts (Lafayette, Oakland) GOLD:

BRONZE:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Cooking Round The World (Multiple Locations) SILVER: Camp 510 (Oakland) GOLD:

BEST OF 2017

Oakland) BRONZE:

Crosswinds Kids (Livermore)

GOLD:

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department (El Cerrito) SILVER: Cooking Round The World (Multiple Locations) BRONZE: Steve & Kate’s Camp (Multiple Locations)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Best Dance Summer Camp

Best Family Summer Camp

GOLD: Dance 10 (Alameda) SILVER*: East Bay Dance Center (Oakland) SILVER*: Berkeley Ballet Theater (Berkeley) BRONZE: Alameda Ballet Academy

GOLD: Echo Lake SILVER: Cazadero Family Camp BRONZE: Lair Of The Bear

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

(Alameda)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Dance And Drama Summer Camp (El Cerrito) SILVER: Orinda Ballet (Orinda) BRONZE: Katie’s Dance Studio - Dance Camp (El Cerrito) GOLD:

Best Culinary Summer Camp

Cook! Programs (Emeryville)

Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) SILVER: First Presbyterian Church (Richmond) BRONZE: Camp Gan Israel (Danville) GOLD:

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: El Cerrito Camp Ravencliff SILVER: Camp Concord BRONZE: Cazadero Family Camp

Best Foreign Language and Cultural Immersion Summer Camp As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Shu Ren International (Berkeley) SILVER: The Renaissance International

School (Oakland) BRONZE*: Ecole Bilingue De Berkeley (Berkeley) BRONZE*: Escuela Bilingue Internacional (Oakland)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: The Saklan School (Moraga) SILVER: City Of El Cerrito Recreation

Department (El Cerrito) BRONZE: Viva El Espanol (Lafayette, Pleasanton)

Best General and Traditional Summer Day Camp As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Sarah’s Science - This Land Is Your Land (Berkeley, Oakland) SILVER: Monkey Business Camp (Berkeley) BRONZE: Berkeley Day Camp (Berkeley) GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: The Saklan School (Moraga) SILVER: City Of El Cerrito Recreation

Department Traditional Summer Camps (El Cerrito) BRONZE: East Bay Center For The Performing Arts (Richmond)

Best Gymnastics Summer Camp

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Head Over Heels Gymnastics (Emeryville) SILVER: Bay Aerial Gymnastics (Fremont) BRONZE: Bay Island Gymnastics (Oakland) GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Encore Gymnastics (Concord) SILVER: City Of El Cerrito Recreation

Department Gymnastics Camp With Bindi Baker (El Cerrito) BRONZE: San Ramon Valley Dance Academy (San Ramon)

Best Health and Special Needs Summer Camp As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD:

14 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

Raskob Summer Program (Oakland)

* denotes a tie

BEST OF 2017 SILVER: Quest Therapeutic Camps (Danville) BRONZE: Fiddleheads (Berkeley)

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Walnut Creek Specialized Recreation Daycamp (Walnut Creek) SILVER: Quest Therapeutic Camp (Danville) BRONZE: Orion Academy (Moraga) GOLD:

Best Holiday and Vacation Camp

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

Sarah’s Science - This Land Is Your Land (Berkeley, Oakland) SILVER: Oakland Zoo (Oakland) BRONZE: Monkey Business Camp (Berkeley) GOLD:

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Holiday Weeks, President Week And Spring Break Camps (El Cerrito) SILVER: YMCA (Multiple Locations) BRONZE: Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts (Lafayette, Oakland) GOLD:

Best Horse Riding Summer Camp

GOLD: Kenilworth Stables (Oakland) SILVER: Skyline Ranch (Oakland) BRONZE:Roughing It (Lafayette)

Best Leadership Development Summer Camp

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

Girls On The Go Field Trip Camp (Berkeley/Oakland) SILVER*: Trackers Earth (Berkeley) SILVER*: Cook! Programs (Emeryville) BRONZE: Camp Winnarainbow (Berkeley) GOLD:

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department L.I.T (Leaders In Training) Camp (El Cerrito) SILVER: Crestmont Summer Camp (Richmond) BRONZE: Diablo Theatre Company’s Singout (Pleasant Hill) GOLD:

Best Lego Summer Camp A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Lawrence Hall Of Science (Berkeley) SILVER: Techknowhow (Multiple Locations) BRONZE: Play-Well Teknologies (Multiple

Locations)

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

Sarah’s Science - This Land Is Your Land (Berkeley, Oakland) SILVER: Adventure Time (Multiple Locations) BRONZE*: Avid4 Adventure (Multiple Locations) BRONZE*: Green Stuff Camp @ UC Botanical Garden (Berkeley) GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Summer Camp (El Cerrito) SILVER: Roughing It Day Camp (Lafayette) BRONZE: Sienna Ranch (Lafayette) GOLD:

Best Overnight Summer Camp

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Camp Winnarainbow (Berkeley) SILVER: Trackers Earth (Berkeley) BRONZE: Cazadero Music Camp (Cazadero)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Camp Ravencliff (El Cerrito) SILVER: CYO Camp (Occidental) BRONZE: Skylark Ranch Girl Scout Camp (Santa Cruz) GOLD:

Best Performing Arts Summer Camp

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Bay Area Children’s Theatre (Multiple Locations) SILVER: Berkeley Playhouse (Berkeley) BRONZE: Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts (Lafayette, Oakland) GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Bay Area Children’s Theatre (Multiple Locations) SILVER: City Of El Cerrito-Dance & Drama Camp (El Cerrito) BRONZE: Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts (Lafayette, Oakland) GOLD:

Best Preschool Age Summer Camp

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Oakland Zoo Camp (Oakland) SILVER: Grand Lake Montessori (Oakland) BRONZE: The Child Unique Montessori School

CHILD CARE

Best Summer Camp Hosted by a Museum, Zoo or Aquarium

Best Child Care

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Oakland Zoo (Oakland) SILVER: Lawrence Hall Of Science (Berkeley) BRONZE: Habitot Children’s Museum

(Berkeley)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Hearts And Hands Christian Childcare & Preschool (Fremont) SILVER: Rockridge Little School (Oakland) BRONZE: Step One School (Berkeley) GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Oakland Zoo (Oakland) SILVER: Lindsay Wildlife (Walnut Creek) BRONZE: Richmond Art Center (Richmond) GOLD:

GOLD: St. David School (Richmond) SILVER: The Saklan School (Moraga) BRONZE*: Nomura Preschool (Richmond) BRONZE*: The Child Day School (Multiple

Locations)

Best Technology Summer Camp

Best Child Care Referral and Support Agency

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Galileo Summer Quest (Multiple Locations) SILVER: Techknowhow (Multiple Locations) BRONZE: Lawrence Hall Of Science (Berkeley) GOLD:

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Bananas (Oakland) SILVER: 4Cs of Alameda County

(Multiple Locations) BRONZE: Ala Costa Centers (Berkeley)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Technology Summer Camps (El Cerrito) SILVER: Techknowhow (Multiple Locations) BRONZE: ID Tech (Multiple Locations) GOLD:

Best Cooperative Child Care Facility

Best Teen Focused Summer Camp

GOLD:

Girls On The Go Camp (Berkeley/ Oakland) SILVER: Ohlone For Kids And Teens (Fremont, Newark) BRONZE: Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir (Oakland)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Departments Explorers Camp (El Cerrito) SILVER: East Bay Center For The Performing Arts (Richmond) BRONZE: Richmond Art Center (Richmond) GOLD:

Montclair Community Play Center (Oakland) SILVER: Dandelion Nursery School (Berkeley) BRONZE: Sequoia Nursery School (Oakland) GOLD: El Cerrito Preschool Co-Op (El Cerrito) SILVER: Pied Piper Preschool (Walnut Creek) BRONZE: Clayton Valley Parent Preschool

(Concord)

Best Special Needs Child Care

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

School Of Imagination In Dublin (Dublin) SILVER: Ala Costa Centers (Berkeley) BRONZE: Easter Seals Kaleidoscope (Dublin) GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

GOLD: We Care (Multiple Locations) SILVER: Bay Respite (Vallejo) BRONZE: Raskob Summer Camp (Oakland)

(Alameda)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: The Saklan School (Moraga) SILVER: Adventure Day Camp (Walnut Creek) BRONZE:Summer At Seedlings (Lafayette)

BEST OF 2017

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Techknowhow (Multiple Locations) SILVER: City Of El Cerrito Recreation

Departments Lego Camps (El Cerrito) BRONZE: Play-Well Teknologies (Multiple Locations)

Best Martial Arts Summer Camp

GOLD: Kuk Sool Wan (Berkeley) SILVER: Aikido Shusekai (Berkeley) BRONZE: Emeryville Martial Arts And Sports

Camp (Emeryville)

Best Music and Singing Summer Camp A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir (Oakland) SILVER: Jingle Jeff (Albany) BRONZE: Bandworks (Berkeley) GOLD:

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) SILVER: Diablo Theatre Company’s Singout (Pleasant Hill) BRONZE: East Bay Center For The Performing Arts (Richmond) GOLD:

Best Nature and Outdoor Summer Camp * denotes a tie

Best Science Summer Camp

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Sarah’s Science - This Land Is Your Land (Berkeley, Oakland) SILVER: Camp Galileo (Multiple Locations) BRONZE: Lawrence Hall Of Science (Berkeley) GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Departments Mysteries Of Science And Crazy, Funky Science Camps (El Cerrito) SILVER: Play-Well Teknologies (Pleasanton) BRONZE: Tech Know How (Multiple Locations) GOLD:

Best Sports Summer Camp

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: UC Cal Camps (Berkleey) SILVER: Claremont Hotel Summer Camps

(Oakland) BRONZE*: BRONZE*:

Avid4 Adventure (Oakland) Oakland Ice Center (Oakland)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Sports Camp (El Cerrito) SILVER: El Cerrito Sports Camp (El Cerrito) BRONZE: Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) GOLD:

Straty Righellis, DDS Village Square at Montclair www.RighellisOrtho.com (510) 482-0600

Always Practicing The Four C’s

Care • Concern • Comfort • Convenience For the whole family

510.482.0600 www.RighellisOrtho.com

2220 Mountain Blvd • Ste 204 • Oakland July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 15

BEST OF 2017 Best Enrichment and After-School Programs

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Sarah’s Science - This Land Is Your Land (Berkeley, Oakland) SILVER: Classroom Matters (Berkeley) BRONZE*: Girl Scouts (Multiple Locations) BRONZE*: Kids N Dance (Oakland) GOLD:

Best Art Classes

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Oakland School For The Arts (Oakland) SILVER: Mocha (Oakland) BRONZE: Ohlone For Kids And Teens (Fremont, Newark)

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department (El Cerrito) SILVER: East Bay Center For The Performing Arts (Richmond) BRONZE: Richmond Art Center (Richmond)

GOLD:

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Richmond Art Center (Richmond) SILVER: El Cerrito Recreation Department Art

Classes (El Cerrito) BRONZE: East Bay Center For The Performing Arts (Richmond)

Best Ballet Classes

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD*: Alameda Ballet Academy (Alameda) GOLD*: Berkeley Ballet Theater (Berkeley) SILVER*: Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts

(Lafayette, Oakland) SILVER*: Paula Van Der Zwaan Dance Studio (Berkeley) BRONZE*: East Bay Dance Center (Oakland) BRONZE*: Berkeley City Ballet (Berkeley)

Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts (Lafayette, Oakland) BRONZE: East Bay Center For The Performing SILVER:

Arts (Richmond)

Best Classes for Musical Instrument Instruction

A s Voted By Alameda C ounty Voters GOLD: Crowden Music Center (Berkeley) SILVER: Musically Minded Academy

(Oakland) BRONZE:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Cities)

GOLD: El Cerrito Ballet Center (El Cerrito) SILVER: Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts

GOLD:

(Lafayette, Oakland) BRONZE: Orinda Ballet Academy (Orinda)

Best Circus Arts Classes As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD*: Kinetic Arts Center (Oakland) SILVER: Trapeze Arts (Oakland) BRONZE: Circus Of Smiles (Oakland)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department Clownsnotbombs Circus Classes (El Cerrito) GOLD:

East Bay Music Together (East Bay

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

East Bay Center For The Performing Arts (Richmond) SILVER: Lamorinda Music (Lafayette) BRONZE: Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond)

Best Dance Classes

BRONZE*:

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Katie’s Dance Studio (El Cerrito) SILVER: Salesian College Preparatory

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: JCC East Bay (Berkeley, Oakland) SILVER: Pj Library (Contra Costa County) BRONZE: Mocha (Oakland)

(Richmond) BRONZE: San Ramon Valley Dance Academy (San Ramon)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Best Early Childhood Music Programs A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir

(Oakland) SILVER: East Bay Music Together (Multiple Locations) BRONZE: Jingle Jeff (Berkeley) A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

East Bay Center For The Performing Arts (Richmond) SILVER: East Bay Music Together (Multiple Locations) BRONZE: Kindermusik (Walnut Creek) GOLD:

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts (Lafayette, Oakland) GOLD*:Paula Van der Zwaan Dance Studio (Berkeley) SILVER*: Berkeley Ballet Theater (Berkeley) SILVER*: Shawl Anderson (Berkeley) BRONZE*: East Bay Dance Center (Oakland)

Best Faith-Based Cultural Awareness Program

Dance 10 (Alameda)

GOLD: St David School (Richmond) SILVER: Salesian College Preparatory

(Richmond) BRONZE: Tehiyah Day School (El Cerrito)

Best Gymnastics Classes As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Head Over Heels Gymnastics (Emeryville) SILVER: Cal Gymnastics (Berkeley) BRONZE: Bay Aerial Gymnastics (Fremont) GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Recreation Department - Gymnastics Program With Bindi Baker (El Cerrito) SILVER: Encore Gymnastics (Concord) BRONZE: Liberty Gymnastics (Concord) GOLD:

GOLD*:

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16 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

* denotes a tie

BEST OF 2017 Mathnasium Walnut Creek (Walnut Creek) BRONZE*:

Best Language Class

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Ecole Bilingue De Berkeley (Berkeley) SILVER*: Escuela Bilingue Internacional

(Oakland) SILVER:*: GISSV (Emeryville) BRONZE: Viva El Espanol (Lafayette,

Pleasanton)

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

El Cerrito Recreation Department Enrichment Classes (El Cerrito) SILVER: Viva El Espanol (Lafayette, Pleasanton) BRONZE: Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) (Richmond) GOLD:

Best Martial Arts Classes A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Aikido Shusekai (Berkeley) SILVER: Kuk Sool Won (Berkeley) BRONZE: Emeryville Martial Arts (Emeryville)

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrrito Recreation Department Karate Classes (El Cerrito) SILVER: East Bay Judo Institute (El Cerrito) BRONZE: El Cerrito Martial Arts (El Cerrito) GOLD:

Best Math Programs

Best Science Class

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Sarah’s Science - This Land Is Your Land (Berkeley, Oakland) SILVER: Robotics For Fun (Oakland) BRONZE: Scientific Adventures For Girls (Oakland) GOLD:

GOLD: Kumon (Multiple Locations) SILVER: Brain O Magic (Multiple Locations) BRONZE: Firecracker Math (Multiple

Locations)

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Kumon El Cerrito (El Cerrito) SILVER: Huntington Learning Center (Walnut

East Bay Center For The Performing Arts (Richmond) SILVER: Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) BRONZE: Scarlett Hepworth Vocal Music Studio (El Cerrito) GOLD:

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Bay Area Children’s Theatre (Multiple Locations) SILVER: Berkeley Playhouse (Berkeley) BRONZE: Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts (Lafayette, Oakland) GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Bay Area Children’s Theatre (Multiple Locations) SILVER: City of El Cerrito-Dance & Drama BRONZE: Contra Costa Civic Theater In El Cerrito (El Cerrito) GOLD:

Best Swim Classes

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Patti’s Swim School (Castro Valley) SILVER: Berkeley YMCA (Berkeley) BRONZE: Aquatech (Alameda)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

City Of El Cerrito Swim Center (El Cerrito) SILVER*: Aquatech Swim School In Concord (Concord) SILVER*: Little Dipper Aquatic Center GOLD:

BRONZE:

Canyon Swim (El Sobrante)

Best Testing Preparation Program

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Best Theater and Performing Arts Classes

GOLD: Classroom Matters (Berkeley) SILVER: Kaplan (Multiple Locations) BRONZE: Kumon (Multiple Locations)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Cal Prep Academy (Richmond) SILVER: Tutor Corps (Multiple Locations) BRONZE: Huntington Learning Center

(Walnut Creek)

Best Alternative Learning Styles Elementary School

Best Tutorial Programs

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Black Pine Circle (Berkeley) SILVER: Berkwood Hedge School (Berkeley) BRONZE: Park Day School (Oakland)

GOLD: Classroom Matters (Berkeley) SILVER: Tilden Preparatory School (Albany,

Walnut Creek) BRONZE: Lindamood-Bell (Multiple Locations)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: The Saklan School (Moraga) SILVER: Montessori Family School (El

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Brain O Magic (Mulitple Locations) SILVER: Kumon El Cerrito (El Cerrito) BRONZE: Huntington Learning Center (Walnut

Creek)

Best Voice Classes

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir (Oakland) SILVER: Oakland Youth Chorus (Oakland) BRONZE: Mr. D’s Music Club (Oakland) GOLD:

Cerrito) BRONZE:

St Paul School (San Pablo)

Best Bilingual Elementary School

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Shu Ren International School (Berkeley) SILVER: Ecole Bilingue De Berkeley GOLD:

Creek) BRONZE*:

Berkeley Math Club (Berkeley)

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* denotes a tie

July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 17

BEST OF 2017 Kensington Hilltop Elementary (Kensington)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Best Special Needs Programs in Elementary School

Creek)

BRONZE:

Best Independent Elementary School

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Black Pine Circle (Berkeley) SILVER*: Ecole Bilingue De Berkeley

(Berkeley) SILVER*: Berkwood Hedge School (Berkeley) BRONZE*: Head Royce School (Oakland) BRONZE*: Bentley School (Oakland) A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

The Saklan School (Moraga) SILVER: Prospect Sierra School (El Cerrito) BRONZE*: Montessori Family School (Berkeley, El Cerrito) BRONZE*: Seven Hills School (Walnut Creek) GOLD:

Best Montessori Elementary School

(Berkeley) BRONZE*:

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

Escuela Bilingue Internacional

The Renaissance International School (Oakland) SILVER: Montessori Elementary School Of Alameda (Alameda) BRONZE: Little Elephant Montessori (Oakland) GOLD:

(Oakland) The Renaissance International School (Oakland) BRONZE*:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Shu Ren International School (Berkeley) SILVER: St David School (Richmond) BRONZE: Tehiyah Day School (El Cerrito) GOLD:

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Montessori Family School (Berkeley, El Cerrito) SILVER: Concordia School (Concord) BRONZE: Eagle Peak Montessori (Walnut Creek) GOLD:

Best Charter Elementary School

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Best Progressive Elementary School

GOLD: Yu Ming Charter School (Oakland) SILVER: Francophone Charter School of

Oakland (Oakland) BRONZE: East Bay Innovation Acadamy (EBIA) (Oakland)

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Black Pine Circle (Berkeley) SILVER: Berkwood Hedge School (Berkeley) BRONZE*: Park Day School (Oakland) BRONZE*: Aurora School (Oakland)

Best Faith-Based Elementary School

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

GOLD: Prospect Sierra School (El Cerrito) SILVER: Montessori Family School (Berkeley,

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

El Cerrito)

Saint Philip Neri Catholic School (Alameda) SILVER: School Of The Madeleine (Berkeley) BRONZE: Corpus Christi School (Piedmont) GOLD:

BRONZE:

Best Public Elementary School

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD*: GOLD*:

St. David School (Richmond) St Mary Of The Immaculate (Walnut

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Crocker Highlands (Oakland) SILVER: Montclair Elementary (Oakland) BRONZE: Chabot Elementary (Oakland)

Creek) SILVER*: SILVER*:

Tehiyah Day School (El Cerrito) St. Jerome Catholic School (El

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Cerrito) BRONZE*: BRONZE*:

Tehiyah Day School (El Cerrito)

GOLD:

St. Joseph (Pinole) St. Perpetua (Lafayette)

Murwood Elementary School (Walnut

Creek) Harding Elementary School - Wccusd (El Cerrito) SILVER:

BEST OF 2017

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

Raskob Day School/Learning Institute (Oakland) SILVER: Stellar Academy For Dyslexics (Newark) BRONZE: Eldridge Elementary Special Ed (Hayward) GOLD:

FOOD Best Burger Joint

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Barney’s (Multiple Locations) SILVER: Farm Burger (Berkeley) BRONZE: Park Burger (Oakland)

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18 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Picante (Berkeley) SILVER: Cactus (Berkeley, Oakland) BRONZE: La Penca Azul (Alameda)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Portumex (Richmond) SILVER: Los Ponchos (Danville) BRONZE: La Tapatia (Martinez)

Best Pizza Parlor

GOLD: Zachary’s (Berkeley, Oakland) SILVER: Cheeseboard (Berkeley) BRONZE: Goia (Berkeley)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

GOLD: Barney’s (Multiple Locations) SILVER: The Habit (Multiple Locations) BRONZE: The Counter (Walnut Creek)

Best Sushi Restaurant

Best Dim Sum Restaurant As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: East Ocean Restaurant (Alameda) SILVER: Peony Restaurant (Oakland) BRONZE: Golden Sand Harbor (Dublin)

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Kirala (Berkeley) SILVER: Ozumo (Oakland) BRONZE: Kamakura (Alameda)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Katana-Ya Ramen (El Cerrito) SILVER: Taki Sushi (El Cerrito) BRONZE: Kiralla (Berkeley)

Jelly Belly Visitor’s Center

Best Family Friendly Coffee Shop

FUN & ATTRACTIONS

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Small Talk Family Cafe (Walnut Creek) SILVER: Catahoula (Richmond) BRONZE*: Barrelista (Martinez) BRONZE*: Tal’s Patisserie (Danville)

Best Frozen Yogurt Outlet As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Best Amusement Park As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Oakland Zoo (Oakland) SILVER: Children’s Fairyland (Oakland)

GOLD: Yogurtland (Multiple Locations) SILVER: Yogurt Park (Berkeley) BRONZE: Menchies (Multiple Locations)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

GOLD: Yogurt Land (Multiple Locations) SILVER: The Yogurt Shack (Concord, Danville,

(Concord)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Lafayette) BRONZE:

Pinkberry (Walnut Creek)

Best Ice Cream Parlor As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Fentons (Oakland) SILVER: Ici (Berkeley) BRONZE: Tuckers Super Creamed Ice Cream

(Alameda)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

San Francisco Ice Creamery (Walnut

SILVER: Loard’s (Walnut Creek) BRONZE: Cream (Multiple Locations)

GOLD:

Playland Not At The Beach (El Cerrito)

SILVER: Studio Grow (Blackhawk) BRONZE: Pixieland Amusement Park

Best Athletic Clubs

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: YMCA (Oakland) SILVER: Bladium (Alameda) BRONZE: Mariner Square Athletic Club

(Alameda)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Club Sport (Walnut Creek) SILVER: YMCA Irvin Deucher (Pleasant Hill) BRONZE: 24 Hour Fitness (Multiple

Locations)

Best Bowling Alley

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Best Italian Restaurant As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Trabacco (Alameda) SILVER: Dopo (Oakland) BRONZE: Trattoria Siciliana

GOLD: Albany (Albany) SILVER: Plank (Oakland) BRONZE: AMF Southshore Lanes

(Alameda)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

(Berkeley)

GOLD: La Strada (San Pablo) SILVER: Mangia Mangia (Albany) BRONZE: Salute (Richmond)

2108 Vine St., Berkeley, CA

Best Mexican Restaurant

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Kid Dynamo

El Mono (El Cerrito)

GOLD: Little Star (Berkeley) SILVER: Skippolinis (Concord, Walnut Creek) BRONZE: Pizza Antica (Lafayette)

Creek)

cute!

BRONZE:

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD:

n Shoes o i h Fas Gift Toys

GOLD: Kensington Circus Pub (Kensington) SILVER*: Farm Burger (Berkeley) SILVER*: Small Talk Family Cafe (Walnut

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant (Any Ethnicity)

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Picante (Berkeley) SILVER: Cactus (Berkeley, Oakland) BRONZE: Tomatina On Park St (Alameda)

GOLD: Albany Bowl (Albany) SILVER: Danville Bowl (Danville) BRONZE: Clayton Valley Bowl (Clayton)

Best Family Fair or Festival

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Solano Stroll (Albany) SILVER: Alameda County Fair (Pleasanton) BRONZE*: Art And Soul (Oakland) BRONZE*: Park Street Art & Wine Festival

(Alameda)

* denotes a tie

BEST OF 2017 Best Mental Health Practice

Best Sports Medicine Practice As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Family Paths (Oakland) SILVER: Maria Mishkind Villela (Oakland) BRONZE: Dr. Bradley Engwall (Berkeley)

UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland (Oakland) SILVER: Innersport (Berkeley) BRONZE: Richard Burg, DC (Oakland) GOLD:

Best Optometrist

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: UC Berkeley Optometry (Berkeley) SILVER: Albany Berkeley Optometry (Albany) BRONZE: Island Eye Care (Alameda)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD*: Eye Love Optometry (Pinole) GOLD*: Orinda Optometry (Orinda) SILVER: Point Richmond Optometry

HIGH SCHOOLS

(Richmond) BRONZE: West Coast Optometry (El Cerrito)

Best Indoor Play Place A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: The Lawrence Hall Of Science (Berkeley) SILVER: Bay Area Discovery Museum

(Sausalito) BRONZE: Habitot (Berkeley)

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Oakland Zoo (Oakland) SILVER: San Francisco Zoo (San Francisco) BRONZE: Lindsay Wildlife Museum (Walnut

Creek)

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Dr. Righellis (Oakland) SILVER: Dr Parker (Alameda) BRONZE: I Song Orthodontics

Tilden Preparatory School (Albany, Walnut Creek) SILVER: Maybeck High School (Berkeley) BRONZE: Bayhill High School (Berkeley) GOLD:

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Axelrod Orthodontists Moraga (Moraga) SILVER: Dr. Aubrey Barrett, El Cerrito (El Cerrito) BRONZE: Kennteth Brannan (Albany) GOLD:

Coolest Place to Take a Tour

Best Local Farm

GOLD: Jelly Belly Factory (Fairfield) SILVER: Muir Woods (Marin County) BRONZE: Pixar (Emeryville)

Best Pediatric Dentist

GOLD: Jelly Belly Factory (Fairfield) SILVER: Vasco Caves Regional Park

(Alameda,Oakland, Pleasanton) SILVER*: Dr. Denise Bass Allen (Oakland) BRONZE: Dr Jacklynn Thai (Hayward)

GOLD: Little Farm (Berkeley) SILVER: Ardenwood (Fremont) BRONZE: Clayton Farms (Castro Valley)

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

(Albany)

GOLD: Playland Not At The Beach (El Cerrito) SILVER: Sky High Sports (Concord) BRONZE: Studio Grow (Blackhawk)

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

Best Alternative Learning Style High School

Best Orthodontist

Francisco)

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Tilden Preparatory School (Albany, Walnut Creek) SILVER: Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) BRONZE*: Orinda Academy (Orinda) BRONZE*: Orion Academy (Moraga) GOLD:

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

(Byron)

GOLD: Aloha Pediatric Dentistry (Orinda) SILVER*: Alameda Pediatric Dentistry

Best Boarding School in the Bay Area A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Aloha Pediatric Dentistry (Orinda) SILVER: Dr. Nicholas Ching, D.D.S, El Cerrito

GOLD: Athenian (Danville) SILVER: Woodside Priory (Portola Valley) BRONZE: San Domenico (San Anselmo)

Ca (El Cerrito) BRONZE: Snoopy Dentist Walnut Creek (Walnut Creek)

Best Charter High School

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Best Museum

HEALTH

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Oakland Museum (Oakland) SILVER: Lawrence Hall Of Science (Berkeley) BRONZE*: UC Botanical Garden (Berkeley) BRONZE*: Habitot Children’s Museum

(Berkeley)

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD:

Lindsay Wildlife Museum (Walnut

Creek) Rosie The Riveter Museum (Richmond) BRONZE: Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito) SILVER:

Best Allergist

Best Birthing Center

GOLD: Kaiser Oakland (Oakland) SILVER: Alta Bates Hospital (Berkeley)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Best Place for Ice Skating A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Oakland Ice (Oakland) SILVER: Dublin Iceland (Dublin)

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

GOLD: Kaiser Permanente (San Rafael) SILVER: John Muir Hospital (Walnut Creek) BRONZE: San Ramon Medical Center (San

Best Dermatologist

Best Place to Entertain Your Teen

Best Hospital/Medical Center

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Rockin’ Jump (Dublin, Fremon) SILVER: Museum Of Art And Digital

Entertainment (Oakland)

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Playland Not At The Beach (El Cerrito) SILVER: Richmond Art Center (Richmond) BRONZE: East Bay Center For The Performing

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Dr. Jason Fung (Oakland) SILVER: Dr. Dunn (Berkeley) BRONZE: Warren Dotz (Berkeley)

Best Speech Therapist

Best Faith-Based High School

GOLD: Communication Works (Oakland) SILVER: Word Works (Oakland) BRONZE: Amy Faltz (Albany, Oakland)

GOLD: Bishop O’dowd High School (Oakland) SILVER*: St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda) SILVER*: Moreau Catholic High School

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Ramon)

* denotes a tie

GOLD: Amy Sobel - Kaiser Pinole (Pinole) SILVER*: Dr. Brad Lewis (Walnut Creek) SILVER*: Herculean Babies (Hercules)

Tilden Preparatory School (Albany, Walnut Creek) SILVER: Salesian College Prep (Richmond) BRONZE: Leadership High School (Richmond) GOLD:

Oakland (Oakland) BRONZE: Sutter Alta Bates Berkeley (Berkeley, Oakland)

Best Zoo or Aquarium

(San Francisco) BRONZE*: San Francisco Zoo (San

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

GOLD: Kaiser Oakland (Oakland) SILVER: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital

GOLD: Kaiser Permanente (San Rafael) SILVER: John Muir Hospital (Walnut Creek) BRONZE: San Ramon Medical Center (San

GOLD: Oakland Zoo (Oakland) SILVER: Monterey Aquarium BRONZE*: California Academy Of Science

Dr. Elizabeth Salzburg (Kiwi Pediatrics) (Berkeley) SILVER: Dr. B. Anne Parker, Alameda Pediatric (Alameda) BRONZE: Dr. Ann Marie Franks (Berkeley)

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Arts (Richmond)

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD:

Oakland School For The Arts (Oakland) SILVER: Oakland Charter High (Oakland) BRONZE: ACLC (Alameda) GOLD:

Best Pediatrician

Ramon)

City Of Walnut Creek’s Ice Skating Pop-Up Rink (Walnut Creek) SILVER: Dublin Ca Iceland (Dublin) BRONZE: City Of Martinez’s Ice Skating Pop-Up Rink (Martinez) GOLD:

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Dr. Jill Cohn (Berkeley) SILVER: Dr. Lenoir (Oakland) BRONZE: Dr Lee (Dublin, Fremont)

UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Walnut Creek (Walnut Creek) SILVER: Innersport (Berkeley) BRONZE: Richard Burg, DC (Oakland) GOLD:

Best Learning Disabilities Specialist

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Dr. Brad Berman (Walnut Creek) SILVER: Eva Marlatt @ Pegged (Berkeley) BRONZE: Rita Meagher Chappelle (Oakland)

July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 19

BEST OF 2017 Joaquin Moraga (Moraga)

(Hayward) BRONZE: Holy Names High School (Oakland)

BRONZE*:

Salesian College Preparatory Richmond SILVER: De La Salle (Concord) BRONZE*: Berean (Walnut Creek) BRONZE*: Carondelet High School (Concord)

Best Special Needs Programs in a Middle School

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD:

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

Tilden Preparatory School (Albany, Walnut Creek) SILVER: Raskob Day School/Learning Institute (Oakland) BRONZE: The Phillips Academy (Alameda) GOLD:

Best Independent High School

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Head Royce School (Oakland) SILVER*: The College Preparatory School

PRESCHOOLS

(Oakland) SILVER*: Maybeck High School (Berkeley) BRONZE: Tilden Preparatory School (Albany,

BRONZE*:

Halstrom Academy (Walnut

Creek)

Best Bilingual Preschool

Walnut Creek)

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Tilden Preparatory School (Albany, Walnut Creek) SILVER*: Salesian College Prep (Richmond) SILVER*: Bentley School (Lafayette) BRONZE: Orinda Academy (Orinda)

GOLD: Ecole Bilingue De Berkeley (Berkeley) SILVER*: Shu Ren International School

GOLD:

Best Progressive High School

MIDDLE SCHOOLS Best Bilingual Middle School

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Ecole Bilingue De Berkeley (Berkeley) SILVER*: Shu Ren International School

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Head Royce School (Oakland) The College Preparatory School (Oakland) SILVER: Maybeck High School (Berkeley) BRONZE: Mentoring Academy (Oakland)

(Berkeley)

Tilden Preparatory School (Albany, Walnut Creek) SILVER: Carondelet High School (Concord) BRONZE: Bentley School (Oakland)

GOLD: St Paul School (San Pablo) SILVER: Tehiyah Day School (El Cerrito) BRONZE: Koremsatsu Middle School -

Best Public High School

Best Charter Middle School

GOLD*: GOLD*:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD:

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Berkeley High School (Berkeley) SILVER: Piedmont High School (Piedmont) BRONZE: Alameda High School (Alameda )

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Las Lomas (Walnut Creek) SILVER: El Cerrito High School - Wccusd

(El

Cerrito) BRONZE*: BRONZE*:

Acalanes High School (Lafayette) Northgate High School (Walnut

Creek)

Best Special Needs Programs in a High School As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Tilden Preparatory School (Albany, Walnut Creek) SILVER: Bayhill High School (Berkeley) BRONZE*: Oakland Tech Inclusion Program (Oakland) BRONZE*: The Phillips Academy (Alameda) GOLD:

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

GOLD: Orion Academy (Moraga) SILVER: Holden High School (Orinda) BRONZE*: Fusion Academy (Walnut Creek)

The Renaissance International School (Oakland) BRONZE: Escuela Bilingue Internacional (Oakland) SILVER*:

A s Voted By C ontra Costa County Voters

Wccusd (El Cerrito)

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Academy Of Alameda (Alameda) SILVER: North Oakland Community Charter

School (Oakland) BRONZE: East Bay Innovation Acadamy (Oakland)

Best Faith-Based Middle School

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: School Of The Madeleine (Berkeley) SILVER*: Saint Philip Neri Catholic School

(Alameda) SILVER*: Corpus Christi School (Piedmont) BRONZE: Oakland Hebrew Day School (Oakland) A s Voted By C ontra Costa County Voters GOLD*: GOLD*:

Tehiyah Day School (El Cerrito) St Mary Of The Immaculate (Walnut

Creek) SILVER: St Paul School (San Pablo) BRONZE*: St Joseph Pinole (Pinole) BRONZE*: St. David School (Richmond)

Best Independent Middle School

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Black Pine Circle (Berkeley) SILVER*: Head Royce School (Oakland) SILVER*: Bentley School (Oakland) SILVER*: Quarry Lane School (Dublin) BRONZE*: Ecole Bilingue De Berkeley

(Berkeley) BRONZE*:

The Crowden School (Berkeley)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Prospect Sierra School (El Cerrito) SILVER*: St. David School (Richmond) SILVER*: Montessori Family School

(Berkeley, El Cerrito) BRONZE*: The Seven Hills School (Walnut Creek) BRONZE*: The Saklan School (Moraga)

Best Montessori Middle School

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

The Renaissance International School (Oakland) SILVER: Montessori Family School (Berkeley, El Cerrito) BRONZE: Valley Montessori School (Livermore) GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Montessori Family School (Berkeley, El Cerrito) SILVER: Eagle Peak Montessori (Walnut Creek) BRONZE: Fountainhead (Multiple Locations) GOLD:

Best Progressive Middle School

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Park Day School (Oakland) SILVER: East Bay School for Boys (Berkeley) BRONZE: Julia Morgan School for Girls

(Oakland)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Tilden Preparatory School (Albany, Walnut Creek) SILVER*: Tehiyah Day School (El Cerrito) SILVER*: Prospect Sierra (El Cerrito) BRONZE*: Montessori Family School (El Cerrito) BRONZE*: Seven Hills School (Walnut Creek) GOLD:

Best Public Middle School As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Oakland School For The Arts (Oakland) SILVER: King Middle School (Berkeley) BRONZE: Lincoln Middle School (Alameda ) GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD:

Walnut Creek Intermediate (Walnut

Creek) Koremsatsu Middle School - Wccusd (El Cerrito) BRONZE*: Pleasant Hill Middle (Pleasant Hill) SILVER:

20 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

(Berkeley) The Renaissance International School (Oakland) BRONZE*: Escuela Bilingue Internacional (Oakland) BRONZE*: GISSV (Berkeley) SILVER*:

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Clayton Valley Parent Preschool (Concord) SILVER*: La Casita Bilingue (Pinole) SILVER*: Viva El Espanol (Lafayette, Pleasanton) BRONZE: Kids Into Speaking Spanish, Lafayette (Lafayette) GOLD:

Best Cooperative Preschool

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

Montclair Community Play Center (Oakland) SILVER: Peter Pan Cooperative Nursery School (Oakland) BRONZE: Quarry Lane Preschool (Dublin) GOLD:

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

GOLD: El Cerrito Preschool Co-Op (El Cerrito) SILVER*: Clayton Valley Parent Preschool

(Concord) SILVER*: MVPC Nurtury Preschool (Moraga) BRONZE*: Pied Piper Preschool (Walnut

Creek) BRONZE*:

Skytown Preschool (Kensington)

Best Faith-Based Preschool

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: JCC East Bay Preschool (Berkeley) SILVER: Gan Mah Tov Preschool (Oakland) BRONZE*: Hearts & Hands Christian

Preschool (Fremont) BRONZE*: Temple Sinai Preschool (Oakland) A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD:

St Mary Of The Immaculate (Walnut

Creek) SILVER*: MVPC Nurtury Preschool (Moraga) SILVER*: St. David Preschool (Richmond) BRONZE: Tehiyah Day School (El Cerrito)

Best Independent Preschool

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Step One School (Berkeley) SILVER*: Grand Lake Montessori (Oakland) SILVER*: The Renaissance International

School (Oakland) BRONZE*: Rockridge Little School (Oakland) BRONZE*: The Berkeley School Ecc (Berkeley) A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Montessori Family School (Berkeley, El Cerrito) SILVER*: St. David’s Preschool (Richmond) SILVER*: Nomura Preschool (Richmond) BRONZE*: Clayton Valley Parent Preschool (Concord) GOLD:

* denotes a tie

BEST OF 2017 BRONZE*:

The Child Day School (Multiple

Locations) BRONZE*:

The Saklan School (Moraga)

Best Large Preschool

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Step One School (Berkeley) SILVER*: Grand Lake Montessori (Oakland) SILVER*: JCC East Bay Preschool (Berkeley) BRONZE*: Rockridge Little School (Oakland) BRONZE*: Quarry Lane Preschool (Dublin)

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Nomura Preschool (Richmond) SILVER: The Child Day School (Multiple

Locations) BRONZE: Old Firehouse School (Lafayette, Walnut Creek)

Best Montessori Preschool

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Montessori Family School (Berkeley, El Cerrito) SILVER*: Montessori School At Five Canyons (Castro Valley) SILVER*: The Renaissance International School (Oakland) BRONZE*: Grand Lake Montessori (Oakland) BRONZE*: Rockridge Montessori (Oakland) BRONZE*: The Child Unique Montessori School (Alameda)

Shopping Area

Montessori Family School (Berkeley, El Cerrito) SILVER: Keystone Montessori (El Cerrito) BRONZE*: Danville Montessori School (Danville) BRONZE*: Diablo Valley Montessori (Lafayette)

GOLD:

GOLD: Rockridge (Oakland) SILVER: Park Street (Alameda) BRONZE: Fourth Street (Berkeley)

SILVER: Sweet Dreams (Berkeley, Orinda) BRONZE: Jenny K (El Cerrito)

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Rockridge Little School (Oakland) SILVER: Duck’s Nest (Berkeley, Oakland) BRONZE: Bright Future Early Learning Center

(Oakland)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Clayton Valley Parent Preschool (Concord) SILVER: El Cerrito Preschool Co-Op (El Cerrito) BRONZE: St Paul School (San Pablo) GOLD:

RETAIL Best Kids Shoe Store

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Kid Dynamo (Berkeley) SILVER: McCallou’s (Oakland) BRONZE: Nordstrom (Pleasanton)

Best Neighborhood

Creek)

SERVICES

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Walnut Creek (Walnut Creek) SILVER: Lafayette (Lafayette) BRONZE: Theater Square- Orinda (Orinda)

Best Place to Buy or Sell Gently Used Childrens Clothing

Best New Childrens Clothing

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Ruby’s Garden (Oakland) SILVER: Kid Dynamo (Berkeley) BRONZE: Silver Moon Kids (Oakland)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: A Wee Change (Walnut Creek) SILVER: Nordstrom (Walnut Creek) BRONZE: Kohls (Multiple Locations)

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Chloe’s Closet (Berkeley) SILVER: A Wee Change (Walnut Creek) BRONZE: Thrift Town (El Sobrante)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

GOLD: Full Belly Farm (Bay Area) SILVER: Farm Fresh To You (Bay Area)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Farm Fresh To You (Bay Area) SILVER: Full Belly Farms (Bay Area) BRONZE: My Sustainable Table (Bay Area)

Best Organic Food Market

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Berkeley Bowl (Berkeley) SILVER: Monterey Market (Oakland) BRONZE*: Farmer Joe’s (Oakland) BRONZE*: Marketplace (Alameda)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: El Cerrito Natural Foods (El Cerrito) SILVER: Trader Joe’s (Multiple Locations) BRONZE: Sprouts (Multiple Locations)

GOLD: Debra Schoenberg (San Francisco) SILVER: Fran Kaminer (Berkeley) BRONZE: David Alan Fink (San Francisco) GOLD:

Michael Hulshof (Walnut Creek)

Best Attorney for Educational Special Needs (IEPs, 504s)

Best Place to Buy or Sell Gently Used Toys As Voted By Alameda County Voters

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

Best Attorney for Divorce and Child Custody Issues

GOLD: Kelly’s Corner (Oakland) SILVER: Lauren’s Closet (Alameda) BRONZE: Hanna’s (Berkeley)

Best Organic Food Delivery Service

GOLD:

Best Small Preschool

Five Little Monkeys (Albany, Walnut

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Stoneridge Shopping Mall (Pleasanton) BRONZE:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Toy Go Round (Albany) SILVER: Kelly’s Corner (Oakland) BRONZE: Toy Safari (Alameda )

GOLD: Brett Allen (Alameda) SILVER: Betsy Brazy (Alameda) BRONZE: Disability Rights DREDF

(Berkeley)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

GOLD: A Wee Change (Walnut Creek) SILVER: Growning Pains (Concord) BRONZE: Toy Go Round (Albany)

GOLD:

Disability Rights DREDF (Berkeley)

Best Shopping Mall

Best Attorney for Estate Planning

GOLD: Bay Street (Emeryville) SILVER: South Shore Alameda (Alameda) BRONZE: Stoneridge (Pleasanton)

GOLD: Cassandra Massey (Alameda) SILVER: Kathleen Hunt (El Cerrito) BRONZE: Heather Reynolds (Alameda)

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD:

Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek (Walnut

Creek) SILVER:

GOLD: Kathleen Hunt (El Cerrito) SILVER: Steve Wood (Walnut Creek)

Sun Valley, Concord (Concord)

Best Birthday Indoor Party

BEST OF 2017

Best Party Supply Store GOLD: Boswells (Danville, Lafayette) SILVER: Party City (Multiple Locations)

Best Place to Buy Kids Furniture

Love learning.

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Berkeley Kids Room (Oakland) SILVER: Nest Bedding (Albany)

Best Place to Buy New Toys

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Mr. Mopps (Berkeley) SILVER: 5 Little Monkeys (Albany) BRONZE*: Toy House Montclair (Oakland) BRONZE*: Toy Safari (Alameda)

An independent school in Oakland, California serving Kindergarten-8th grade. pArKdAysChOOl.Org | 360 42nd street OAKlAnd CA 94609 | 510-653-0317

* denotes a tie

July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 21

BEST OF 2017 Venue

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: We Rock The Spectrum (Berkeley) SILVER*: Bladium (Alameda) SILVER*: Head Over Heels Gymnastics

(Emeryville) BRONZE: Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts (Lafayette, Oakland)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD: Playland Not At The Beach (El Cerrito) SILVER: Pump It Up (Oakland) BRONZE: Arf Walnut Creek (Walnut Creek)

Best Birthday Outdoor Party Venue As Voted By Alameda County Voters

GOLD: Tilden Park (Berkeley, Oakland) SILVER: Children’s Fairyland (Oakland) BRONZE: Crab Cove (Alameda)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

East Bay Regional Parks - Tilden Little Farm (Berkeley) SILVER: City Of El Cerrito Swim Center Recreation Pool Party (El Cerrito) BRONZE: Lake Anza (Berkeley)

Best Jumpy House Provider

GOLD: Bay Area Jump (Bay Area) SILVER: Maks Party Rentals (El Sobrante) BRONZE: The Jumpy Company (Bay Area)

Best Kids Party Entertainment

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Oakland Zoo Zoomobile (Oakland) SILVER: Fur, Scales And Tails (Bay Area) BRONZE: Magician Mike Della Penna (Bay

Area)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

Magician Mike Della Penna - The Magician (El Cerrito) SILVER: Playland Not At The Beach, El Cerrito (El Cerrito) BRONZE: Fur, Scales And Tails (Bay Area) GOLD:

GOLD:

Best Family Photographer As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Amy Perl (Bay Area) SILVER: Megan Small Photography

(Bay

Area) Corinne Mccombs Photography (Bay Area) BRONZE:

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD:

Gretchen Adams Photography (Bay

Area) SILVER: Barry Evans Studio (Bay Area) BRONZE: Protege Photography (Pleasant

Hill)

Best Nanny Services

GOLD: A Nanny Connection (East Bay) SILVER: Care.com (Multiple Locations)

Best Place for a Kids Haircut

As Voted By Alameda County Voters GOLD: Snippety Crickets (Berkeley) SILVER: Snips For Kids (Oakland) BRONZE: Clips N Snips (Oakland)

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters GOLD:

Cool Tops (Oakland, Orinda, Pleasant

Hill) SILVER*: SILVER*:

Shear Adventures (Danville) Snippety Crickets (Berkeley)

Birthday Cake

Cupcakes

GOLD: La Farine (Oakland) SILVER: Tuckers Ice Cream (Alameda) BRONZE*: Nothing Bundt Cake (Emeryville) BRONZE*: Virginia Bakery (Berkeley)

GOLD:

GOLD: Susie Cakes, Lafayette (Lafayette) SILVER: Nothing Bundt Cakes (Walnut Creek) BRONZE: Masse’s Pastries (Berkeley)

GOLD: Kara’s Cupcakes (Multiple Locations) SILVER: Nothing Bundt Cakes (Walnut Creek)

A s Voted By Alameda County Voters

As Voted By Alameda County Voters

James And The Giant Cupcake (Oakland) SILVER: Love At First Bite (Berkeley) BRONZE: Feel Good Bakery (Alameda)

A s Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

As Voted By Contra Costa County Voters

BRONZE:

Best Place to Buy a

Susie Cakes (Walnut Creek)

Best Place to Buy

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22 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

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S H C P. E D U

BEST OF 2017 AS VOTED BY MARIN COUNTY VOTERS CAMPS

Best Academic Summer Camps Gold: No Limits Day Camp (Corte Madera)

www.nolimitsdaycamp.com Silver: Wildcare (San Rafael)

www.wildcarebayarea.org Bronze: Viva el Español (Mill Valley)

www.vivaelespanol.org

Best Animals and Nature Summer Camps Gold: Marin Treks (Novato)

www.marintreks.com Silver: Wildcare (San Rafael)

www.wildcarebayarea.org Bronze*: Trackers Bay (Larkspur)

www.trackersbay.com/ Bronze*: Avid4 Adventure (Mill Valley)

www.avid4.com

Best Arts and Crafts Summer Camps Gold: Steve & Kate’s Camp (Kentfield)

www.steveandkatescamp.com/ Silver: Studio 4 Arts Fine Art Camp (Novato)

www.studio4art.net/ Bronze: Camp Doodles (Mill Valley)

www.campdoodles.com

www.studio4art.net/ Bronze: Wildcare (San Rafael)

www.wildcarebayarea.org

Best Music and Singing Summer Camps Gold: Mr D’s Music Club

www.mrdsmusicclub.com Silver: Blue Bear School Of Music

www.bluebearmusic.org Bronze: Own The Mic (San Anselmo)

www.ownthemic.org

Best Overnight Summer Camps Gold: Girl Scouts of Northern California (Marin)

www.camprocks.org/ Silver: Marin Ranch Camp (Petaluma)

marinranchcamp.org/ Bronze: Trackers Bay (Larkspur)

www.trackersbay.com/

Best Performing Arts Summer Camps Gold: Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley)

www.marintheatre.org Silver: Young Actors Theater Camp (Cazadero)

Best Child Care Referral and Support Agency

www.baykidsmuseum.org

Best Ballet Summer Camps

Gold*: Noah’s Ark Preschool (Novato)

Gold: Love2dance (Novato)

Silver*: Osher Marin Jcc Camp (San Rafael)

www.love2dance.biz Silver: Stapleton School of Performing Arts (San

Anselmo) www.stapletonschool.org Bronze: Tutu School (Larkspur)

www.tutuschool.com

Best Counselor in Training (CIT) Summer Program Gold: Trackers Bay (Larkspur)

www.trackersbay.com/ Silver: Wildcare (San Rafael)

www.wildcarebayarea.org

Best Culinary Summer Camps

visitmca.org/ www.marinjcc.org Silver*: Steve & Kate’s Camp (Kentfield)

www.tutuschool.com

Best Family and Sleepaway Summer Camps Gold: Marin Ranch Camp (Petaluma)

marinranchcamp.org Silver: CYO Camp (Sonoma)

www.cyocamp.org Bronze: Mountain Camp (Pollock Pines)

www.mountaincamp.com

Best General and Traditional Summer Day Camps Gold: Steve & Kate’s Camp (Kentfield)

www.steveandkatescamp.com/ Silver: Marin Christian Academy (Novato)

visitmca.org/ Bronze: No Limits Day Camp (Corte Madera)

www.nolimitsdaycamp.com

Best Holiday and Vacation Camps Gold: Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito)

www.baykidsmuseum.org Silver: Studio 4 Arts Fine Art Camp (Novato)

Bronze: Practical Martial Arts (Corte Madera)

practicalmartialarts.net

Bronze*: No Limits Day Camp (Corte Madera)

Silver*: Once Around (Mill Valley)

Gold: Marin YMCA (San Rafael)

www.nolimitsdaycamp.com

www.oncearound.com

Bronze*: Camp Galileo (Tiburon)

Silver*: Studio 4 Arts Fine Art Camp (Novato)

www.galileo-camps.com

www.studio4art.net/

Best Science Summer Camps

Bronze: Doodlebug (San Anselmo)

Gold: Marin Treks (Novato)

Best Ballet Classes

www.marintreks.com Silver: Play-Well TEKnologies (San Anselmo)

www.doodlebugmarin.com Gold: Love2dance (Novato)

Bronze*: Stapleton School Of Performing Arts

Bronze: Tutu School (Larkspur)

www.tam-aikido.org

Best Swim Classes

Best Sports Summer Camps

Anselmo) www.stapletonschool.org

Gold: Aikido of Tamalpais (Corte Madera)

millvalleypottersstudio.com

www.marinballet.org

Silver: Stapleton School of Performing Arts (San

Best Martial Arts Classes

www.steveandkatescamp.com/

www.wildcarebayarea.org

www.love2dance.biz

Bronze: Le Petit Jardin (San Anselmo) www. lpjkids.com

Gold: Mill Valley Potter’s Studio (Mill Valley)

Camp (San Rafael) www.theculinarydudeontour.com

Gold: Love2dance (Novato)

www.colorsofspanish.org

Best Art Classes

Silver: Marin Ballet (San Rafael)

Best Dance Summer Camps

Silver: Colors of Spanish

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

Bronze: Wildcare (San Rafael)

itkculinary.com

www.vivaelespanol.org

parentsplaceonline.org/location/marin-county

Gold: The Culinary Dude’s Summer Cooking

Bronze: ITK Culinary (Sausalito)

Gold: Viva el Español (Mill Valley)

Gold: Parents Place (San Rafael)

www.love2dance.biz

www.kidscookingforlife.org

Best Language Classes

www.mdtl.org

www.play-well.org

Silver: Kids Cooking For Life (San Rafael)

www.doodlebugmarin.com

www. marinhorizon.org

Bronze: Mr D’s Music Club

Gold*: Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito)

Silver: Doodlebug (San Anselmo)

Silver: Marin Horizon (Mill Valley) Bronze: Montessori de Terra Linda (San Rafael)

Best Preschool Age Summer Camps

www.oncearound.com

visitmca.org/

www.campyatc.com www.mrdsmusicclub.com

Gold: Once Around (Mill Valley)

Gold: Noah’s Ark Preschool (Novato)

Gold: Dominican Sports Camp (San Rafael)

www.dominicanathletics.com Silver: Sports Kids At San Domenico (San

Anselmo) www.sandomenico.org Bronze*: Rolling Hills Club (Novato)

(San Anselmo) • www.stapletonschool.org Bronze*: Tutu School (Larkspur)

www.tutuschool.com

Best Classes for Musical Instrument Instruction Gold: Blue Bear School Of Music

www.rollinghillsclub.com

www.bluebearmusic.org

Bronze*: No Limits Day Camp (Corte Madera)

Silver: Marin Music Center (Novato)

www.nolimitsdaycamp.com

www.marinmusic.com

Best Technology and Digital Arts Summer Camps

Bronze: Music Together of Marin (San Anselmo)

Gold: Steve & Kate’s Camp (Kentfield)

www.musictogetherofmarin.com/

Best Dance Classes

www.steveandkatescamp.com/

Gold: Love2dance (Novato)

Silver*: MV Code Club (Mill Valley)

www.love2dance.biz

www.mvcodeclub.com

Silver: Stapleton School of Performing Arts (San

Silver*: Play-Well TEKnologies (San Anselmo)

Anselmo) www.stapletonschool.org

www.play-well.org

Bronze: Marin Dance Theatre (San Rafael)

Bronze: Id Tech (San Anselmo)

www.mdt.org

www.idtech.com

Best Teen Focused Summer Camps

Best Enrichment and After School Programs Gold: No Limits Day Camp (Greenbrae)

Gold: Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley)

www.nolimitsdaycamp.com

www.marintheatre.org/education/summer-camp

Silver: Play-Well Teknologies (San Anselmo)

Silver*: Marin Shakespeare Company (San

www.play-well.org

Rafael) • www.marinshakespeare.org

Bronze: Marin Treks (Novato)

Silver*: The Culinary Dude’s Summer Cooking

www.marintreks.com/Programs-After-School.html

Camp (San Rafael) www.theculinarydudeontour.com

Best Gymnastics Classes

Bronze: Studio 4 Arts Fine Art Camp (Novato)

www.gymworldmarin.com

www.studio4art.net/

CHILD CARE

Best Child Care

Gold: Gymworld (San Rafael) Silver: Mega Marin Elite (San Rafael)

megagymnastics.com

Best Hobby Spot

July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 23

BEST OF 2017 www.ymcasf.org Silver: Bay Club (Corte Madera)

Madera) www.mcds.org

www.lasguitarrasnovato.com

FOOD

www.bayclubs.com/marin/

Bronze: Marinitas (San Anselmo)

marinitas.net

Best Burger Joint

Best Pizza Parlor

Best Voice Classes

Gold: Flatiron In San Rafael (San Rafael)

Gold: Tamalpie (Mill Valley)

flatironsanrafael.com

www.tamalpiepizza.com

Gold: San Domenico Conservatory (San Anselmo)

Silver: Counter (Corte Madera)

Silver*: Mulberry Street (San Rafael)

Bronze: Rolling Hills Club (Novato)

www. rollinghillsclub.com

• www.sandomenico.org

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Best Faith-Based Elementary School Gold: Marin Christian Academy (Novato)

www.thecounterburger.com/cortemadera/

www.mulberrystreetpizzasanrafael.com

Bronze: Superduper In Mill Valley (Mill Valley)

Silver*: Pizzalina (San Anselmo)

superduperburgers.com

Best Cupcake Shop Gold: Teeny Cakes (Novato)

visitmca.org

www.teenycake.com

Silver: Brandeis Hillel Marin (San Rafael)

Silver: Susie Cakes (Greenbrae)

www.bhds.org Bronze: San Domenico School (San Anselmo)

www.sandomenico.org

www.susiecakes.com

Best Frozen Yogurt Outlet

FUN AND ATTRACTIONS

Best Athletic Clubs

Gold*: Bay Club (Corte Madera)

www.bayclubs.com/marin/ Gold*: Tj’s Gym (Corte Madera/Mill Valley/San

Rafael) • www.tjsgym.com

Gold: Swirl Frozen Yogurt San Anselmo (San

Silver: Rolling Hills Club (Novato)

Best Ice Cream Parlor

Best Indoor Play Place

Gold: Marin Waldorf School (San Rafael)

Gold: Silbermans (San Rafael)

Gold: Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito)

www.marinwaldorf.org Silver: San Domenico School (San Anselmo)

www.sandomenico.org Bronze: Marin Christian Academy (Novato)

visitmca.org

Best Montessori Elementary School Gold*: Montessori De Terra Linda (San Rafael)

www.mdtl.org Silver: Marin Montessori School (Corte Madera)

www.marinmontessori.org

Best Progressive Elementary School Gold: Marin Christian Academy (Novato)

visitmca.org Silver: Cascade Canyon (Fairfax)

www. cascadecanyon.org Bronze: Marin Country Day School (Corte

www. rollinghillsclub.com

silbermanns.com

www.baykidsmuseum.org

Silver: Noci Gelato (Mill Valley)

Silver: Cal Star Gymnastics (Novato)

www.nocigelato.com

www.calstar.info

Bronze: Double Rainbow (San Rafael)

Bronze: Play-Well Teknologies (San Anselmo)

www.doublerainbow.com/dr

www.play-well.org

Best Italian Restaurant

Best Museum

Gold*: Frantio’s (Mill Valley)

Gold: Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito)

www.frantoio.com

www.baykidsmuseum.org

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant (Any Ethnicity)

Silver: California Academy Of Sciences

Gold*: Tamalpie (Mill Valley)

www.tamalpiepizza.com Silver: Grazie (Novato)

www.grazierestaurant.net

Best Mexican Restaurant Gold: Grilley’s (Mill Valley / Fairfax)

www.grillys.com Silver: Las Guitarras (Novato)

www.wildcarebayarea.org

Coolest Place to Take a Tour Gold: Jelly Belly Factory (Fairfield)

www. jellybelly.com Silver: Alcatraz (Bay)

www.nps.gov/alca/index.htm Bronze: Wildcare (San Rafael)

www.wildcarebayarea.org

HEALTH

pizzalina.com

Best Independent Elementary School

Anselmo) • swirlfrozenyo.com

Bronze: Wildcare (San Rafael)

(San Francisco) • www.calacademy.org Bronze: Wildcare (San Rafael)

www.wildcarebayarea.org/site/PageServer

Best Zoo or Aquarium Gold: San Francisco Zoo (San Francisco)

www.sfzoo.org Silver: Marin Mammal Center (Sausalito)

www.marinemammalcenter.org

Best Hospital or Medical Center Gold: Kaiser Permanente (San Rafael)

www.kaiserpermanente.org/sanrafael Silver: Marin General (Greenbrae)

www.maringeneral.org Bronze: California Pacific Medical Center

(San Francisco) • www.cpmc.org

Best Optometrist Gold: Eye Wish Optometry (Novato)

www.eyewishopt.com Silver: Dr Eliot Kaplan Od (Mill Valley)

www.millvalleyoptometry.com Bronze: Lumina Optometry (San Anselmo)

luminaoptometry.com/

Best Orthodontist Gold: Bales Orthodontics (Novato)

www. balesorthodontics.com Silver: Haney Orthodontics (San Anselmo)

www.myofunctionaltherapist.com/carly-schneider Bronze: Don Wilson (Novato)

www.wilsonortho.com

Best Pediatric Dentist Gold: Steven Mcconnell DDS (Novato)

www.cosmeticdentistrymarin.com/ Silver: Gila C Dorostkar (Greenbrae)

www.drdorostkar.com/ Bronze: Ladan Vakili DMD (Kentfield)

www.smilez4u.com/

School Open Houses

Open House Information at

24 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

www.SchoolsBayArea.com

BEST OF 2017 Best Pediatrician

Bronze: Old Firehouse School (Mill Valley)

Gold: Dr. Aileen Aicardi (Mill Valley)

Best Montessori Preschool

www.goldengatepediatrics.com

www. oldfirehouseschool.com

summer-camps

creativity.org/

Bronze: Nature Nurture

Silver: Steve & Kate’s Camp www.steveandkatescamp.com/

www.naturenurture.com

mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/provider/ dmoribe

www.millvalleynurseryschool.org

Best Arts and Crafts Summer Camps

Silver: Marin Montessori School (Corte Madera)

Best Sports Medicine Practice

www.marinmontessori.org

Gold: Steve & Kate’s Camp

Silver: Dr. Moribe / Kaiser (Novato)

Gold: Dr. Doug Kyle (Corte Madera)

www.marinspineandsports.com/contact.html Silver: Mt. Tam Orthopedics (Larkspur)

Gold: Montessori De Terra Linda (San Rafael)

Bronze: Montessori School Of Central Marin (San

Rafael) • www.montessoricentralmarin.org

Best Small Preschool

www.marinspineandsports.com/contact.html

Gold: Mill Valley Cooperative Nursery School (Mill

Bronze: Echo Rock Neurotherapy (Mill Valley)

Valley) www.mdtl.org

echorocktherapy.com

HIGH SCHOOLS

Best Faith-Based High School Gold: North Bay Christian Academy (Novato)

Silver: Le Petit Jardin (San Anselmo)

www.lpjkids.com Bronze: Marin Horizon (Mill Valley)

www.marinhorizon.org

SERVICES

nbca.com/ Silver: Marin Catholic (Kentfield)

www.marincatholic.org/page Bronze: San Domenico School (San Anselmo)

www.sandomenico.org

Best Independent High School Gold: San Domenico School (San Anselmo)

www.sandomenico.org Silver: The Branson School (Ross)

www.branson.org Bronze: The Marin School (San Rafael)

www.themarinschool.org

Best Progressive High School Gold: The Branson School (Ross)

www.branson.org Silver: The Marin School (San Rafael)

www.themarinschool.org

Best Birthday Party Venue

Gold: Tech Know How

www.techknowhowkids.com

creativity.org

Silver: Play-Well Teknologies

Silver: Asian Art Studios

www.play-well.org

www.asianartsstudio.com/SUMMER-CAMP.html

Bronze: Bricks 4 Kidz

Best Ballet Summer Camps

Gold: One Martial Arts

Silver: Tutu School • www.tutuschool.com

www.onemartialarts.com

Bronze: American Dance Training Camps

Silver: San Francisco Aikido

www.americandancetrainingcamp.com

www.sfaikido.com/camp-japan

Best Circus Arts Summer Camps

Bronze: Academy Of Martial Arts Shotokan

Gold: Circus Center

(South San Francisco) www.amaskarate.com

Silver: Love2dance (Novato)

Best Counselor in Training (CIT) Summer Programs

Gold: Astro Jump Of The North Bay

astrojump.com Silver: Drumming Magic

drummingmagic.com Bronze: Fur, Scales And Tails Animal Shows

www.furscalesandtails.com

Best Nanny Services

www.bhds.org Bronze: San Domenico School (San Anselmo)

www.sandomenico.org

Best Independent Middle School Gold: Brandeis Hillel Marin (San Rafael)

www.bhds.org Silver: San Domenico School (San Anselmo)

www.sandomenico.org Bronze: Mark Day School (San Rafael)

www.markdayschool.org/

Best Progressive Middle School

Silver: Marin Country Day School (Corte Madera)

www.mcds.org

PRESCHOOLS

Best Independent Preschool Gold: ABC Academy (San Anselmo)

www.abcacademypreschool.com Silver: The Mountain School (Corte Madera)

themountainschool.net Bronze: Noah’s Ark Preschool (Novato)

visitmca.org/

Best Large Preschool Gold: Noah’s Ark Preschool (Novato)

visitmca.org/ Silver: The Mountain School (Corte Madera)

themountainschool.net

Bronze: Marsh Youth Theater

www.themarsh.org/

www.americandancetrainingcamp.com

Best Faith-Based Camps

Best Preschool Age Summer Camps

Gold: JCC Of San Francisco

Gold: Steve & Kate’s Camp Silver: SF Tots

www.sftots.com/camp

Best Foreign Language and Culture Summer Camps

Bronze: Recess Urban Recreation

www.teenycake.com Bronze: Sweet Things Bakery (Tiburon)

www.sweetthings.com

RETAIL

steveandkatescamp.com

www.recessurbanrecreation.com

Best Science Summer Camps

Gold: Sky Kids • www.sky-kids.org

Best Place to Buy New Toys

Silver: Lycee Francais De San Francisco

Gold: Id Tech Camps • www.idtech.com

www.lelycee.org

Gold: Five Little Monkeys (Novato)

Silver: Children’s Creativity Museum

Bronze: Asian Art Studios

creativity.org/

www.asianartsstudio.com

Bronze: Destination Science

www.5littlemonkeys.com Rafael) • www.achildsdelight.com

Gold: Town Center (Corte Madera)

Madera) • www.villageatcortemadera.com

(San Rafael) www.marinformative.org

www.lindabulgosmusicalproductions.com

Bronze: CUPC • cupc.org/summercamp

Best Faith-Based Preschool

Bronze: Marin Formative Christian Preschool

Silver: Linda Bulgo’s Musical Productions

www.poonballet.com

Silver: Teeny Cakes (Novato)

www.shoptowncenter.com

www.marinjcc.org

www.campyatc.com

Gold: Shan-Yee Poon School Of Performing Arts

Silver: CYO Camps • camp.cccyo.org/

(Sausalito) www.lelycee.org

Silver: JCC Of Marin (Tiburon / San Rafael)

Gold: Young Actors’ Theatre Camp

www.krumbscakes.com

Best Shopping Mall

visitmca.org/

Best Dance Summer Camps

www.jccsf.org/youth-family/camps/summer-camp

Gold: Le Petit Jardin (San Anselmo)

Gold: Noah’s Ark Preschool (Novato)

Best Performing Arts Summer Camps

Gold: Krumbs Cakes (San Rafael)

Silver: Childs Delight (Corte Madera / San

Silver: Lycee Francais de San Francisco

Bronze: Camp Tawonga • tawonga.org

www.culinarydudeontour.com

Bronze: American Dance Training Camps

Best Bilingual Preschool www.lpjkids.com

Silver: CYO Camps • camp.cccyo.org

Silver: Young Urban Modern Chefs

Silver: Barber Lane (Larkspur)

Gold: Cascade Canyon (Fairfax)

www. cascadecanyon.org

www.campyatc.com

www.sproutscookingclub.org

Silver: Tutu School • www.tutuschool.com

Best Place to Buy a Birthday Cake

Gold: Young Actors’ Theatre Camp

Gold: Sprouts Cooking Club

Gold: Hair N Joy In Mill Valley (Mill Valley)

www.barberlane.com

Best Overnight and Sleepaway Summer Camps

Best Culinary Camps

Bronze: Proaupair (Marin)

Bronze: San Francisco Girls Chorus

www.sfgirlschorus.org

www.naturenurture.com

Gold: Marin Christian Academy (Novato)

Best Place for a Kids Haircut

www.lindabulgosmusicalproductions.com

Bronze: Nature Nurture

Bronze: Culinary Dudes

Silver: Brandeis Hillel Marin (San Rafael)

Silver: Linda Bulgo’s Musical Productions

• www.steveandkatescamp.com/

Silver: Aupaircare (Marin)

www.proaupair.com

www.bluebearmusic.org

Silver: Steve & Kate’s Camp Mentorship Program

Best Faith-Based Middle School visitmca.org

Gold: Blue Bear School Of Music

Program • www.myeep.org

yumchefssf.org

www.aupaircare.com

Best Music and Singing Summer Camps

Gold: Mayor’s Youth Employment & Education

Gold: Care.com • www.care.com

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Best Martial Arts Camps

www.poonballet.com

Silver: Acrosports • www.acrosports.org

Best Kids Party Entertainment

www.bricks4kidz.com

Gold: Shan-Yee Poon School Of Performing Arts

circuscenter.org/day-camp/

bowlmarin.com

Best Lego Camps

Gold: Children’s Creativity Camps

www.baykidsmuseum.org

Bronze: Country Club Bowl (San Rafael)

www.jccsf.org/youth-family/camps/summer-camp

www.steveandkatescamp.com/

Gold: Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito)

www.love2dance.biz

Bronze: JCC Of San Francisco

Silver: The Village In Corte Madera (Corte

AS VOTED BY SAN FRANCISCO VOTERS CAMPS

Best General and Traditional Summer Day Camps steveandkatescamp.com www.galileo-camps.com Bronze: Children’s Creativity Museum

creativity.org/

Best Gymnastics Summer Camps Gold: San Francisco Gymnastics

www.sanfranciscogymnastics.com/ Silver: Acrosports • www.acrosports.org Bronze: American Gymnastics Club

Gold: Young Writers Camps

Best Health and Special Needs Summer Camps www.sfautismsociety.org

Bronze: St Ignatius College Prep

Silver: Camp Erin

www.siprep.org

www.hospicebythebay.org

Best Animal and Nature Summer Camps

Bronze: Lighthouse Enchanted Hills

Silver: San Francisco SPCA

www.sfspca.org/youth-programs/animal-camps/

for our E-Newsletter delivered semi-monthly to your inbox! www.parentspress.com

Gold: Autism Society

www.stratfordschools.com/

Gold: San Francisco Zoo • www.sfzoo.org

Silver: Camp Galileo

www.americangymnasticsclub.com

Silver: Stratford School

Best Sports Camps

Gold: Steve & Kate’s Camp

Best Academic Summer Camps bayareawritingproject.org

destinationscience.org

lighthouse-sf.org

Best Holiday and Vacation Camps Gold: Children’s Creativity Museum

July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 25

Gold: Bay Club • www.bayclubs.com

creativity.org/

www.jccsf.org/

Silver: Gator Camp SFSU

Bronze: Nature Nurture

Bronze*: UCSF

kin.sfsu.edu/gatorcamp

www.naturenurture.com

Bronze: JCC Of San Francisco

Best Foreign Language Class

campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/fitnessrecreation/ services/membership

www.jccsf.org/youth-family/camps/summer-camp

Best Summer Camps by a Museum or Attraction Gold: Bay Area Discovery Museum

www.baykidsmuseum.org Silver: San Francisco Zoo

www.sfzoo.org Bronze*: Walt Disney Family Museum

www.waltdisney.org Bronze*: Children’s Creativity Museum

creativity.org/

Gold: Let’s Play In Spanish Silver: Goethe Institut • www.goethe.de/usa

creativity.org/

Bronze: La Scuola

www.lascuolasf.org Gold: Acrosports • www.acrosports.org

Best Museum

Silver: San Francisco Gymnastics

www.sanfranciscogymnastics.com Bronze: American Gymnastics Club

Best Martial Arts Classes www.onemartialarts.com

www.taichibagua.com

Gold: Hands On Tomorrow

Gold: La Petite Baleen • www.swimlpb.com/

www.handsonbayarea.org/tomorrow

Silver: Bay Club • www.bayclubs.com

Silver: Ripe Fruit Writing Camp

Bronze: Embarcadero YMCA

Gold: San Francisco Montessori Academy

www.sfmontessoriacademy.com Silver: Montessori Children’s Center

www.ymcasf.org/Embarcadero

Best Theater Classes Gold: Marsh Youth Theater

www.childrensartcenter.org Silver: Mission Cultural Center For Latino Arts

www.missionculturalcenter.org Bronze: Children’s Creativity Museum

creativity.org/

Best Ballet Classes Gold: Shan-Yee Poon School Of Performing Arts

www.poonballet.com Silver: Tutu School

www.tutuschool.com/ Bronze: Star Dance Studio

www.stardancestudio.net

Best Circus Arts Classes

www.musicaltheatreworks.org

www.literacyandlanguagecenter.com/ Silver: Kumon • www.kumon.com Bronze: Tutor Corps

www.tutorcorps.com

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Best Bilingual Elementary School Gold: Lycee Francais De San Francisco

www.lelycee.org Silver: German International School Of Silicon

Valley • www.gissv.org Bronze*: French American International School

Best Faith-Based Elementary School Gold: St Thomas The Apostle School

sfsta.org Silver: St Anthony’s Immaculate Conception

saicsf.org

Gold*: Music Together Of San Francisco

Gold: Stratford School

www.sfmusictogether.com/

www.stratfordschools.com

Gold*: Blue Bear School Of Music

Silver: Katherine Michiels School

www.bluebearmusic.org

kmsofsf.org

Silver: Music Exchange

Bronze: Live Oak School

Silver: Tutu School

www.tutuschool.com/ Bronze: ODC

www.odcdance.org

Best Enrichment and AfterSchool Programs Gold: San Francisco Children’s Art Center

www.childrensartcenter.org Silver: Children’s Creativity Museum

Gold: Chinese American International School

www.cais.org Silver: French American International School

www.internationalsf.org Bronze: Lycee Francais De San Francisco

www.lelycee.org

Best Faith-Based Middle School Gold: Schools Of The Sacred Heart

www.sacredsf.org Silver: San Francisco Christian School

www.sfchristianschool.org/ Bronze: St Anthony’s Immaculate Conception

saicsf.org/ Gold: San Francisco Waldorf School

sfwaldorf.org Silver: Synergy School • www.synergyschool.org/ Bronze*: Presidio Hill School

www.presidiohill.org Bronze*: Katherine Delmar Burke School

www.kdbs.org

Best Progressive Middle School Gold: Presidio Hill School

Gold: AT&T Park

http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/ballpark/ information/?content=tours

HEALTH

Best Birthing Center

Gold: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital

www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org Silver: California Pacific Medical Center

www.cpmc.org/ Bronze: Kaiser Permanente

www.Kaiser Permanente.org

Best Hospital or Medical Center Gold: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital

www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org Silver: Kaiser Permanente

www.Kaiser Permanente.org Bronze: California Pacific Medical Center

www.cpmc.org/ Gold: Children’s Choice Pediatric Dental Care

www.lascuolasf.org

Best Independent Elementary School

• www.dancemission.com/

Coolest Place to Take a Tour

Bronze*: La Scuola

Best Classes for Musical Instrument Instruction

Gold: The Dance Brigade’s Dance Mission Theater

www.aquariumofthebay.org

Best Pediatric Dentist

www.sfchristianschool.org/

Best Dance Classes

Bronze: Aquarium Of The Bay

www.internationalsf.org

Silver: Acrosports • www.acrosports.org

exploringmusicusa.com

www.calacademy.org

www. jellybelly.com

Bronze: San Francisco Christian School

Bronze: Exploring Music

Silver: California Academy Of Sciences

www.missionculturalcenter.org

Gold: Circus Center • circuscenter.org

www.muex.com/

Gold: San Francisco Zoo • www.sfzoo.org

Bronze: Musical Theatre Works

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Best Bilingual Middle School

Best Independent Middle School

Bronze*: Children’s Creativity Museum

Bronze: Jelly Belly Factory (Fairfield)

Gold: Literacy And Language Center

Gold: San Francisco Children’s Art Center

cartoonart.org/

Silver: Mission Cultural Center For Latino Arts

Bronze: Galinka’s Daycare

Best Art Classes

Bronze*: Cartoon Art Museum

Silver: Recology SF • recologysf.com

Best Tutorial Programs

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

www.exploratorium.edu

www.themarsh.org/

www.montessorichildrenscenter.org (415) 731-5943

Silver: Exploratorium

Best Zoo or Aquarium

Best Swim Classes

Best Child Care

www.calacademy.org

creativity.org/

Best Teen Focused Summer Camps

CHILD CARE

Gold: California Academy Of Sciences

www.sfmartialarts.com Bronze: Champsforce Martial Arts

www.culinarydudeontour.com

www.peekadoodle.com/

Silver: Paresh Martial Arts

destinationscience.org

Bronze: Culinary Dudes

www.recessurbanrecreation.com/ Bronze: Peekadoodle Kidsclub

Gold: One Martial Arts

www.ripefruitwriting.com

Silver: Recess Urban Recreation

Best Gymnastics Classes

Gold: Id Tech Camps • www.idtech.com

Bronze: Destination Science

Best Indoor Play Place Gold: Children’s Creativity Museum

Best Technology and Digital Arts Summer Camps

www.techknowhowkids.com

wissf.org

www.letsplayinspanish.com

www.americangymnasticsclub.com

Silver: Tech Know How

Bronze*: Woodside International School

mychildrenschoice.com Silver: Nancy Kwon Hsieh Dds

www.sfkidsdentist.com Bronze: Noe Valley Smiles For Kids

www.noevalleysmilesandbraces.com

Best Pediatrician

www.presidiohill.org Silver: Synergy School • www.synergyschool.org/ Bronze*: San Francisco Schoolhouse

www.sfschoolhouse.org Bronze*: Katherine Delmar Burke School

www.kdbs.org

PRESCHOOLS

Best Bilingual Preschool

Gold: La Lengua Bilingual Preschool

lalenguapreschool.com Silver: La Scuola

www.lascuolasf.org Bronze: Kinderhaus German International

Preschool • blog.kinderhaussf.org/en/welcome/

Best Faith-Based Preschool Gold: St Thomas The Apostle Preschool

sfsta.org/ Silver: Lakeside Presbyterian Center

www.lakesidechildrencenter.org/ Bronze: The Serra Preschool

www.theserrapreschool.com/

Best Independent Preschool Gold*: San Francisco Montessori Academy

www.sfmontessoriacademy.com/ Gold*: C5 Children’s School

www.c5children.org/ Silver*: Presidio Knolls School

www.presidioknolls.org/ Silver*: Stratford School www.stratfordschools.

Gold: Getzwell Pediatrics • getzwell.com

com

Silver: Noah Simons Md • noahsimons.com

Bronze: San Francisco Waldorf School

Bronze: Dr. Dawn Rosenberg

www.goldengatepediatrics.com

HIGH SCHOOLS

Best Alternative Learning Style High School Gold: Fusion Academy

sfwaldorf.org

Best Large Preschool Gold: St Thomas The Apostle Preschool

sfsta.org/ Silver: La Scuola

www.lascuolasf.org

www. fusionacademy.com

Bronze: Lands End School

www.liveoaksf.org

Silver: Halstrom Academy

Best Progressive Elementary School

www.halstromacademy.org

Best Montessori Preschool

Gold: Presidio Hill School

Gold: Sacred Heart College Prep

Best Faith-Based High School

www.presidiohill.org

www.shcp.edu

Silver: La Scuola

Silver: Jewish Community High School Of The Bay

415-751-8511 Gold: San Francisco Montessori Academy

www.sfmontessoriacademy.com Silver: Montessori Children’s Center

www.montessorichildrenscenter.org/

www.lascuolasf.org

• www.jchsofthebay.org

Bronze: Little Wonders Montessori

Bronze: Synergy School

Bronze: St Ignatius College Prep

Best Small Preschool

www.synergyschool.org

FUN AND ATTRACTIONS

Best Athletic Clubs

Gold: Bay Club • www.bayclubs.com Silver: YMCA Of San Francisco

www.ymcasf.org/Embarcadero/ Bronze*: JCC Of San Francisco

26 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

www.siprep.org

Best Independent High School Gold: Sacred Heart College Prep

www.shcp.edu/ Silver: Drew School • www.drewschool.org Bronze*: Lick-Wilmerding High School

www.lwhs.org

www.lwmontessori.org Gold: San Francisco Montessori Academy

www.sfmontessoriacademy.com Silver: Ladybug Preschool

www.ladybugpreschoolsf.wordpress.com Bronze: Little Wonders Montessori

www.lwmontessori.org

RETAIL

Best Place to Buy New Toys Gold: Ambassador Toys • ambassadortoys.com

www.newmozartschool.com Silver*: Stanford Jazz Camp (Stanford)

www.stanfordjazz.org Bronze: PYO Music Camp (San Carlos)

Silver: The Marvegos Fine Art School

Best Place to Buy Resale Children’s Clothing

Best Performing Arts Summer Camps

Gold: Gold Medal Martial Arts (Belmont)

Gold: Chloe’s Closet • chloescloset.com

Gold: San Carlos Childrens Theater (San Carlos)

Silver: Kuk Sool Won of Menlo Park

Silver: Thrift Town • thrifttown.com

www.sancarloschildrenstheater.com

(Menlo Park) • www.menloparkmartialarts.com

Silver*: Peninsula Youth Theater (Mountain View)

Bronze: All Star Katate (Redwood City)

SERVICES

www.pytnet.org/ Silver*: Young Actors’ Theatre Camp (Multiple

Gold: Recess Urban Recreation

Locations) • www.campyatc.com

www.recessurbanrecreation.com/

Bronze: Theatre Works (Palo Alto)

Silver: House Of Air • www.houseofair.com

www.theatreworks.org

Bronze: Urban Putt • www.urbanputt.com

Best Preschool Age Summer Camps

Best Family Photographer Gold: Niall David • nialldavid.com Silver: Augie Chang Photography

www.augiechang.com Bronze: Vivian Sachs • www.viviansachs.com

Best Kids Party Entertainment Gold: The Cindarella Company

thecinderellacompany.com Silver*: Bay Area Jump

www.bayareajump.com Silver*: Add Some Fun

addsomefun.com/ Bronze: Amazing Fairytale Parties

amazingfairytaleparties.com

AS VOTED BY SAN MATEO COUNTY VOTERS CAMPS

Best Academic Summer Camps Gold: College for Kids (San Mateo)

smccd.edu/bapa/ Silver: Camp Brainy Bunch (Multiple Locations)

www.campbrainybunch.com/ Bronze*: Camp Galileo (Multiple Locations)

www.galileo-camps.com Bronze*: Tech Know How (Multiple Locations)

www.techknowhowkids.com

Best Arts and Crafts Summer Camps

Best Science Summer Camps Gold: Pacific Tech Camps (Ross)

Silver: Peninsula JCC (Foster City)

www.pjcc.org Bronze: Peninsula Family YMCA (San Mateo)

www.ymcasf.org

Best Indoor Play Place

Gold: La Petite Baleen Swim School

Gold: Planet Granite (Belmont)

(San Bruno) • www.swimlpb.com/

www.planetgranite.com

Silver: Peninsula JCC (Foster City)

Silver: Junior Gym (San Mateo)

www.pjcc.org

www.juniorgym.com/

Bronze: King’s Swim (Multiple Locations)

Best Theater and Performing Arts Classes

(San Mateo) • www.myriadmusic.net

(Redwood City) • www.bayclubs.com

Best Swim Classes

www.campedmo.org/

Bronze: Myriad Music and Dance Academy

Gold: Bay Club Redwood Shores

www.askarate.com

www.kingsswimacademy.com/

www.cityofpaloalto.org

FUN AND ATTRACTIONS

Best Athletic Clubs

www.goldmedalcenter.com/

Gold: Camp Edmo (Multiple Locations) Silver: Camp Palo Alto (Palo Alto)

www.hopetechschool.org

(Multiple Locations) • www.play-well.org

Best Martial Arts Classes

Best Birthday Party Venue

Bronze: Hope Technology School (Palo Alto)

Bronze: Play-Well TEKnologies

www.peninsulayouthorchestra.org

Silver: Mapamundi Kids • mapamundikids.com

www.sandhillschool.org/

(San Mateo) • www.marvegos.com

Best Museum Gold: CuriOdyssey at Coyote Point (San Mateo)

www.curiodyssey.org/ Silver: Hiller Aviation Museum (San Carlos)

Gold: San Carlos Childrens Theater (San Carlos)

www.hiller.org

www.sancarloschildrenstheater.com Silver*: Peninsula Youth Theater (Mountain View)

www.pytnet.org/

Bronze: Filoli Gardens (Woodside)

www.filoli.org

HEALTH

Silver*: Young Actors’ Theatre Camp (Multiple

www.planetbravo.com/camps/ross.php

Locations) • www.campyatc.com

Best Hospital or Medical Center

Silver: Camp Galileo (Multiple Locations)

Bronze: Pied Piper Players (Burlingame)

Gold: Kaiser Permanente (San Mateo)

www.galileo-camps.com Bronze: Id Tech (Multiple Locations)

www.idtech.com

www.piedpiperplayers.org

www.kaiserpermanente.org

Best Tutorial Programs

Silver: Mills-Peninsula (San Mateo)

Gold: Stratford Edge (Multiple Locations)

www.mills-peninsula.org

www.stratfordschools.com

Bronze*: Sequoia Hospital (Redwood City)

www.dignityhealth.org/sequoia/

Gold: Tech Know How (Multiple Locations)

Silver: Russian School of Mathematics (San Mateo) • www.russianschool.com

www.techknowhowkids.com

Bronze: Tutor Corps (Multiple Locations)

www.seton.verity.org

Silver: Camp Galileo (Multiple Locations)

www.tutorcorps.com

Best Technology and Digital Arts Summer Camps

www.galileo-camps.com Bronze: Id Tech (Palo Alto)

www.idtech.com

CHILD CARE

Best Child Care

Gold: Stratford Schools (Multiple Locations)

Bronze*: Seton Medical Center (Daly City)

Best Optometrist

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Best Alternative Learning Styles Elementary School

Gold: Solo Bambini (Burlingame)

www.solobambini.com/ Silver: Borel Eye Doctors (San Mateo)

www.boreleyedoctors.com/

Gold: Charles Armstrong School (Belmont)

Bronze: Kim Cooper OD (Burlingame)

www.charlesarmstrong.org

mypedeyedr.com/

Silver: Hope Technology School (Palo Alto)

Best Pediatric Dentist

www.stratfordschools.com

www.hopetechschool.org

Silver: Merry Moppet Preschool (Belmont)

Bronze: Stanbridge Academy (San Mateo)

Gold: Laleh Vakili DDS (San Mateo)

www. stanbridgeacademy.org

www.www.smilezrus.com/

Best Bilingual Elementary School

Silver: Little Bytes Pediatric Dentistry

www.mmboa.org Bronze: Centennial Montessori School

(San Mateo) • www.centennialmontessori.org

(Palo Alto) • www.littlebytes.dental/

Gold: German International School of Silicon

Bronze: Peninsula Pediatric Dentistry

Best Child Care Referral and Support Agency

Valley (Mountain View) • www.gissv.org

Gold: Steve & Kate’s Camp (Multiple Locations)

Gold: Parents Place (San Mateo and Palo Alto)

(Rewood City) • www.rcsd.k12.ca.us/Domain/81

www.steveandkatescamp.com/

parentsplaceonline.org

Bronze: John Gill Mandarin Immersion

Gold: Palo Alto Medical Foundation (Palo Alto)

(Rewood City) • www.rcsd.k12.ca.us/johngill

www.pamf.org/

Best Faith-Based Elementary School

Silver: Bay Area Pediatrics (San Mateo)

Silver: Scribble Me Happy (San Mateo)

www.scribblemehappy.com Bronze: Camp Marco Polo (Palo Alto)

www.camp-marcopolo.com

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

Best General and Traditional Summer Day Camps

Best Art Classes

Gold: Steve & Kate’s Camp (Multiple Locations)

www.scribblemehappy.com

www.steveandkatescamp.com/

Silver: All Art Studio (San Carlos)

Silver*: Champion Summer Camp (Hillsborough)

www.allartstudio.net

www.championsummercamp.com

Bronze: The Marvegos Fine Art School

Silver*: Pacific Coast Kids (Palo Alto)

(San Mateo) • www.marvegos.com

www.pacificcoastkids.com Bronze*: PJCC Camp (Foster City)

www.pjcc.org Bronze*: Stanbridge Academy (San Mateo)

www. stanbridgeacademy.org

Best Lego Summer Camps Gold: Play-Well TEKnologies (Multiple Locations)

Gold: Scribble Me Happy (San Mateo)

Best Classes for Musical Instrument Instruction

Best Pediatrician

www.bayareapediatrics.com

HIGH SCHOOLS

Gold: Notre Dame Elementary School (Belmont)

www.nde.org Silver: Highlands Christian Academy (San Bruno)

• www.highlandschristianschools.com/

Best Alternative Learning Style High School Gold: Fusion Academy (Multiple Locations)

Bronze: Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic

www. fusionacademy.com

School (Belmont) • www.ihmschoolbelmont.org

Silver: Halstrom Academy (Multiple Locations)

Best Independent Elementary School

www.halstromacademy.org Bronze: Stanbridge Academy (San Mateo)

www.stanbridgeacademy.org

Gold: Stratford Schools (Multiple Locations)

www.stratfordschools.com

Best Faith-Based High School

(Mountain View) • www.arts4all.org

Silver*: Belmont Oaks Academy (Belmont) www.mmboa.org

Gold: Sacred Heart (Atherton)

Silver: Mo Music (Multiple Locations)

Silver*: Notre Dame Elementary School

Gold: Community School of Music and Arts

www.momusic.org Bronze*: Peninsula Music Together (San Mateo)

www.play-well.org

www.peninsulamusictogether.com

Silver: Tech Know How (Multiple Locations)

Bronze*: Myriad Music and Dance Academy

www.techknowhowkids.com

(San Mateo) • www.spitzanddavis.com

Silver: Adelante Spanish Immersion

(San Mateo) • www.myriadmusic.net

Best Martial Arts Summer Camps

Best Dance Classes

www.shschools.org/ Silver: Notre Dame High School (Belmont)

(Belmont) www.nde.org

www.ndhsb.org

Bronze: Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School

(Foster City) • www.wornickjds.org

Bronze: Mercy High School (Burlingame)

Best Progressive Elementary School

www.mercyhsb.com

Best Independent High School

Gold: Peninsula School (Menlo Park)

Gold: Sacred Heart (Atherton)

Gold: Dance Arts Center (Redwood City)

www.peninsulaschool.org

www.shschools.org/

Gold: Kuk Sool Won of Menlo Park (Menlo Park)

www.dance-arts-center.com/

Silver: Nueva School (Hillsborough)

Silver: Mid-Peninsula High School (Menlo Park)

www.menloparkmartialarts.com

Silver: Small Fry Dance Club (San Mateo)

www.nuevaschool.org

www.mid-pen.com

Silver: All Star Katate (Redwood City)

www.smallfrydanceclub.com/

Bronze: Centennial Montessori School

Bronze*: Pacific Rim International School

www.askarate.com

Bronze: Kirkpatrick’s School of Dance

(San Mateo) • www.centennialmontessori.org

Best Music and Singing Summer Camps Gold: Bandworks (San Carlos)

(San Mateo) • www.kirkpatricksdance.com/

Best Enrichment and After School Programs

Best Special Needs Programs in a Elementary School Gold: Charles Armstrong School (Belmont)

www.bandworks.com

Gold: Community School of Music and Arts

www.charlesarmstrong.org

Silver*: New Mozart School (Palo Alto)

(Mountain View) • www.arts4all.org

Silver: Sand Hill School (Palo Alto)

(San Mateo) www.pacificriminternationalschool.org/ Bronze*: Eastside College Prep School

(East Palo Alto) • www.eastside.org

Best Special Needs Programs in a High School

July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 27

Gold: Fusion Academy (Multiple Locations)

www. fusionacademy.com Silver: Stanbridge Academy (San Mateo)

www.edisonmontessorischool.com Bronze: Burlingame Montessori (Burlingame)

www.burlingamemontessoriinc.org

www.stanbridgeacademy.org Bronze: Halstrom Academy (Multiple Locations)

www.halstromacademy.org

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

SERVICES

Best Attorney for Educational Special Needs (IEPs, 504s)

Best Alternative Learning Styles Middle School

Gold: Susan Foley (Foster City)

Gold: Charles Armstrong School (Belmont)

www.leighlawgroup.com

www.charlesarmstrong.org

www.susanfoley.com/ Silver: Leigh Law Group (San Francisco)

Camps Gold: Let’s Play In Spanish (Campbell)

www.letsplayinspanish.com/ Silver: Silver Creek Academic Academy

(San Jose) • www.scaasanjose.com/ Bronze: Harker Summer Camp (San Jose)

www.harker.org/

Best General and Traditional Summer Day Camps Gold: Steve & Kate’s Camp (Multiple Locations)

Bronze: Community Alliance for Special

www.steveandkatescamp.com/

www. stanbridgeacademy.org

Education (San Francisco) caseadvocacy.org

Silver*: Silver Creek Academic Academy

Bronze: Hope Technology School (Palo Alto)

Best Family Photographer

Silver: Stanbridge Academy (San Mateo)

www.hopetechschool.org

(San Jose) • www.scaasanjose.com/ Silver*: Camp Galileo (Multiple Locations)

Gold: Kristin Troyer Photography (San Carlos)

www.galileo-camps.com

kristintroyerphotography.com/

Bronze: Harker Summer Camp (San Jose)

Gold: Notre Dame Elementary School (Belmont)

Silver: Katie Baldi (San Carlos)

www.harker.org/

www.nde.org

katiebaldiphotography.com/

Silver: Highlands Christian Academy (San Bruno)

Bronze: Simon Topher Photography (Palo Alto)

• www.highlandschristianschools.com/

www.tophersimon.com/

Bronze: Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic

Best Kids Party Entertainment

Silver: Airborne Gymnastics (San Jose)

Gold: Fur, Scales And Tails Animal Shows (Bay

www.airborne-gymnastics.com/

Area) • www.furscalesandtails.com/

Bronze*: ATA Gymnastics (San Jose)

Silver: The Cindarella Company (Bay Area)

atagymnastics.com/

www.nuevaschool.org/

thecinderellacompany.com/

Bronze*: Stanford Gymnastics (Stanford)

Silver*: Belmont Oaks Academy (Belmont)

Bronze: Scribble Me Happy (San Mateo)

sbgymnastics.com

Best Faith-Based Middle School

School (Belmont) • www.ihmschoolbelmont.org

Best Independent Middle School Gold: The Nueva School (Hillsborough)

Best Gymnastics Summer Camps Gold: California Sports Center (Sunnyvale)

www.calsportscenter.com

Best Leadership Development Summer Camps

www.mmboa.org

www.scribblemehappy.com

Silver*: San Carlos Charter Learning Center

(San Carlos) • scclc.net/

Best Place to Buy a Birthday Cake

Bronze: Notre Dame Elementary School

Gold: Cake Creations (San Mateo)

www.cesantaclara.ucanr.edu/Youth_Development

www.cakecreationsbakery.com/

Silver: Avid4 Adventure (Saratoga)

Silver: Nothing Bundt Cakes (San Carlos)

www.avid4.com

Gold: Peninsula School (Menlo Park)

www.nothingbundtcakes.com

Bronze: Silver Creek Academic Academy

www.peninsulaschool.org

Bronze: Rachel’s Cakes (Burlingame)

(San Jose) • www.scaasanjose.com/

Silver: Nueva School (Hillsborough)

www.loverachelscakes.com

Best Lego Summer Camps

(Belmont) www.nde.org

Best Progressive Middle School

www.nuevaschool.org

AS VOTED BY SANTA CLARA COUNTY VOTERS

Bronze: Centennial Montessori School

(San Mateo) • www.centennialmontessori.org

Best Special Needs Programs in a Middle School Gold: Sand Hill School (Palo Alto)

www.sandhillschool.org/ Silver: Charles Armstrong School (Belmont)

www.charlesarmstrong.org Bronze: Hope Technology School (Palo Alto)

www.hopetechschool.org

PRESCHOOLS

Best Bilingual Preschool

Gold: German International School Of Silicon

Valley (Mountain View) • www.gissv.org Silver: Palo Alto Preschool Biliingual Montessori

(Palo Alto) • paloaltopreschool.org/ Bronze: A Plus Immersion Preschool

(San Mateo) • www.aplusimmersion.com

Best Faith-Based Preschool Gold: Highland Christian Schools (San Bruno)

www.highlandschristianschools.com/ Silver: Peninsula JCC (Foster City)

www.pjcc.org/preschool/ Bronze: Peninsula Temple Sholom Preschool

(Burlingame) • sholom.org/learning2/preschool

Best Independent Preschool Gold: Happy Campers Preschool (San Carlos)

www.happycampers123.com/ Silver: Peninsula JCC (Foster City)

www.pjcc.org/preschool/ Bronze*: Merry Moppet Preschool (Belmont)

www.belmontoaksacademy.com Bronze*: Phillips Brooks School (Menlo Park)

www.phillipsbrooks.org/

Best Large Preschool Gold: Stratford Schools (Multiple Locations)

www.stratfordschools.com Silver: Peninsula JCC (Foster City)

www.pjcc.org/preschool/ Bronze: Phillips Brooks School (Menlo Park)www.

CAMPS

Best Academic Summer Camps Gold: Silver Creek Academic Academy

(San Jose) • www.scaasanjose.com/ Silver: Delphi Academy Summer Camp

(Campbell) • delphicampbell.org/ Bronze*: Learning Plus Tutoring (San Jose)

www.learningplustutoring.com/ Bronze*: The Harker School Summer Camp

(San Jose) • www.harker.org/

Best Animal Encounter Summer Camps Gold: Happy Hollow (San Jose)

www.hhpz.org Silver: Walden West (Saratoga)

www.waldenwest.org Bronze: Humane Society Of Silicon Valley

(Milpitas) • www.hssv.org/

Best Arts and Crafts Summer Camps Gold: Steve & Kate’s Camp (Multiple Locations)

www.steveandkatescamp.com/ Silver: Delphi Academy Summer Camp

(Campbell) • delphicampbell.org/ Bronze: Camp Marco Polo (Palo Alto)

www.camp-marcopolo.com/

Best Dance Summer Camps Gold: Children’s Musical Theater

(San Jose) • www.cmtsj.org Silver: San Jose Dance Theatre (San Jose)

www.sjdt.org Bronze: Fuze Fit (Los Gatos) • fuzefit.com

Best Faith Based Summer Camps Gold: Valley Christian (San Jose)

phillipsbrooks.org/

www.vcs.net/

Best Montessori Preschool

Silver: Heroes Camp (San Jose)

Gold: Casa Dei Bambini (Palo Alto)

www.cdeib.com/ Silver: Edison Montessori School (San Carlos)

www.littleheroes.org/ Bronze: Christian Music Theater (Palo Alto)

www.gracecmt.org

Best Foreign Language Summer

28 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

Gold: SCC 4-H Camp (San Jose)

Gold: Tech Know How (Multiple Locations)

www.techknowhowkids.com Silver: Play-Well TEKnologies

(Multiple Locations) • www.play-well.org

Gold*: Tech Museum Of Innovation (San Jose)

www.thetech.org/ Silver: Quantum Camp (Palo Alto)

www.quantumcamp.com/ Bronze: Tech Know How (Multiple Locations)

www.techknowhowkids.com

CHILD CARE

Best Child Care

Gold: Hearts And Hands Christian Childcare &

Preschool (Campbell, San Jose) hhpreschool.com/ Silver: Almaden Country School (San Jose)

www.almadencountryschool.org/ Bronze*: Action Day Primary Plus

(Multiple Locations) www.actiondayprimaryplus.com Bronze*: Stratford Schools (Multiple Locations)

www.stratfordschools.com

Best Child Care Referral and Support Agency Gold: 4 C’s (San Jose) • www.4c.org/

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

Best Art Classes

Gold: Drawn 2 Art (Los Altos)

kidsartclasses.com/los-altos/ Silver: Hidden Talent Art Studio (San Jose)

www.hiddentalentartstudio.com Bronze*: The Marvegos Fine Art School

(Los Gatos) • www.marvegos.com Bronze*: Art Bash (Campbell, Los Gatos,

San Jose) • www.kidsartbash.com

Best Ballet Classes Gold: San Jose Youth Ballet (San Jose)

www.sjyb.org Silver: San Jose Dance Theatre (San Jose)

www.sjdt.org

Best Music and Singing Summer Camps

Bronze*: Just B Dance (Campbell)

Gold: San Jose Dance Theatre (San Jose)

www.balletsj.org/

www.sjdt.org Silver*: Christian Music Theater (Palo Alto) www.gracecmt.org Silver*: Stanford Jazz Camp (Stanford)

www.stanfordjazz.org Bronze: Children’s Musical Theater San Jose (San

Jose) • www.cmtsj.org/

Best Performing Arts Summer Camps Gold: Stage Kids Ca (Santa Clara)

stagekidsca.com/ Silver*: Children’s Musical Theater San Jose (San

Jose) • www.cmtsj.org/ Silver*: Young Actors’ Theatre Camp (Multiple

Locations) • www.campyatc.com Bronze: San Jose Dance Theatre (San Jose)

www.sjdt.org

Best Preschool Age Summer Camps Gold: Playful People (San Jose)

playfulpeople.net/ Silver: Harker Summer Camp (San Jose)

www.harker.org/ Bronze: Jefunira Junior Camp

(Stanford) • www.jefuniracamp.com/

Best Science Summer Camps Gold*: Camp Galileo (Multiple Locations)

www.galileo-camps.com Gold*: Tech Museum Of Innovation (San Jose)

www.thetech.org/ Silver: Quantum Camp (Palo Alto)

www.quantumcamp.com/ Bronze*: Heroes Camp (San Jose)

justbdance.com/ Bronze*: San Jose Ballet (San Jose)

Best Classes for Musical Instrument Instruction Gold: San Jose Academy of Music

(San Jose) • www.sanjoseacademyofmusic.com Silver: The Music Place (San Jose)

www.musicplace.com/ Bronze: Veksler Academy Of Music & Dance

(Sunnyvale) www.veksleracademy.com/

Best Dance Classes Gold: Dance Attack (Los Gatos, Sunnyvale)

www.danceattackstudios.com/ Silver: Dance Academy Usa (Cupertino)

www.danceacademyusa.com/ Bronze*: San Jose Dance Theatre (San Jose)

www.sjdt.org Bronze*: San Jose Ballet (San Jose)

www.balletsj.org/

Best Enrichment and After School Programs Gold: Silver Creek Academic Academy (San Jose)

www.scaasanjose.com/ Silver: YMCA Of Silicon Valley

(Multiple Locations) • www.ymcasv.org/ Bronze: Children’s Musical Theater San Jose (San

Jose) • www.cmtsj.org/

Best Gymnastics Classes Gold: California Sports Center (Sunnyvale)

www.calsportscenter.com Silver: Airborne Gymnastics (San Jose)

www.airborne-gymnastics.com/ Bronze*: ATA Gymnastics (San Jose)

atagymnastics.com/

www.littleheroes.org/

Bronze*: Stanford Gymnastics (Stanford)

Bronze*: Tech Know How (Multiple Locations)

Best Language Classes

www.techknowhowkids.com

Best Technology and Digital Arts Summer Camps Gold*: Camp Galileo (Multiple Locations)

www.galileo-camps.com

sbgymnastics.com Gold: Let’s Play In Spanish (Campbell)

www.letsplayinspanish.com/ Silver: Silver Creek Academic Academy

(San Jose) • www.scaasanjose.com/

Bronze: San Jose Learning Center (San Jose)

Gold: Silver Creek Sportsplex (San Jose)

www.sanjoselearningcenter.com/

www.gotoplex.com/

Best Martial Arts Classes

Silver: California Sports Center

Gold: Gold Medal Martial Arts (Belmont)

www.goldmedalcenter.com/ Silver: Kuk Sool Won of Menlo Park

(San Jose) • calsportscenter.com/ Bronze: YMCA Of Silicon Valley (Multiple

Locations) • www.ymcasv.org/

Middle School

Gold: Silver Creek Sportsplex (San Jose)

www.gotoplex.com/

Best Bilingual Middle School

Best Swim Classes

Silver: The Jungle Island (San Jose)

Silver*: Almaden Valley Athletic Club Swim

School (San Jose) • www.avac.us

Bronze: Pump It Up (Multiple Locations)

www.pumpitupparty.com/

Best Museum

Silver*: Silver Creek Sportsplex (San Jose)

Gold: Children’s Discovery Museum

www.gotoplex.com/

(San Jose) • www.cdm.org/

Bronze*: Safe Splash (San Jose)

Silver: Tech Museum Of Innovation (San Jose)

www.safesplash.com

www.thetech.org/

Bronze*: YMCA Of Silicon Valley

Bronze: Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo

(Multiple Locations) • www.ymcasv.org/

(Palo Alto) • www.friendsjmz.org/

Best Theater and Performing Arts Classes

Best Hospital or Medical Center

Gold: Children’s Musical Theater

(San Jose) • www.cmtsj.org Silver: Willow Glen Children’s Theatre

(San Jose) • www.wgct.org/ Bronze: Young Actors’ Theatre Camp (Multiple

Locations) • www.campyatc.com

Best Tutorial Programs Gold: Silver Creek Academic Academy (San Jose)

HEALTH

Bronze: The Harker School (San Jose)

Best Bilingual Elementary School Gold: German International School of Silicon

Valley (Mountain View) • www.gissv.org Silver: French American School of Silicon Valley

(Sunnyvale) • www.fassv.org

www.icingonthecakebakery.com Silver: Nothing Bundt Cakes (Los Gatos, San

Jose) • www.nothingbundtcakes.com/ Bronze: Jen’s Cakes (San Jose)

www.jenscakes.com/

Gold: Halstrom Academy (Multiple Locations) Silver: Sand Hill School (Palo Alto)

Gold: Halstrom Academy (Multiple Locations)

Gold: Icing on the Cake (Los Gatos)

Best Special Needs Programs in a Middle School

Bronze: Ramblc Pediatrics (Los Gatos)

Best Alternative Learning Style High School

Best Place to Buy a Birthday Cake

www.harker.org/

www.halstromacademy.org

HIGH SCHOOLS

www.happilyeverlaughterparties.com

Silver*: Almaden Country School (San Jose)

drdavidsafir.com www.ramblc.com/

Bronze: Happily Ever Laughter (Bay Area)

www.keysschool.com/

www.bayareakidsdentist.com/

(San Jose) • sakamoto.ogsd.net/

thecinderellacompany.com/

Gold*: Keys School (Palo Alto)

www.stratfordschools.com

www.sandhillschool.org/ Bronze: Hope Technology School (Palo Alto)

www.hopetechschool.org

PRESCHOOLS

Best Bilingual Preschool

www.halstromacademy.org

Gold: Let’s Play In Spanish (Campbell)

Silver: Fusion Academy (Multiple Locations)

www.letsplayinspanish.com/

www. fusionacademy.com

Silver: Headsup! Child Development Center (Palo

Bronze: School For Independent Learners

Alto, San Jose) • headsup.org

Gold: St. Mary’s Catholic School (Los Gatos)

(Los Altos) • www.sileducation.org/

Bronze: Starbright School (Campbell, San Jose)

stmaryslg.org/school

Best Faith-Based High School

www.starbright.com/

Silver: St Lawrence Elementary School

Gold: Bellarmine (San Jose)

Bronze: GAIS (Menlo Park) • www.gais.org

Best Faith-Based Elementary School

(Santa Clara) • www.saintlawrence.org/slem/ Bronze*: Valley Christian (San Jose)

www.vcs.net/ Bronze*: Holy Spirit school (San Jose)

www.holyspirit-school.org

Best Independent Elementary School Gold*: Delphi Academy (Campbell)

delphicampbell.org/ Gold*: Almaden Country School (San Jose)

www.almadencountryschool.org/ Silver*: Hillbrook School (Los Gatos)

www.hillbrook.org/ Silver*: Stratford School (Multiple Locations)

www.stratfordschools.com Bronze: The Harker School (San Jose)

www.harker.org/

Best Special Needs Programs in a Elementary School Gold: Almaden Country School (San Jose)

www.almadencountryschool.org/ Silver: Sand Hill School (Palo Alto)

www.sandhillschool.org/ Bronze: Sakamoto Elementary School

(San Jose) • sakamoto.ogsd.net/

FUN AND ATTRACTIONS

Best Athletic Clubs

Best Faith-Based Preschool

www.bcp.org/

Gold: Hearts And Hands Christian Childcare &

Silver: Notre Dame High School (San Jose)

www.ndsj.org

Preschool (Campbell, San Jose) hhpreschool.com/

Bronze*: The King’s Academy (Sunnyvale)

Silver: Queen Of Apostles School (San Jose)

www.tka.org/

www.qofa-school.org/

Bronze*: Valley Christian (San Jose)

Bronze: Canyon Heights Academy (Campbell)

www.vcs.net/

canyonheightsacademy.com/

Best Independent High School

Best Independent Preschool

Gold: The Harker School (San Jose)

Gold: Stratford School (Multiple Locations)

www.harker.org/

www.stratfordschools.com

Silver: Stellar Learning (Campbell)

Silver: Action Day Primary Plus

www.stellarlearningacademy.org/ Bronze*: Saint Francis High School (San Jose)

www.sfhs.com Bronze*: Basis Independent Silicon Valley (San

Jose) • www.basisindependentsiliconvalley.com/

Best Special Needs Programs in a High School Gold: Fusion Academy (Multiple Locations)

www. fusionacademy.com Silver: Halstrom Academy (Multiple Locations)

www.halstromacademy.org Bronze: School For Independent Learners

(Los Altos) • www.sileducation.org/

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Best Alternative Learning Styles

Area) • www.furscalesandtails.com/ Silver: The Cindarella Company (Bay Area)

www.hillbrook.org/

Bronze: Yahya Radwan DDS (Sunnyvale)

Bronze: Sakamoto Elementary School

Gold: Fur, Scales And Tails Animal Shows (Bay

Gold*: Hillbrook School (Los Gatos)

Bronze: Stratford Schools (Multiple Locations)

Silver: Dr David Safir (San Jose)

Best Kids Party Entertainment

Best Independent Middle School

www.drrabitz.com/

www.sandhillschool.org/

Education (San Francisco) caseadvocacy.org

Bronze*: St Lawrence Middle School

delphicampbell.org/

www.pamf.org/

Bronze: Community Alliance for Special

www.vcs.net/

Silver: Gregory Rabitz DDS (San Jose)

Silver: Sand Hill School (Palo Alto)

www.leighlawgroup.com

Silver*: Valley Christian (San Jose)

Silver*: Delphi Academy (Campbell)

www.almadencountryschool.org/

Silver: Leigh Law Group (San Francisco)

www.holyspirit-school.org

www.almadencountryschool.org/

Gold: Palo Alto Medical Foundation (Palo Alto)

www.susanfoley.com/

Silver*: Holy Spirit School (San Jose)

www.drjohnlicking.com/

Gold: Almaden Country School (San Jose)

Gold: Susan Foley (Foster City)

stmaryslg.org/school

www.tka.org/

Best Pediatrician

SERVICES

Best Attorney for Educational Special Needs (IEPs, 504s)

Gold: St. Mary’s Catholic School (Los Gatos)

Gold: John Licking DDS (Sunnyvale)

Best Alternative Learning Styles Elementary School

(San Jose) • ami-preschools.org/

Best Faith-Based Middle School

Silver: Learning Plus Tutoring (San Jose) • www. learningplustutoring.com

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Bronze: Academy of Mandarin Immersion

altoschool.org

Best Pediatric Dentist

www.kumon.com

School (Los Gatos) • www.lgsons.com

Bronze: Alto School (Menlo Park) • www.

www.scaasanjose.com/

Bronze: Kumon (Multiple Locations)

Silver: Los Gatos Saratoga Observation Nursery

(Sunnyvale) • www.fassv.org/

Silver: Kaiser Hospital (Multiple Locations)

www.elcaminohospital.org/

www.countrydaylittleschool.com/

Silver: French-American School Of Silicon Valley

Bronze*: The Kings Academy (Sunnyvale)

Bronze*: El Camino Hospital (Mountain View)

Gold: Country Day Little School (Palo Alto)

Valley (Mountain View) • www.gissv.org

(Santa Clara) • www.saintlawrence.org/slem/

www.stanfordchildrens.org/

Best Small Preschool

Gold: German International School Of Silicon

www.goodsamsanjose.com/

Bronze*: Stanford Children’s Health (Palo Alto)

www.montessoriway.org

www.hopetechschool.org

Gold: Good Samaritan Hospital (San Jose)

www.kaiserpermanente.org

Bronze: Montessori Way (San Jose)

www.sandhillschool.org/

www.askarate.com

waterworksswim.com

www.appleseedmontessori.com/

Silver: Sand Hill School (Palo Alto)

Bronze: All Star Karate (Redwood City)

Gold: Waterworks (San Jose)

Silver: Appleseed Montessori (Sunnyvale)

www.halstromacademy.org

Bronze: Hope Technology School (Palo Alto)

www.thejungleisland.com

www.givingtreemontessori.me/

Gold: Halstrom Academy (Multiple Locations)

Best Indoor Play Place

(Menlo Park) • www.menloparkmartialarts.com

Gold: Giving Tree Montessori (San Jose)

for our E-Newsletter delivered semi-monthly to your inbox! Stay informed on what’s happening in your community www.parentspress.com

(Multiple Locations) www.actiondayprimaryplus.com Bronze*: Almaden Country School (San Jose)

www.almadencountryschool.org/ Bronze*: Hearts And Hands Christian Childcare &

Preschool (Campbell, San Jose) hhpreschool.com/

Best Large Preschool Gold: Stratford Schools (Multiple Locations)

www.stratfordschools.com Silver: Almaden Country School (San Jose)

www.almadencountryschool.org/ Bronze: Hearts And Hands Christian Childcare &

Preschool (Campbell, San Jose) hhpreschool.com/

Best Montessori Preschool

July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 29

SUMMER CAMPS 2017 NOTE: The specific information and write-ups about camps listed here and the photographs were provided by the organizations themselves. Please be sure to contact camps for prices, and to verify dates and locations.

Academic Camps

Session: July 24-August 11. The 3-week camp session runs Monday through Friday from 9am12pm daily. http://tlcservices9.wixsite.com/eastbay-kidz

ALAMEDA COUNTY EAST BAY KIDZ SUMMER MATH CAMP (OAKLAND)

EAST BAY SPCA SUMMER ANIMAL CAMP (DUBLIN)

Age or Grade Range: Grades 4th - 8th

The Annual East Bay Kidz Math Camp is a fun, 3-week investigation into mathematics, ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR STUDENT WHO ARE STRUGGLING! This summer camp for 4th-8th graders focuses on key math building blocks, developing math confidence, along with engaging game-based and hands-on activities. The 2017 Annual East Bay Kidz Summer Math Camp for 4th-8th graders is taught by the Bay Area’s most sought-after math learning specialists, who come from the public school classroom and utilize Making Math Realbased methods and strategies in their teaching. This special 3-week, small group summer program will provide an investigative, prescriptive & fun environment for your child to get the extra support they may need to get a head start on the school year. DATES & TIMES: 2017 Summer Camp

components: an Architecture & Urban Design Studio, a Sustainable Planning Workshop and a Design-Build project. http://ced.berkeley.edu/ academics/summer-programs/embarc-designacademy/

SARAH’S SCIENCE CAMP (BERKELEY & OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: 5-15

Sarah’s Science is the Bay Area’s premier summer day camp with over 30 years of experience providing high quality science and nature programming. Each week of camp is centered around an exciting theme and campers make and take home new science projects every day. Camp also includes nature hikes, swimming, games, and arts and crafts. Ages 5-15. Weekly sessions from June 12 - August 25. Locations in Oakland and Berkeley. Camp hours 9AM - 3PM. Before- and After-care available. www.sarahscience.com/ summer

Age or Grade Range: Grades 1 -12

MENTORING ACADEMY BRIDGE CAMP (OAKLAND)

Whether your child is a giant animal lover and just wants to spend a week doing everything animal, or they need a little experience and education before you add a furry friend to the family, our summer camp program will be purr-fect for them! http:// eastbayspca.org/what-we-do/humane-education/ animal-camp/summer-camp

Age or Grade Range: Grades 8-12

Bridge Camp is designed for entering 9th graders who would like to master needed skills for high school from experienced teachers. Students will learn classroom etiquette, how to study, organizational and interpersonal skills, and more! www.mentoringacademy.org

EMBARC SUMMER DESIGN ACADEMY (BERKELEY)

MENTORING ACADEMY SUMMER SCHOOL AND CREDIT RECOVERY (OAKLAND)

Age or Grade Range: rising juniors and seniors

Age or Grade Range: Grades 8-12

SUMMER ACADEMY AT QUARRY LANE (DUBLIN)

Summer School is offered to any high schooler who wants to pursue courses not offered at their high school, complete AP courses, recover credit for a course that was unsuccessful or expand their academic and personal skills www. mentoringacademy.org

Get ahead this summer! Our popular Jr. Summer Academy and Summer Academy offers a number of academic summer courses for students looking to advance in subjects such as math, science and language arts. Our summer academic programs

embARC is a four week summer design intensive that brings together high school students from diverse backgrounds to explore architecture, urban design and sustainable city planning through three

Age or Grade Range: Grades 3-12

Featured SUMMER CAMPS SARAH’S SCIENCE AND THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND SUMMER DAY CAMPS (BERKELEY & OAKLAND) Ages 5 to 15 years

BOYS ON THE GO (BERKELEY) Campers: 9-13 and Youth Leaders: 14-16

Boys on the Go! provides an opportunity for boys, ages 9-13, to explore the Bay Area on public transportation and meet new friends while having some really fun adventures. We are dedicated to empowering these soon to be young men to be curious, competent and compassionate people. Some destinations include: Lake Merritt for boating, Bowling trips, Baseball games, Ice Skating, Mini-Golf, Arcades, Movies and more! Monday’s are Creating Community Day where we engage and connect with each other, do team building activities and learn how to travel safely together. We play board and field games and make planes and rockets. www.monkeybusinesscamp.com/summer-boys-on-the-go-pictorial-preview/

GIRLS ON THE GO CAMP (BERKELEY) Campers: 9-13 and Youth Leaders: 14-16

Since 2002, Girls on the Go Camp supports girls to be bold, confident and fully expressed. Girls travel to destinations around the Bay Area by public transit and participate in interactive workshops. Our diverse staff is dynamic, engaging, skilled, empathetic and deeply passionate about their work with youth. Winner of Best of Camp Teen Award 2015-2016. Basic Day 8:30-4:00; Ext Care 8-6:00. Berkeley location: Runs June 12-Aug 25; Oakland location: July 10-July 21. www.girlsonthegocamp.com/

MONKEY BUSINESS CAMPS (BERKELEY) Campers: 4.5-10 and Youth Leaders: 11-15

In our 18th year, Monkey Business kids receive a distinctive classic camp experience in Tilden Park. Art, Cooking, Tinkering, Storytelling, Singing, Games, Nature Exploration, Swimming at Lake Anza, Treasure Hunts, Carnival Games, Organic Food! Our diverse staff is dynamic, engaging, skilled, empathetic and deeply passionate about their work with youth. Winner of many Best of Camp Parent’s Press Awards. Youth Leadership available for ages 10-16. www.monkeybusinesscamp.com

30 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

utilize the distinct, engaging, hands-on approach that Quarry Lane is known for. www.QuarryLane. org/Summer

MARIN HORIZON SUMMER CAMP (MILL VALLEY)

SUMMER AT THE ACADEMY (BERKELEY)

THERE’ S A LOT TO LOVE ABOUT MARIN HORIZON SUMMER CAMPS! FUN AND ACADEMIC. We offer outdoor adventures, swimming, as well as engaging STEAM themed programs every week. WARM AND WELCOMING STAFF. We offer small group supervision and a policy of inclusion to ensure all campers receive the attention they deserve. www. marinhorizon.org/mhssummercamp

Age or Grade Range: pre-K - 8th grade

Summer at The Academy is an excellent way to shore up fundamental academic skills in preparation for the year ahead, and a great way for students to have fun!We offer we offer three multi-age sections of Morning Academics. We enroll no more than fifteen students in each section, allowing our outstanding faculty to provide highly individuated instruction. Registration is now open! Act fast to reserve your place. If you are looking for a summer program that offers deep learning and meaningful fun, send them to The Academy! http://theacademyschool.org/about-us/summerprogram/

WRITE NOW! SUMMER WRITING CAMP (PLEASANTON) Age or Grade Range: Grades 2-8

Every summer, Hacienda School of Pleasanton open their doors and offer their innovative programs in a camp-like setting to outside students who want to share in the summer learning adventures. We offer three 3 of different writing skill: Expository Writing, Creative Writing and Presentation Techniques. Come join us! If you would like more information email Christina Trujillo; ctrujillo@ headsup.org. www.headsup.org

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SPANISH CAMP (WALNUT CREEK) Age or Grade Range: 3-10

Spanish 4 Children Academy offers a great experience for your child. There are 4 Summer Camps themes. PIRATES, A WALK THROUGH THE JUNGLE, LET’S GO CAMPING, and LET’S GO TO THE FAIR. Camps are filled of fun activities, scavenger hunts, music, outdoor games, art, and more. Spanish 4 Children Academy will open it’s door at the new location on May 1, 2017 with preschool program and school classes. Contact Miriam for more information 925 262 3608 mlattanzi68@ yahoo.com New location 2317 Buena Vista Ave, Walnut Creek CA

MARIN COUNTY FIDDLEHEADS: GROWING FRIENDS IN NATURE (MARIN ) Age or Grade Range: Ages 5-13

Fiddleheads is a warm and playful non-profit program offering children therapeutic support and social and emotional instruction in the enlivening atmosphere of our Bay Area parks. We welcome children from all communities, and we are inclusive and honoring of neuro-diversity in our groups. Sliding scale pricing, financial assistance, and scholarships are available for those in need. www. seeds-of-awareness.org/summer--camp

Age or Grade Range: Ages 3-6

SUMMERCREST (SAN RAFAEL)

The ultimate technology camp for kids, designed and taught by an engineer and teacher! Learn while you program a real robot and make awesome inventions! Learn 3-D Modeling, coding, robotics and design. All while making awesome project that are fueled by your originality and creativity. www. techykids.com

SummerCrest is a unique camp that seeks to challenge and build joy in learning through handson academic classes. Lively afternoon enrichment and outdoor programs complete each day at SummerCrest. Two 3-week sessions are offered for students entering TK - 6th grade: June 12-June 30 and July 3-July 30. SummerCrest classes for 2017 will be taught by credentialed teachers and will include Archeology, Endangered Species, Video Production, Time Machine Challenges, Computer Coding, Animation, Drawing, Arts & Crafts, Outdoor Games, and Leadership. SummerCrest offers the total camp experience! Learning, laughter, fun, and new friendships are all part of SummerCrest. Extended day care is available. www.summercrest. org

Animals, Nature & Outdoors Camps AVID4 ADVENTURE (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Pre-K - 7th Grades

This summer, experience the power of authentic outdoor adventure! Avid4 Adventure camps teach pre-K - 7th graders of all levels to climb, paddle, bike, hike and thrive in the outdoors. With help from our time-tested curriculum and insanely experienced instructors, we give campers solid skills and character-shaping confidence, launching them into a lifetime of empowering adventure. Day camp locations in Mill Valley, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Oakland, Santa Cruz, Campbell, Moraga and Walnut Creek. Overnight camp locations in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado. Learn more and sign up at www.avid4. com or call 800-977-9873 http://www.avid4. com/

Age or Grade Range: ages 8-14

The SHC Summer Institute is a series of one-week enrichment courses for 5th 9th graders, and sports academies for motivated students and athletes ages 8 14. Instructed by SHC’s talented faculty, staff and coaches, students and athletes explore exciting topics through hands-on learning and field trips and pursue athletic achievement with others that share their interests and abilities. All academies run from 9 am to 3 pm daily with a lunch break from noon to 1 pm. http://www.shcp. edu/summer/

SAN MATEO COUNTY KIDIZENS - YOUNG MAYORS (BELMONT) Age or Grade Range: Grades K-3 and Grades 3-6

Join us for one to two weeks of fun and responsibility at our very popular Kidizens Summer Camps! Kidizens inspires students to become good citizens and future leaders, one LEGO brick at a time. In a fast-paced dynamic environment, the kids develop leadership and interpersonal skills while dealing with natural disasters, resident problems and financial crises. http://thekidizens. com/

TECHYKIDS CAMP (PORTOLA VALLEY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 7-14

SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Ages 11-15

Week long nature based camp sessions teach native outdoor living skills. Make and use tools: matchless fire making with a bow drill, arrow making, cordage, shelter building, identify plants for food and medicine, awareness games: fox walk, drum walk. Archery, bow making, outdoor medicine, relaxation meditation and more. http://www.oaklandnet.com/ RotaryNatureCenter Age or Grade Range: Ages 6-12

Age or Grade Range: Ages 5-13

SHC SUMMER INSTITUTE

TOUCH THE EARTH (OAKLAND)

CAMP ANV (OAKLAND)

SAN FRANCISCO

SARAH’S SCIENCE CAMP (BERKELEY & OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: 5-15

ALAMEDA COUNTY

Age or Grade Range: Grades TK-6

and of course, animals up close. Oakland Zoo takes great pride in creating age-appropriate programs for campers in PreK - High School. http://www. oaklandzoo.org//ZooCamp_Summer.php

Camp ANV serves low-income Oakland children ages 5-13. Since 2012, our eight-week Summer Camp, and our Fall, Winter, and Spring school holiday camps consistently offer these opportunities for your child: -Provides a safe space for local youth to learn the business of sustainable agriculture, -Conducts activities that promote fitness, -Teaches students healthy cooking and nutrition, -Offers students the opportunity to complete arts, science, and reading projects, -And develops financial literacy by depositing earnings from the harvest into bank accounts that can only be used by students for educational purposes. http://anvfarm.org/ programs/camp-anv/

EAST BAY SPCA SUMMER ANIMAL CAMP (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Grades 1 - 12

Each week long session under the magnificent redwoods in Oaklands Joaquin Miller Park focuses on one of four exciting themes, Native Americans, Plants and Insects, Birds and Mammals, Reptiles. Counselors lead children in nature hikes, arts and crafts, environmental, awareness, swimming, games and camp songs and more.$250wk http://www. oakland.com/RotaryNatureCenter

YOUNG NATURALIST AT LAKE MERRITT (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Ages 5-10

At this camp Youth learn a variety of environmental skills: creek restoration, marine studies, bird life, native plants, and help staff at LakeMerritt Wildlife Refuge. We meet at the Rotary Nature Center at Lake Merritt. $200wk (extended care available). http:// www.oaklandnet.com/RotaryNatureCenter

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY AVID4 ADVENTURE (MORAGA ) Age or Grade Range: Pre-K - 7th Grades

OAKLAND ZOO ZOOCAMP (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: PreK-12

Expect an exciting week of outdoor nature discovery, animal adventures, and fun! Summer Camp activities include zoo tours, interactive stories, games, craft projects, science activities

CAMPS

Worlds of Wonder Summer 2017 Cr

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City Of

EL CERRITO SPORTS CAMP

Non-competitive and Co-ed since 1992

El Cerrito Community Center 7007 Moeser Lane 510.559.7000

Summer Sports Camp Ages 4-12 @ Cerrito Vista Park Morning, Afternoon, and All Day Options

Sports & Games Camp: Activities include Soccer, Basketball,

Fun in the Sun

Join us!

Baseball, Capture the Flag, Dodge Ball, Frisbee, Kick Ball, Hula Hoops, Jump Rope, Swimming, Play Structure, Foosball, Air Hockey & other board and table games

Soccer Camp CAMPS

•

• SPACE! The Final Frontier • Fun, hands-on learning in Science, Language & Math • Insect Exploration • Dinosaur Destinations

Fall Preschool Enrollment Open Now

Toddler/Preschool/ Elementary Program w/small ratios and 2 Education that Dares to Change the Worldlocations in Alameda Toddler – Kindergarten.

Camp enrollment begins this month. • Summer The Child Unique Montessori School

The Montessori Elementary School of Alameda (MESA) 510.521.9227 | www.thechildunique.org |Lic#office@thechildunique.org 013414800

2226 Encinal Ave., Alameda, CA 94501 www.thechildunique.org

510.521.9227

Baseball Camp

Games and instruction in appropriate age groups On-site registrations okay

Sunday Soccer & Baseball Fall Session @ Canyon Trail Park September 24 - November 26 Head Coach: Joel Gildersleeve

Soccer Ages: 4-10 12:00-1:15 pm | Baseball Ages: 4-8 1:30-3:00 pm

15% Sibling discount. See web site

www.elcerritosportscamp.com (510) 559-8208 July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 31

Dance and Ballet Camps

locations in Mill Valley, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Oakland, Santa Cruz, Campbell, Moraga and Walnut Creek. Overnight camp locations in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado. Learn more and sign up at www.avid4. com or call 800-977-9873 http://www.avid4. com/

ALAMEDA COUNTY BERKELEY BALLET THEATER (BERKELEY)

CASTLE ROCK CAMP (WALNUT CREEK)

Age or Grade Range: Age 7-21

Berkeley Ballet Theater’s summer workshops, open to new and returning students, offer unparalleled training under world-class faculty for beginning, intermediate, and advanced dancers in a diverse, supportive environment. Half and full day schedules combine rigorous classical ballet training with a diverse range of styles, including modern, jazz, capoeira, and pilates. berkeleyballet.org

Age or Grade Range: 5-15

Castle Rock is a magical farm where children learn to ride and manage horses. This is the beginning of a lifetime love of horses. Our beautiful Arabian and half Arabian horses are veteran campaigners of lessons and camp. Riding is the favorite activity for young children to enjoy on the back of a horse and we understand that. We give them maximum time in the saddle but we also include the care of the horse from grooming, learning to lead properly and making sure the tack is comfortable. We look forward to a long relationship with our campers as they increase their skills in horseback riding and consideration of their mount. We have all sizes from ponies to big horses. Your camper will fall in love before the first day is over! www.castleroclarabians. com

HIKING WITH LLAMAS (MORAGA ) Age or Grade Range: Grades 9 & 10

During this four day camp students will hike in the Redwoods, learn to paddle board, rock climb and participate in a ropes course. Great camp for 9th & 10th grade students. www.orionacademy.org

Arts & Crafts Camps ALAMEDA COUNTY ART YOWZA! (ALAMEDA) Age or Grade Range: 5-11

Art Yowza offers an exciting visual arts program that supports the development of new creative skills. We empower kids to think and use their imaginations. The nurturing environment encourages unique selfexpression and self-esteem. The small class size, individualized attention, stimulating environment, and beautiful setting make it possible for every learner to blossom. http://www.artyowza.org

CAMPS

Berkeley City Ballet

The Dance Center berkeleycityballet.org

KATHRYN ROSZAK’S SUMMER DANCE CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: 5-17

BIG SPIRIT STUDIO SUMMER CAMP! (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Ages 7 & up

Big Spirit Studio Summer Camp week 1 July 10th14th 9:00am - 3:00pm ages 7 & up I have been asked to do a summer camp for years and I’m finally doing it! The week will start off with clay and glazing. Together we will pick what projects we will work on for the second half of the week. We will have projects to choose from like tie-dye, faerie gardens, wood working, paper making and book binding and more! There will also be a guest artist to share a project with us in textiles. The group is small, only 6 to 8 makers with up to 3 instructors, giving us lots of time to really get into our creativity! For lunch we will be outside and take walks down the street to the park. Kids will bring their own lunches but snacks will be provided! www. bigspiritstudio.com

CAMP KALA (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: 5-17

Engage in hands-on art activities while working in a professional studio environment at Kala Art Institute. Class sizes are small so everyone receives individual attention from Kala’s fabulous teaching artists and assistants. Each week offers new projects and materials culminating in a gallery exhibition and celebration of student work. Discover new creativity this summer at Camp Kala! http:// www.kala.org/education/camp-kala/

Studio 1.6 Art Camp reinforces learning all summer long with engaging arts projects encouraging creativity. Quality art instruction, small class sizes and lots of individual attention for each student. Drawing, Painting and/or Sculpture. Each session features a different artistic theme, providing an intensive learning experience. Suitable for all levels. Differentiated instruction. Ages 7 - 13 June, July & August 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Tuition: $42 per day or $200 per week (all materials are included)

THE CRUCIBLE (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Ages 8-17

Explore industrial arts blacksmithing, glass blowing, ceramics, woodworking, jewelry, neon, welding, robotics, and more at The Crucible! Weeklong youth camps, for ages 8+, let imaginations soar while teaching hands-on skills overlapping science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Each week ends with a gallery walk where students proudly share their projects. http://thecrucible.org/youth-camps/

Culinary Camps ALAMEDA COUNTY COOKING ROUND THE WORLD (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Ages 6 - 13

Age or Grade Range: Ages 7-17

We are the juncture where cooking and cultural education embrace! We educate boys and girls about countries around the world and American states using cooking to celebrate diversity and embrace difference. Campers come away with respect for difference, a broadened pallet, and a desire to become a citizen of the world! Educational! Delicious! Fun! cookingroundtheworld.com

Please join our award winning camps filled with fun and creativity! President’s Week, Spring and Summer Art Camps; for children and youth ages 7-17. We limit each summer camp session to 10-12 full-week students, so that each student receives individual attention. Our camp runs from 9am to 3pm; before and aftercare available for $15/hr. Please call (510) 6040036 for more information. Silver Award for Best Summer Arts Camp from Parent’s Press . www. DancingPaintbrushStudio.com

KIDS’ CARPENTRY (BERKELEY) Since 1982 we have been teaching children, ages 5-12, the safe-use of woodworking hand tools. Building from scratch and learning life-time skills. www.kidscarpentry.com

SEW MUCH FUN (ALBANY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 10-17 grades 5-12

Spring & summer sewing camps. M-F. 9-5 pm. (extended yes) ages 10-17. grade 5-12. All levels. Small group. Choose a project & learn at your pace. Materials supplied. Sew Much Fun, 35 years experience in textiles, fashion, teaching Marianne Henri mjhenri@att.net professional Albany studio

SON RISE SUMMER FUN (ALAMEDA) Age or Grade Range: 2.0 through Kindergarten completion

Six weeks of summer fun. Monday through Thursday come explore weekly arts and crafts with us

STICKY ART LAB CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 6-12

photo : andy mogg

Age or Grade Range: Ages 7 - 13

DANCING PAINTBRUSH STUDIO (ALBANY)

Age or Grade Range: kindergarten-6th grade; ages 5-12

Ages 2 and up Dance Camps Birthday Parties 4 state-of the art studios, sprung floors Easy parking Easy online registration & payment

SUMMER CAMP ART WORKSHOPS (ALAMEDA)

COOKING ROUND THE WORLD AT ST. ALBAN’S CHURCH KITCHEN (ALBANY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 6 - 13

We are the juncture where cooking and cultural education embrace. The program is completely hand-on; everyone peels or chops or dices or minces. Campers come away with respect for difference, a broadened pallet, and a desire to become a citizen of the world! Educational! Delicious! Fun! www.cookingroundtheworld.com

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY COOKING ROUND THE WORLD AT ACALANES MASONIC LODGE KITCHEN (LAFAYETTE) Age or Grade Range: Ages 6 - 13

We are the juncture where cooking and cultural education embrace. We educate boys and girls about countries around the world and American states using cooking to celebrate diversity and embrace difference. Campers come away with respect for difference, a broadened pallet, and a desire to become a citizen of the world! Educational! Delicious! Fun! www. cookingroundtheworld.com

COOKING ROUND THE WORLD AT ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH KITCHEN (PLEASANT HILL)

February 2017 Age or Grade Range: Ages 6 - 13 Dive in to art and innovation with self-directed, hands-on building and creative time. Mornings: Design Firm: Amy Neiman Design We are the juncture where cooking and cultural Learn from a structured theme and skill-sharing. education embrace. The program is completely Amy Neiman Afternoons: Enjoy playing at the park and a free 1820 Tenth Street, Berkeleyhands-on; 94710 everyone peels or chops or dices or build session. Hours 9am-3:30pm. After Care minces. Campers come away with respect for (510) 649-7787 available to 5:30. stickyartlab.com difference, a broadened pallet, and a desire Client: Berkeley City Ballet to become a citizen of the world! Educational! SUMMER ART CAMPElizabeth WITH DIANNE Godfrey Delicious! Fun! www.cookingroundtheworld.com STOCKLER (BERKELEY) (510) 841-8913 Age Publication: or Grade Range:Parent's 7-15 yrs.Press Intensive work with clay and Contact: — glazes in a small group setting, located in the Elmwood neighborhood. Ad Size: 2.333" x 7.75" Hours are 9:30am-1:30pm. Limited extended care Insertion: and some partial scholarships available. Check Email: parentsprs@aol.com (pdf OK) website for dates. DianneStocklerClay@gmail.com

32 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

Camp for ages 5 to Teen, Creative Dance, Ballet, Tap, Choreography, Crafts, Performances, Teachers are Professional Choreographers. We do the camp every year-Creative, Fantastic! 510 233 5550 or kdance@sonic.net www.dlkdance.com www. dlkdance.com

SHAWL-ANDERSON DANCE CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: 6-18

Come Dance Explore and Create! at half-day dance camp, ages 6-9. Each day includes a modern/ jazz class, Followed with art time connecting themes of color and line. Dancers also explore new dance forms each day. Possibilities include ballet, hula, and hip-hop. The morning is complete with improvisation and making dance! www.shawl-anderson.org

SUMMER DAY DANCE CAMP (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Ages 4-16

Classes in jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, tumbling, African dance, drama, art, and music. Games, performances and fun! Boys and girls. All levels welcome. Campers placed in classes by age and experience Spring Camp: April 3rd - April 7th, 2017. Summer Camp: June 12th 2017 - August 18th 2017. Early enrollment, sibling, and multiple week discounts. www.eastbaydancecenter.org

Faith-Based Camps ALAMEDA COUNTY FCC KIDS CAMP (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Grades 1-5

Space-themed Bible camp with skits, games, snacks, crafts, songs from 9am-3pm with beforecare & aftercare available. Register online beginning in March. Just $100 for first time campers. Counselor program for middle school & high school students. www.oaklandfirstcovenant. org/kids-camp-2017.html

LAKESHORE VACATION BIBLE CAMP (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: 5-15

At our faith-based camp, kids are involved in fun activities, hands-on experiences; learn more about God and Jesus, and participate in non denominational faith curriculum. For the past five years. Lakeshore Church provides a multi-cultural half day and full day camp experience for five year olds to eight graders. ally@labcoakland.org

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CAMP GAN ISRAEL (DANVILLE) Age or Grade Range: Preschoool -8th grade

Camp Gan Israel is a summer day camp dedicated to enriching the lives of children from diverse Jewish backgrounds and affiliations through a stimulating camping experience. Camp includes sports, special themes and exciting activities, fun field trips and lots of spirit. www.jewishcontracosta.com

Foreign Language and Cultural Immersion Camps ALAMEDA COUNTY ESCUELA BILING _E INTERNACIONAL SUMMER CAMP (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: 3-9

EBI campers will explore art, music, science, cooking, movement, and dozens of other enriching activities in Spanish. For children ages 3 to 9 (potty trained). No prior Spanish speaking experience required for some sessions. Choose themes during registration. Sessions are half-day or full-day and two-weeks long.

THE RENAISSANCE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP (PIEDMONT) Age or Grade Range: Ages 6-14

We offer six weeks of summer day camp from July 10 through August 18 for ages six through 14 on our Piedmont campus. Many of our camp programs are Spanish or French language immersion camps, open to students who have basic French or Spanish comprehension skills. Contact: summer@ therenaissanceschool.org or 510-531-8566.

DARUMA NO GAKKO (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: K-6

Daruma no Gakko is a co-operative, four week summer program designed for children in grades K-6 to learn about Japanese American heritage. The day is enriched with activities such as language study, history, cooking, origami, woodworking, tea ceremony, taiko and music. Please visit our website for more details. www.daruma-no-gakko.org. www. daruma-no-gakko.org

EB FRENCH IMMERSION SUMMER CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 3.5 to 5

Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley’s full immersion French summer camp offers French instruction to children in Preschool and entering Kindergarten (minimum age: 3.5). Children will learn and/or expand French skills in an exciting, fun, engaging atmosphere on our campus in West Berkeley. No previous knowledge of French is necessary! Camp consists of 4 one-week sessions from July 17th to Aug. 11th, each with a different theme. You can choose how many weeks you d like your child to attend. Campers participate in French themed activities from 9am-3pm. Before and After Care available. www.eb.org/summercamp

GERMAN SUMMER CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 3-13

BAKS+ Camp- Stein, Schere, Papier July 17th August 11th, 2017 This summer we will explore what we can do with basic materials, including wood, rock, paper, clay, and much more. But we will also play games from all of the German speaking countries that are simple, yet fun! Each age group is led by a German teacher with experience instructing various levels in an immersion classroom. Our program is very handson: - our famous projects and crafts - immersion in German culture - field trips to support the curriculum - weekly music classes singing, playing, acting, pretending, discussing, cooking, stories, games, outdoor fun- and all in GERMAN! http:// kinderstube.org/program-and-schedule/

MANDARIN IMMERSION SUMMER CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 5-12

Full-day 2-4 week Chinese Mandarin Immersion summer programs near Ohlone Park. Activities include language enrichment, swimming @ West Campus Swimming Pool, sports at Ohlone Park, Legos, arts/crafts, calligraphy, board games. hanwenschool.org

SHU REN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 2-4 and Ages 5-12

Students will use inquiry-based learning to explore each session’s theme, develop their Mandarin skills and engage in exciting, hands-on activities. For School-Aged Camp, each session will incorporate at least one field trip. Details of the planned curriculum for each session of the SchoolAged camp and the Pre-K camp are available soon. (Curriculum is subject to change.) http:// shurenschool.org/programs/summer-camp-2/

SPANISH IMMERSION CAMPS WITH VIVA EL ESPANOL (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Ages 5-10

The camps are designed to give children a unique opportunity to learn or improve their Spanish language skills. Camps are half-day or full-day sessions. During each camp, students participate in interactive games, music and movement activities, and arts & crafts projects that center around a specific theme. Beginner students learn basic language skills to supplement the vocabulary linked to each theme. More advanced students learn useful phrases, grammatical concepts and practice their conversation skills. This year’s camp themes are: - Going Hawaiian - Secret Formula Laboratorio - Los Cocineritos (Junior Chefs) www.vivaelespanol. org

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SPANISH CAMPS (WALNUT CREEK) Age or Grade Range: 3-10

Hola amigos! Vamos a divertirnos, let’s have fun at Spanish 4 children Academy Summer Camps. Spanish 4 Children offers a hands on creative curriculum for ages 3-10. Campers will have fun learning Spanish through games, activity pages, scavanger hunts, exploring nature. Themes for Summer Camps are: De Paseo por la selva, Vamos

a acampar, Una aventura con los piratas, Vamos a la feria. Contact Miriam Lattanzi for registration mlattanzi68@yahoo.com 925 262 3608 www. spanish4children.net

SPANISH IMMERSION CAMPS WITH VIVA EL ESPANOL (LAFAYETTE) Age or Grade Range: Ages 5-10

The camps are designed to give children a unique opportunity to learn or improve their Spanish language skills. Camps are half-day or full-day sessions. During each camp, students participate in interactive games, music and movement activities, and arts & crafts projects that center around a specific theme. Beginner students learn basic language skills to supplement the vocabulary linked to each theme. More advanced students learn useful phrases, grammatical concepts and practice their conversation skills. This year’s camp themes are: - Los Deportes (Sports) - Chop, Chop...Chopped Cooking Competition - Wondrous Outdoors at the Reservoir - Secret Formula Laboratorio - Los Cocineritos (Junior Chefs) Exploring Central & South America - Mission Impossible www.vivaelespanol.org

General & Traditional Day Camps ALAMEDA COUNTY ADVENTURE TIME SUMMER DAY CAMP (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Ages 4 years 9 months - 12

Our fun-filled, varied programs offer: science, arts, crafts, cooking, languages, sports, games, nature, ‘Reading Heroes Club’, and multicultural activities. Our state licensed facilities maintain a 1:10 teacher/child ratio and are staffed with well-trained adults, whose goal is to offer each child a nurturing, memorable, and safe summer camp experience. www.adventure-timesummer.com

BOYS ON THE GO CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 9-13

Boys on the Go! provides an opportunity for boys, ages 9-13, to explore the Bay Area on public transportation and meet new friends while having some really fun adventures. We are dedicated to empowering these soon to be young men to be curious, competent and compassionate people. Some destinations include: Lake Merritt for boating, Bowling trips, Baseball games, Ice Skating, MiniGolf, Arcades, Movies and more! Monday’s are Creating Community Day where we engage and connect with each other, do team building activities and learn how to travel safely together. We play board and field games and make planes and rockets. http://boysonthegocamp.com/

MONKEY BUSINESS CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: 4.5-15

SARAH’S SCIENCE CAMP (BERKELEY & OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: 5-15

camp activities- interactive sports and games, arts and crafts, cooking, air hockey and much more. http://el-cerrito.org/DocumentCenter/View/6936

BACKYARD EXPLORERS SUMMER DAY CAMP (CONCORD) Age or Grade Range: Ages 5-10

Markham Nature Park is a remarkable out door location for your child to experience the Summer Camp of a lifetime! Backyard Explorers is one of the few Traditional Day Camps left in the Bay Area that brings kids a unique experience that will be cherished forever. Your child will explore and play in an extraordinary setting inside a grove of breathtaking greenery and trees hovering over a creek enjoying dynamic nature hikes, and winning together in team sports and exciting games, such as: the Amazing Race, Water Olympics, and Survivor! With weekly trips of swimming, bowling or picnic BBQ’s; campers also take trips to sizzling bay area, kid friendly hot-spots! Whether singing camp songs, creating mind-blowing arts & crafts, or whipping up delicious cooking projects your child will have an amazing summer! Weekly trip schedule is posted on the website. www.ConcordReg.org

CRESTMONT SUMMER CAMP (RICHMOND) Age or Grade Range: Grades 1 - 6

URBAN ADVENTURE CAMPS (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: 8-15

Urban Adventure Camps is a unique week-long day. Camps begin each morning at local BART stations. Groups take daily field trips to the Bay Area’s best museums, activities, and adventures. Public transportation is used to travel between locations. Each session focuses on specific subject areas. Come Explore With Us! www.urbanadventurecamps

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY ADVENTURES CAMP, JR. EXPLORERS CAMP, EXPLORERS CAMP (EL CERRITO) Age or Grade Range: AGES: 4.75-14

Adventures Camp Spend the day with old friends or make new ones as you create arts and crafts, participate in fun games, hands on science, sports and fitness, music and morning visits to EC Splash Park. All activities and special events are focused around the weekly camp theme. Optional swim lessons offered for an additional fee. Jr. Explorers Camp We offer a traditional camp with spirited and responsible care. Campers will attend off site weekly local excursion. Each week will include swim, creative crafts, sports, and cooking. Summer will be filled with excitement, fun and new friends. Special Events and Assemblies will also be offered throughout the summer. Optional swim lessons offered for an additional fee. Explorers Camp Explorers Camps is the ideal place to send your tween. Each week of Explorers Camp includes two field trips, three days of swimming and classic

Every day at Crestmont Summer Camp combines organized activities along a theme with plenty of time for free play. Our goal is for every child to learn, grow, and have lots of fun, while building strong connections with the other campers and staff. www.crestmontcamp.org

LIL VENTURE’S SUMMER CAMP (CONCORD/ WALNUT CREEK ) Age or Grade Range: Ages:5-7 and 8-10 yrs

Exploring the East Bay for 6 weeks of Venturing To Lindsey’s wildlife, oakland Zoo, hikes, Robin nd One,Bowling, Movies, swimming, ( not lesson), Library ( get your own card) , Lawrence Hall .. starting June 19th thru Aug 4 Closed the week of July 4 th . Registration: $25 to secure the space. Weekly fee $185 for the week or $950 for the 6 woks. Includes 2 snack, water, tickets to all the activities, movies, bowling, Zoo, etc... swimming pass .. Due to allergies you can bring your own lunch . For emergencies or forgetful lunches , we will have Pb& J sandwiches andturkey and cheese . Transportation is insuranced. CPR and finger printed. Any question please call 925-305-1776, 925-207-3677

WHEEL KIDS BICYCLE CLUB (WALNUT CREEK) Age or Grade Range: Ages 5-14

Learn-to-Ride in our Two-Wheelers program, (ages 5-8) Cruise around town on bike in our Camp Cruisin’ Program, (ages 5-8) or seek longer more challenging bicycle adventures in our Adventure Camp Program, (ages 8-12)! Older kids looking to have some fun but take on a little responsibility?

CAMP ELMWOOD (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 6-13

One week only Jul 31 - Aug 4. Under the redwoods on the grounds of St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Berkeley. Art, basketball, volleyball, ping pong, lawn games, music, drama, dance, science, cooking, swim-hike, family barbeque, talent show, values, community service, opportunities for leadership. Camperships available as needed. stjohnsberkeley. org/communityce

CAMPS

GIRLS ON THE GO CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 9-13

GIRLS SUMMER CAMP (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Grades 4-6

JMSG offers three summer sessions to girls entering fourth, fifth, and sixth grade. Sessions are one week long, and each session will have a variety of activities to participate in as well as a project theme. Girls may choose to enroll in any or all of the three sessions. Each week the girls will participate in activities that are planned by JMSG faculty to connect with the weekly theme but also designed to serve all learning styles. Most activities include a creative component, group work, and opportunity for self-reflection. Activities may include: learning dance moves, playing music, writing and performing poetry, exploring science, making nature-inspired art, practicing yoga, and playing sports/games. www.juliamorganschool.org

Summer Day

Dance Camp at the East Bay Dance Center

• DANCE • MUSIC • ART • DRAMA & FUN! Space still available until Aug 18 Affordable Rates. Ages 4-16 years

Proud recipient of Parents’ Press Best of the Bay Camp 2017

1318 Glenfield Ave. (off Park Blvd.) Oakland • (510) 336-3262

www.eastbaydancecenter.org

Creating More Confident Kids Since 1990! July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 33

Check out our CIT program. All programs explore the surrounding area, kids choose their daily activities, and Adventure Riding Camp will take BART into San Francisco to ride the waterfront! This camp is great for all ages and abilities and is surely a daily adventure! Come roll with us! www.wheelkids.com

SUMMER BRIDGE CAMP (SAN RAMON) Age or Grade Range: Grades K - 8

We offer academic and enrichment summer camp programs, including: Math, English, Chinese, Music, Art, Team Building Games, and more. Full/HalfDays. www.RenataLC.com

SUMMER@SAKLAN (MORAGA ) Age or Grade Range: 3-11

Summer @ Saklan lets your child explore the world! Mornings on the Saklan campus are filled with culture and language enrichment. In the afternoons there’s summer fun, including field trips & swimming. Three week full and half day sessions with extended hours. Ages 3 - 11. saklan.org

Gymnastics and Circus Arts Camps ALAMEDA COUNTY MONKEY NINJA SUMMER CAMP (EMERYVILLE) Age or Grade Range: Ages 3-17

PARKOUR, ACROBATICS, AERIAL & MORE! Come and hang with us! We’ll turn your world upside down. Get ready to climb, invert, swing, vault, flip and gain a new perspective! http://www. athleticplayground.com/

youth exploring gender) and their allies. We have an engaging camp curriculum and amazing staff! Yoga, art, spoken word and outdoor fun and teens are on the go in the Bay. Come join us for year 3! www. rainbowdaycamp.org

July 31-Aug 4, 9:30-3, free concert Friday Aug 4, 6pm at Freight & Salvage Concert Hall, Berkeley. Supportive atmosphere with all women faculty from the Montclair Women’s Big Band . Choose ensemble electives! www.cjc.edu/girlscamp

and nut-free lunch and snacks. (We will not leave the premises at ANY time). If any of your kids have allergies or special dietary needs, please let us know. If you have any questions, please call us at 925-415-3340. sanramon.schoolofrock.com

QUEST THERAPEUTIC CAMP (DANVILLE)

MUSIC DISCOVERY WORKSHOP & YOUTH COLLEGIUM (BERKELEY)

ROOKIES MUSIC CAMP (SAN RAMON)

Age or Grade Range: 7-18

Age or Grade Range: Ages 5-7

Wunderkind’s Grand Tour Children in Grades 1 and up with an interest in the music and arts of the past are invited to join us as we bring the German Classical to life in song, instrumental music, art, dance, and drama. Group lessons, chamber music ensembles, and a final concert on Friday. 1763 Salzburg: Seven year old Wolfie and eleven year old Nannerl are getting ready to embark on the Grand Tour of Europe! Pack your bags, hop on a carriage and travel across Germany and Belgium to reach the great cities of Paris and London. While visiting the great courts and cultural capitals, don t forget to perform the most amazing concerts, astonishing princes and princesses, an empress, heads of state, even the future queen of France! Meet and learn from some leading composers of the day, and when you are not busy performing, dash off your own compositions! Youth Collegium, a concurrent program, is for rising 7th through 12th graders with prior instrumental and vocal experience who are ready for deeper musical exploration with its AllCollegium band. http://sfems.org/?page_id=624

Young rockers will have the opportunity to jam on guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and sing too! While having a great time playing music with others, they will learn fundamentals like music theory, pitch, and rhythm. If you have any questions, please call us at 925-415-3340. sanramon.schoolofrock.com

Age or Grade Range: 5-19 years old

Quest provides an innovative therapeutic day camp with individualized treatment goals, professional staff and daily group therapy with a full, fun camp program. Campers with mild to moderate emotional/social problems, ages 5-19, participate for a minimum of 3 consecutive weeks, receive supportive feedback and proven methods for positive change. www.questcamps.com

Horse Riding Camps ALAMEDA COUNTY BEGINNER HORSE CAMP AT KENILWORTH STABLES (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Ages 7-10

Come have fun, make new friends, and get immersed in the wonderful world of horses at our beautiful private barn in the Oakland hills. Two English riding lessons per day and two horsemanship lessons per day provide campers with a fun, well rounded introduction to the equestrian sport. Our amazing team of horses and ponies are well-mannered schoolmasters who love children and love their jobs. Catered to beginners ages 7-10. http://www.kenilworthstables.com/ camp

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CASTLE ROCK ARABIAN HORSE CAMP (WALNUT CREEK)

Health and Special Needs Camps ALAMEDA COUNTY FIDDLEHEADS (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Ages 5-12

Children thrive when they feel supported. Fiddleheads is an outdoors day camp that offers social and emotional guidance in nature through mindfulness, movement and play. We foster growth through activities that promote sensory integration, emotional regulation and empathic connections. We welcome children from all communities, and we honor neuro-diversity. http://www.seeds-ofawareness.org/

RASKOB SUMMER PROGRAM (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Grades 1-8

Age or Grade Range: Ages 5 -12

Castle rock camp is an amazing place for children to learn how to ride. We have 24 gentle horses and ponies that await your camper to provide the magic of learning to ride. www.castlerockarabians.com

RANCHO DEL LAGO SUMMER CAMP (BRIONES ) Age or Grade Range: 6-13

Our weekly camps start with the basics of correct position, steering, riding around obstacles, posting trot , jumping position, trail walk, games on horseback, and riding together. Campers put on our end of the week show, demonstrating all they have learned and perform it for their parents and friends on Friday afternoon. Repeat campers get to continue to learn new skills. Limited space available so register today and reserve your slot!! Contact us at rdlponycamp@gmail.com https:// www.rancho-del-lago.com/summer-holiday-camp/

Music Camps Voice and Instrument

June 19-July 28 Support for students with learning challenges, must be able to self-regulate and work with others. Mornings: individual educational therapy, small academic & enrichment classes, afternoons: daily swimming, crafts & cooperative games. www.raskobinstitute.org

SOCIAL SUPER HEROS SUMMER CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: 5-11

Our weekly outdoors Social and emotional skills groups in Tilden Park provide your child with a safe and fun setting to learn and practice new skills and be with friends. Activities are designed to inspire whole-body learning through doing and reflection. We use dramatic role playing, structured games, and facilitated free play to practice communicating feelings, playing cooperatively with peers, dealing with conflict, and learning the skills to make lasting friendships. Games and coaching are provided to teach your child skills in successfully navigating the social arena including topics such as joining in play with peers, handling frustration and disappointment, creating mutually joyful friendships, successfully resolving conflicts, reading nonverbal social cues, expressing yourself authentically and kindly, and maintaining attention & organization. All activities are play and relationship-based and many incorporate sensory regulation strategies, emotional management techniques, and all incorporate self-awareness, creativity, and fun! Appropriate for children who could use extra support to engage socially with peers, manage attention and body regulation, and successfully manage their emotions. Limit of 4 children per group to maximize social learning. Contact for more information or to enroll today! Karen Wolfe, MFT #53878 (415) 420-9459 Karen@SFBayPlayTherapy.com or Nancy Wallin MFT #53175 (530) 902-1154 nancywallinmft@gmail. com http://www.berkeleychildtherapy.com/

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAY AREA RAINBOW DAY CAMP (EL CERRITO) Age or Grade Range: 4-18

Rainbow Day Camp (3-11) and Camp Kickin’ It (12-18) are camps for gender diverse youth (any

ALAMEDA COUNTY BERKELEY BAND CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 8-17

Come play in a few bands with other young musicians! We take vocalist, as well as guitar, bass, drums, keys, horns and strings. We spend 3 days rehearsing at Ashkenaz and 2 days recording at Fantasy Studios! Come one week or both. 22nd year, women run camp by professional teachers/ musicians.

FIDDLEKIDS (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: 6-14

Now in its twentieth year, fiddlekids is a unique, fun-filled summer day camp devoted to traditional fiddle music from across the world! We welcome young violin students and fiddlers, ages 6 to 14, with at least one year of playing experience. No previous fiddling is required. Camp is divided into skill-based groups of roughly 15 fiddlers, and each child attends classes with three of the camp’s fiddle instructors. Check us out at http://www. freightandsalvage.org/fiddlekids. http://www. freightandsalvage.org/fiddlekids

GLENVIEW STRING CAMP (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Jul-99

Glenview Strings Camp 2017: July 31 - August 4, 9 - 12pm, 1 - 5pm - Summer string fun - All level string camp for ages 7 and up, kids bring your parents! Located in Glenview district of Oakland at Park Blvd. Presbyterian Church, Aug. 1 - 5 from 9 - 5pm. Come all day, or Mornings (9 - 12) and Afternoons (1-5), only! Early Bird discounts available. For more information - www. glenviewstring.com or email glenviewstrings@ comcast.net Looking forward to hearing from you! Sara Usher www.glenviewstrings.com

JAZZSCHOOL GIRLS’ JAZZ & BLUES CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Grades 5 or 6 -12

Our 8th year! Girls entering grades 5or6-12 who play an instrument or like to sing. Mon-Fri

34 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

SFEMS MUSIC DISCOVERY WORKSHOP: WUNDERKIND S GRAND TOUR (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Grades 1 and up

1763 Salzburg: Join 7 year old Wolfie and 11 year old Nannerl as they embark on the Grand Tour of Europe! Pack your bags, hop on a carriage and travel across Germany and Belgium to reach Paris and London. While visiting the great courts and capitals, don’t forget to perform concerts, astonishing princes and princesses, an empress, heads of state, even the future queen of France! Meet and learn from some leading composers of the day, and when you are not busy performing, dash off your own compositions! http://sfems. org/?page_id=624

SFEMS YOUTH COLLEGIUM (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Grades 7-12

The Youth Collegium is a parallel program open to rising 7th graders through 12 graders with prior instrumental and vocal experience who are ready for deeper musical exploration. This year, Youth Collegium participants will delve into the music of young Mozart, his father Leopold, and various composers who influenced him as a performer and a composer. http://sfems.org/?page_id=624

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY PERFORMANCE CAMP (SAN RAMON) Age or Grade Range: Ages 11-16

Camps are the perfect amped up version of our Performance Program, and it is our goal that each kid walks away with not just new found musical abilities, but fantastic memories and friends as well! Details: depending on the total number of kids, we will be splitting into bands of similar abilities, and each group will learn 2 to 5 songs in just a week, depending on how much they can handle as a band. At the school on Friday at 1pm, the kids will perform a live rock concert for friends and family! The set list will be decided first thing Monday morning after introductions and assessment. We will do our best to gauge what the kids like most and what will help each of them progress the most as musicians. Camps run the week of June 19th, July 10th and 24th, and August 7th. Camp will take place every day from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, with a 45-60 minute lunch break around noon. Guitarists will need to bring a guitar/ pick/strap, bassists a bass/strap, and drummers sticks. Everything else including amps and cables will be provided here at the school. If you have any questions, please call us at 925-415-3340. sanramon.schoolofrock.com

ROCK 101 PERFORMANCE CAMP (SAN RAMON) Age or Grade Range: Ages 8-10

Camps are the perfect amped up version of our Performance Program, and it is our goal that each kid walks away with not just new found musical abilities, but fantastic memories and friends as well! Details: depending on the total number of kids, we will be splitting into bands of similar abilities, and each group will learn 2 or 3 songs in just a week, depending on how much they can handle as a band. At the school on Friday at 1pm, the kids will perform a live rock concert for friends and family! The set list will be decided first thing Monday morning after introductions and assessment. We will do our best to gauge what the kids like most and what will help each of them progress the most as musicians. Camps run the weeks of June 12th and 26th, and July 17th an 31st. Camp will take place every day from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am 3:00 pm, with a 45-60 minute lunch break around noon. Please send your kids with a water bottle,

Performing Arts Camps ALAMEDA COUNTY BAY AREA SHAKESPEARE CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: ages 7-18

Kids get into the act! Have fun with your friends and learn all about the world of performance and Shakespeare from trained teaching artists. Twoweek camps meet weekdays, 9 am–3 pm (optional aftercare until 5:30 pm). Experience not required. Campers stage a play on the final day. www. sfshakes.org

BERKELEY PLAYHOUSE CONSERVATORY (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Grades K-6

Dive into the world of theater arts with our 1-4 week musical theater camps for Grades K-6! Choose from themes inspired by popular titles: Zootopia, Sing, Matilda and Harry Potter. Plus classic themes like Broadway Triple Threat. Camps enrolling every week June-August. Optional before & after care. Financial aid available. berkeleyplayhouse.org

CAMP WINNARAINBOW (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: 7-17

Explore nature, enhance your creativity, begin lifelong friendships, and have BIG FUN. For over 40 years, kids come to join our circus, our well trained staff teaches timing, balance and as our founder Wavy Gravy says, Survival in the 21st century or how to duck with a sense of humor. www. campwinnarainbow.org

DOUG’S DRAMA (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: 5-13

-Four two week sessions -Full length productions - Extended care from 8:00-6:00 -Theater games, comedy, improv, storytelling -One of the East Bay’s most popular theater camps for over 20 years Www.dougsdrama.com

GLM PERFORMING ARTS CAMP (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: 6-14

An amazing 2 week theatrical experience in the production of The Pearl, set in an underwater kingdom. Children perform songs and dances and make props working with theater professionals. An extraordinary and very fun opportunity for children from beginners to seasoned performers. 7/31/17-8/11/17(performance night). grandlakemontessori.com

YOUNG ACTORS’ THEATRE CAMP (SANTA CRUZ) Age or Grade Range: Ages 8-18

Our classes are all taught by working actors, singers, directors, dancers casting directors, agents, managers, and producers who bring their current experiences and inspirations directly to the classroom. There is nothing quite like learning how to sell a song from Sutton Foster or learning the Safety Dance from Glee’s Heather Morris or learning how to write great lyrics from Darren Criss while he serenades you. All of our programs are designed with each camper in mind regardless of age or experience level. From our intensive 1-day workshops to our Overnight Camps, we are sure that you will find YATC the perfect match for your goals! www.campyatc.com

Preschool Age Camps ALAMEDA COUNTY MONKEY BUSINESS CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 3-4

Monkey Business Pre-K kids receive a distinctive classic camp experience at an indoor/outdoor location near Tilden Park. Bubbles, Sand Play, Art, Storytelling, Story Time, Games, Movement, End of Week Nature Treasure Hunt, Organic Food, Nap/Rester Time! Our diverse staff is dynamic, engaging, skilled, empathetic and compassionate. Winner of Best Pre-K Camp Award. August 7-25;

at www.sailoakland.com 510-238-2196. 9am 3:30pm. B/A 8am-6pm at Lake Merritt. $200$395/week. www.sailoakland.com

environment. www.mttambikescamp.com

NINJA CAMP (CORTE MADERA) Age or Grade Range: 4-16

OAKLAND ICE CENTER (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: All Ages

Oakland Ice Center Operated by Sharks Ice is operated by Sharks Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the NHL San Jose Sharks. The facility contains one NHL-sized ice surface and one Olympic sized ice surface and accommodates ice hockey, figure skating, broomball, curling, speed skating, ice dancing and public skating. http:// www.oaklandice.com/

SUPER FUN KIDS SUMMER TENNIS CAMPS (EL CERRITO) Age or Grade Range: Ages 7-13

Winslow Tennis Academy’s Super Fun Kids Summer Tennis Camps -- Dates: July 17-21 and August 14-18. For Kids Ages 7-13 ranging from Brand New Beginner to Lower Intermediate player. Kids have a ton of fun and actively participate in a lively and supportive environment. Outstanding technical instruction. Terrific, attentive staff. www. winslowtennisacademy.com Hours 8:30-3:30, with ext. care 8-6. http:// www.monkeybusinesscamp.com/summer-pre-kprogram/

PRESCHOOL SUMMER CAMP (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: 3.5 -5.5

MCPC operates as a parent cooperative during the school year, but opens its doors to the children of the community for its annual Preschool Summer Camp. We foster creative, cognitive, social, emotional and fine motor development with our imaginative (messy!) projects. Both summer sessions are three-week programs that meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9am - 12:30pm with optional extended days are offered 12:30 3pm. A maximum of 25 children, ages 3.5 to 5.5, may enroll. Registration opens April 2017. www. MCPCkids.org

SONSHINE PRESCHOOL (PLEASANTON) Age or Grade Range: 2-years up to the entry of 1st grade

Children will have fun as we balance the daily schedule with indoor and outdoor activities designed to promote social skills, language development, math and science inquiry, selfhelp skills, and large/fine motor development! Children will have a blast on our cool playground in the shade of our beautiful trees! www. sonshinepreschool.com

WORLDS OF WONDER (ALAMEDA) Age or Grade Range: 2-11 years

A variety of 2 & 3 week options to engage any child, from Sports Camp, Dinosaur Adventure, Culinary Delights, Fascinating Photography and Read-a-Long and Math-a-thon tutoring, enjoy your summer. Hands on learning that fosters creativity and curiosity with 2 locations in Alameda, from award-winning preschool, The Child Unique Montessori School. http://www.thechildunique.org

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY WALNUT AVENUE SUMMER CAMP (WALNUT CREEK) Age or Grade Range: 6-Feb

We offer 9 consecutuive weeks of Summer Camp from June to August. Camps are offered Monday thru Thursday, from 9:00 - 11:45, with options for Early Bird drop off and Lunch Bunch. You can pick the days and weeks your child will attend (based on availability). Each week offers a different theme: Summer Celebration, The Great Outdoors, America the Beautiful, Dinosaurs Galore, Music in Motion, Three Ring Circus, Treasure Island, All Star Sports, and Fantasy Fun. The children stay engaged with lots of art, science, gross motor activities, water play and free exploration outside and inside. Our Facility has a beautiful, very spacious, naturally shaded and safe play yard; Your child is guarenteed to have a wonderful time at our camp! www. waccp.org

Science Camps ALAMEDA COUNTY KIDS FOR THE BAY SUMMER CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: 5-14

Campers will enjoy hands-on outdoor science and nature activities while exploring local creek, bay, and ocean habitats, hiking, kayaking, studying aquatic invertebrates, swimming at Lake Anza, and much more! Camp leaders are year-round KIDS for the BAY staff members. Multiple one-week sessions with a variety of themes. www.kidsforthebay.org/ summer-camp/

LAWRENCE HALL OF SCIENCE SUMMER CAMPS (BERKELEY)

Age or Grade Range: Age 4 Through Grade 12

Lawrence Hall of Science half- and full-day summer camps offer high-quality learning opportunities for kids age 4 through grade 12. Choose from a variety of exciting topics including computer science, animals & nature, animation, engineering, chemistry, and robotics. All camps, except overnight camp, are held in Berkeley, CA. http://www. lawrencehallofscience.org/visit/camps_and_ classes/summer_camps

SARAH’S SCIENCE CAMP (BERKELEY AND OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: 5-15

SUMMER ENGINEERING CAMP AT QUARRY LANE (DUBLIN) Age or Grade Range: Grades 3-8

Calling all budding engineers! Quarry Lane’s Summer Engineering Camp offers a dynamic, engaging program designed to spark the imagination and creativity of our campers while building solid engineering and technology skills. Campers will learn to design, build and control robots as well as the fundamentals of computer programming. www.QuarryLane.org/Summer

Sleepaway Camps ALAMEDA COUNTY BERKELEY ECHO LAKE CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 7-16

Campers ages 7-14 and CIT’s ages 15-16 will enjoy a five-day overnight summer camp available in three sessions during the month of August. Hike the PCT, enjoy our heated swimming pool, canoe in Echo Lake, and make new friends, all in a beautiful high sierra environment overlooking South Lake Tahoe, CA. Charter Bus Transportation Provided to and from Berkeley! Visit our website for more information. http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ EchoLakeCamp/

Sports Camps ALAMEDA COUNTY COLLEGE OF ALAMEDA YOUTH VOLLEYBALL CAMP (ALAMEDA) Age or Grade Range: Ages 8-17

Summer Youth Volleyball Camp Information. The College of Alameda youth volleyball camps are designed to provide campers, of all ability levels, a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Campers will receive training in the fundamentals of passing, setting, hitting, serving, offensive and defensive tactics, and match play. Campers are divided by skill level, age, and years of experience to provide the optimal learning environment. The volleyball camp is for both girls and boys. http://alameda.peralta. edu/womens-volleyball/flyers-and-forms/

LAKE MERRITT BOATING & SAILING CAMPS (OAKLAND) Age or Grade Range: Ages 7-17

Boating Camps ages 7 to 17, basic boating to advanced sailing. Younger kids start with pedalboats, canoes, and kayaks then Optis for sailing. Each camp builds skills and introduces new boats to progress from Lake Merritt to Estuary. More

WINSLOW TENNIS ACADEMY’S KIDS HIGH PERFORMANCE TENNIS CAMP (EL CERRITO) Age or Grade Range: Ages 9-13

Announcing our second Kids High Performance Tennis Camp. For stronger Intermediate players already competing or interested in competing. Ages 9-13. Monday August 21-Thursday August 24, 9am-1pm. Camp is focused, fun and rigorous, with drills, competition, point tactics, and speed and conditioning work. alexanderbwinslow@gmail.com www.winslowtennisacademy.com

WORLD OF WONDER - GET MOVING SPORTS CAMP (ALAMEDA) Age or Grade Range: 18 months - 7 years old

Children will enjoy the outdoor weather and mix it up with various games and activities to get their hearts and limbs moving! Teachers will act as basketball, baseball and bowling coaches. Children will practice improving their coordination and skills while having fun! http://thechildunique.org/forms

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY EL CERRITO SPORTS CAMP (EL CERRITO) Age or Grade Range: 4.75-12

Non-competitive, co-ed. Options galore! 3 Camps at one location: Sports & Games Variety, Baseball Camp, Soccer Camp. 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, 1:00 -6:00 pm, or All Day (discounted rates) 9:00-6:00. Drop ins welcome. Sports and Games Variety includes basketball, soccer, capture-the-flag, baseball & T-ball, tag games, Frisbee, hula hoops, jump rope, play structure.... Board games at our shaded home base include Foosball, Air hockey. Connect 4, Chess, etc. Swimming option Tuesday & Thursday. www.elcerritosportscamp.com

LEARN TO DIVE ~ SPRINGBOARD DIVING CLASSES (SAN RAMON) Age or Grade Range: Ages 5-95

CAL Diving Club offers Year-Round Springboard diving Camps, Classes, and Teams. Participants safely advance at their own pace. Beginners are exposed to all of diving’s basic skills, dives, and somersaults. Instruction is focused on the FUNdamentals. Intermediate/Advanced divers are offered the latest techniques including our 2 dryland facilities and Tower. www.CALdiving.org

Age or Grade Range: Ages 7-14

SAFE, FUN & EXCITING NERF BLASTER GAMES & BATTLES. Because your kids love NERF games and battles and because you love it when your kids play outside, get exercise and make new friends. We guarantee that a week of camp will improve your child’s speed, quickness, endurance and agility. Weekly sessions and daily drop-ins welcome. www. nerfcamp.com

CANON KIDS SPORTS CAMP (FAIRFAX) Age or Grade Range: 5-13

20th Annual Canon Kids Sports Camp with Mark Anderson runs June 19- August 18 this summer in Fairfax. Campers will swim, bike, hike, build tree forts and play all the sports. www.maaquatics.com

Founded in 2006, we are a five day camp for novice to advanced riders, ages 8 - 14. Located in Mill Valley, California, our sessions explore the world-renowned trails of Marin County. Experience the outdoors this summer on a mountain bike. Ride new trails each day in a fun, non-competitive

Age or Grade Range: Ages 8-18

The Only Guided Outdoor Rock Climbing Experience Designed Especially for Marin and San Francisco Kids. Marin GreenPlay offers the only weeklong outdoor climbing experiences for kids from Marin and San Francisco. Our professionally-guided rock climbing trips have been incredibly popular since we started offering them in 2012. AMGA certified climbing instructors will show campers proper safety techniques and proper wear and care of climbing gear, knot tying, buddy check, climbing up, lowering, commands, rappelling, bouldering, belaying, and more. We provide all of the necessary equipment. Limited to 10 climbers so campers get as many climbs in as they want. www.maringreenplay.com

SAN FRANCISCO BLASTER CAMP Age or Grade Range: Ages 7-14

GIRLS LEADING GIRLS SUMMER CAMP Age or Grade Range: 8-14

GIRLS’ ART & SOCCER CAMP: June 5-9th, 8:303:30pm in SF; this is for 3rd graders and up. Local female artists will be leading the camp with SF Sol coaches. Cost is $375, early bird 10% off OR sibling 10% discounts. Register by March 15th for early bird discount, space is limited. LEADERSHIP & SOCCER CAMP: This year we are offering TWO leadership and soccer camps, July 31st- August 4th and the other on August 7th-11th. Cost is $400 per player, early bird 10% off OR sibling 10% discounts. Please contact us for more information regarding locations for each camp. Both are in San Francisco near the southwest side of town. http://www. girlsleadinggirls.org/

SAN MATEO COUNTY JCC MACCABI SPORTS CAMP (ATHERTON) Age or Grade Range: Grades 3-11

JCC Maccabi Sports Camp is an overnight Jewish sports camp located just outside of San Francisco in Atherton, California. Our camp welcomes athletes entering grades 4-11. During our two week camp sessions, campers develop skills in the sport of their choice - baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, softball or girls lacrosse. www. maccabisportscamp.org

Age or Grade Range: 11-14

BLASTER CAMP (SAUSALITO)

Age or Grade Range: Ages 8-14

OUTDOOR ROCK CLIMBING WITH MARIN GREENPLAY CAMP (MILL VALLEY)

JUNIOR LIFEGUARD CHALLENGE COURSE (BURLINGAME)

MARIN COUNTY

MT TAM BIKES CAMP (MILL VALLEY)

Fun, Function, Fitness, Friendship. Ninja Camps offers all of these! We have 25+ years creating an experience for kids & teens that gives them practical martial arts skills, building strength & coordination while having fun and making friends. We keep your kid smiling & sweating! www. ninjacamps.com

AC’s Junior Lifeguard Challenge Course is a weekly course for Youth ages 11-14 to learn and apply Water Rescue Techniques as well as learn about First Aid and CPR. Our program encourages the importance of being fit and how to safely enjoy aquatic facilities! Through this program, participants will build self-confidence and skills for life! Participants learn from our Instructor team, who provide an opportunity to learn in a safe and fun aquatic environment, skills to develop self-confidence, mental and physical fitness, and respect for each other. They have been chosen to work with the Burlingame Junior Lifeguard Challenge Course based on their lifeguard experience and desire to work as a Junior Lifeguard Instructor. This program is managed by our Manager and On-Deck Junior Lifeguard Program Coordinator, with support from our Lifeguard team! www. burlingameaquatics.com

MR. PETER’S GOLF CAMP (SAN BRUNO) Age or Grade Range: 5-15

Mr. Peter’s Golf Camp uses the many life Lessons that golf affords us all in a safe nurturing environment. Your child will learn about honesty, integrity, courtesy, etiquette perseverance, the rules of golf, course care and ask the shots from putting to driving. M-F9a-12n every week all summer & sa/su all school year. Www.MrPetersGolfCamp.com

July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 35

Technology and Digital Arts Camps ALAMEDA COUNTY GAMES ARE AWESOME! (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 8-10

We’ll be using cool drag n’ drop languages like Scratch or Snap to create some awesome new and classic games! Aimed at our newbie and novice coders. Content will be different from Games Are Awesome B. http://www.thecoderschool.com/ berkeley#camps

MARIN COUNTY CAMP CYBER GARAGE (SAN ANSELMO) Age or Grade Range: K-8

Cyber Garage is a Makerspace, Robotics, Coding & STEAM wonderland with 3D printers, woodworking machines, laser cutting, Mac/PC’ s, Virtual Reality, digital arts, filmmaking, game design, robotics and more! Cyber Garage integrates building, coding, science, art and design into each week - so kids can create, learn and most importantly, have FUN! https://www.thecybergarage.com

STEVE & KATE’S CAMP (KENTFIELD) Age or Grade Range: Ages 4-12

When you trust kids, they learn to trust themselves. At Steve & Kate’s Camp, we give kids the freedom to choose what they want to do, whether that’s music, breadmaking, fashion, filmmaking, coding, sports, or pie-throwing. Two ways to play: Day Passes (buy any number of days and use them anytime) or Membership (one fee for unlimited summer visits). Lunch, snacks and all materials included in both plans. http://steveandkatescamp. com/locations/kentfield/

SAN FRANCISCO MAKER CAMP Age or Grade Range: Ages 8-12

INTRODUCTION TO JAVA USING MINECRAFT MODS! (PALO ALTO) Age or Grade Range: 9-14

Explore the world’s most common programming language using one of the world’s most popular video games! Learn to program in Java and build Minecraft mods! Understand Java syntax, programming structures, object oriented concepts, and work with the Forge API and the Eclipse development environment. Customize Minecraft items, blocks and behaviors! Laptops provided. No prior programming experience necessary. http://www.techsmartacademy.com

STAR KIDS ACADEMY ROBOTICS (CUPERTINO) Age or Grade Range: grades 1-2, grades 3-6

Star Kids Academy Robotics is the Silicon Valley’s leading camps and after school company for robotics. Our summer camps offer an extensive variety in robotic concepts, programming, systems, and platforms for children to become exposed to robotics as well as further study into the field of robotics. www.starkidsafterschool.org https:// www.starkidsafterschool.org/

TECHLAB SUMMER CAMP (SARATOGA) Age or Grade Range: Ages 8-18

Techlab is an innovative education organization that hosts classes and events year-round at our facility in Saratoga and through our library and school partners. We take a project-based approach to teaching about computer science and technology, and focus on teaching Java, Python, web design with JavaScript, and iOS development in Swift. https://techlab.education

TECHYKIDS CAMP (PALO ALTO) Age or Grade Range: Ages 7-14

The ultimate technology camp for kids, designed by an engineer and teacher! Learn while you program a real robot and make awesome inventions! Learn 3-D Modeling, coding, robotics and design. All while making awesome project that are fueled by your originality and creativity. www.techykids.com

Kids will embrace their inner maker with an assortment of tools to construct and tinker with clay, sound, paper, code and cardboard. Learn basic electronics. www.creativity.org

Teen Focused Camps

SANTA CLARA COUNTY DIGITAL MEDIA ACADEMY (STANFORD) Age or Grade Range: Ages 6 - 17

DMA tech camps encourage and inspire kids and teens to become the next generation of developers, animators, filmmakers, photographers, designers and engineers! Hands-on, project-based learning introduces students to the latest in VR, wearable technology, robotics, 3D printing and more! http:// www.digitalmediaacademy.org

ALAMEDA COUNTY CAMP ELMWOOD’S TEEN LEADERSHIP CAMP (BERKELEY) Age or Grade Range: Ages 14-18

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

SAN FRANCISCO

AII THAT & THEN SOME (CONCORD)

HANDSON TOMORROW

Age or Grade Range: Ages 11-14

Age or Grade Range: Grades 9-12

Young teens experience the hottest summer at the All That and Then Some all day summer day camp! Make new friends and hang out with old ones while visiting red-hot Bay Area sites and attractions, cooking, crafting, swimming, and competing in games and sports! ‘All That’ offers something for everyone: participate in a soccer tournament, play a game of Cornhole, go on a photo scavenger hunt, build a marshmallow tower, tie-dye a t-shirt, make pancakes, or paint a portrait, all in a safe and supervised environment. All campers are provided with a camp t-shirt for the summer. NEW 3 Day a week option! Sign up for all nine weeks to receive a 20% discount! Go to website for weekly theme and trip schedule. www.ConcordReg.org

HandsOn Tomorrow is a summer leadership and volunteering program for high school students in the Bay Area. - Earn 55 volunteer hours for college - Become a better leader - Make a difference in your community handsonbayarea.org/tomorrow www.handsonbayarea.org/tomorrow

HANDSON TOMORROW (WALNUT CREEK) Age or Grade Range: Grades 9-12

SANTA CLARA COUNTY HANDSON TOMORROW (PALO ALTO) Age or Grade Range: Grades 9-12

Training for leadership in all camp activities, values, community service, beach clean up trip with a chance to try surfing. Leadership Camp for Teens only July 24-28 followed by service as teen counselor at Camp Elmwood Jul 31- Aug 4, Family barbeque and talent show. A free program. stjohnsberkeley.org/community

PRESCHOOLS If you could give your child one gift to last a lifetime, what would it be?

www.nomurapreschool.com

Oakland Montessori School

Lic. #070209834

Serving children 24 months to 6 years

• Preparation for Kindergarten • Nurturing Academic Environment • Ballet, Hip Hop Dance, Gymnastics, Violin, Piano, and Soccer

• Music, Art, and Language Programs • Expansive Outdoor Play Area • Hours: 7a.m. – 6p.m. (Year-Round) • Ages 2-5 Years and Bridge K Class

1711 Carlson Blvd Richmond Annex 94804 36 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

Tours on Wednesdays at 9:30am Please RSVP at info@oaklandmontessori.com Call us today:

510-482-3111

www.oaklandmontessori.com

•

3636 Dimond Ave

Lic #010214163

Call to Schedule a Tour: 510-526-7847

Join our diverse community of confident children, supportive parents and experienced teachers. ART • MUSIC • GYMNASTICS • YOGA

BayAreaFamilyCalendar.com

Post Your Event Today!

Your Source for Family Fun Events and Things to Do.

Family Fun Calendar JULY 1 | Saturday Nature Detectives: I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream — Hayward

Walk out to the dried salt flats and collect sheets of salt to make…ice cream? That’s right, the salt helps melt the ice at a colder temperature to freeze the cream inside the ice cream maker. Give the handcranked ice cream maker a try, and we’ll all get to taste a sweet summertime refreshment. 11 a.m. -12:30 p.m. $7 person. Ages 3 - 5. Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center, 4901 Breakwater Ave., Hayward. 510-670-7270, www.haywardrec.org

Independence Day Fun — El Cerrito

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday celebrate the Fourth of July . ! Let freedom ring and play FREE PLAY pinball and arcade games all weekend long! 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat & Sun, Mon 12noon - 5 p.m. $10 / children and seniors, $15 / general admission. Playland Not-at-the-Beach, 10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 510592-3002, www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org

4 | Tuesday Independence Day July 4th Festival of Family Fun — Oakland

Throughout Jack London Square--Celebrate Independence Day with a festive afternoon at Jack London Square. Free to attend, everyone is invited

to enjoy this day of red, white and blue fun that will fill the Oakland waterfront with live music, beer/ cider garden, tasty backyard BBQ, local shopping and a kids zone. 12 - 6p.m. Free. Broadway and Embarcadero 510.645.9292 , www.jacklondonsquare.com

4th of July Park Party & 4K Fun Run — Emeryville

There will also be a 4K Fun Fun held at the Emeryville Marina. Check in 7 am, Marina Site A. Race will start at 8 am. Join your fellow Emeryvillians for a special Fourth of July celebration at Marina Park. In addition to the spectacular views with some of the greatest vantage points for many of the surrounding firework shows, you’ll be treated to live music, and local food carts, selling their traditional 4th of July treats. All Day. Emeryville Marina Park 3308 Powell St. Emeryville

First Wednesdays Street Festivals — Walnut Creek

travel a three mile route. Race starts at 9 a.m. Parade at 10 a.m. Free. For parade route go to www.alamedaparade.com/route

WCD hosts Walnut Creek First Wednesdays Street Festivals each month for all ages! Festivities include live entertainment, arts & crafts, shopping, treats & more!

5 | Wednesday Free First Wednesday at Bay Area Discovery Museum — Sausalito

Enjoy free admission and all the fun activities and displays at the Bay Area Discovery Museum today. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Bay Area Discovery Museum, 577 McReynolds Road, Sausalito. 415-339-3900, www.baykids museum.org

5 p.m.-7 p.m. Free. All ages. 1275 Broadway Plaza Walnut Creek. www.broadwayplaza.com

4th of July Parade, Festival & Fireworks — Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill hosts a full day of Fourth of July fun with events ranging from a traditional patriotic parade through the downtown Crescent Drive area, family fun and games in Pleasant Hill Park, and live music and fireworks in the evening at College Park High School. All Day. Free. Pleasant Hill Park Cleaveland & Gregory Lane. www.phjuly4.com

Alameda Mayor’s July 4th Race and Parade — Alameda The Alameda 4th of July Parade is the one of the longest Independence Day parades in the nation with over 170 floats and 2,500 participants that

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

PRESCHOOLS

IT’S NOW YOUR TIME! Saint Mary’s Kalmanovitz School of Education offers a diverse pathway to a new career. Join us for an upcoming Info Session to learn more about our programs in Counseling, Leadership, and Teaching:

Tuesday, September 2017 Saturday, March 11, 2017 |19, 10:00a – 12:00p 6:00p – 8:00p Tuesday, April 25, 2017 | 6:00p – 8:00p

Nestled in the hills next to a local park where parents and kids often gather to play after school, we offer PLAY-BASED LEARNING for children 2.9 – 5 years old in a warm and engaging environment. We follow a joyful 40 year tradition of gently nurturing children for the road ahead. We’ve created a warm, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT that helps build social skills and foster curiosity. LIC. #010209453

WWW.BERKELEYHILLS.ORG * 510-849-1216

RSVP or inquire today for additional dates and more: stmarys-ca.edu/ksoe | (925) 631-4700

Space available in our 4 year old program for 2016-2017 school year. Call today to schedule your visit! July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 37

6 | Thursday Waterfront Flicks — Raiders of the Lost Ark— Oakland

Watch “Raiders “ on the grass, cozy in picnic blankets, with the family. Pre-show trivia and games for prizes, as well as Jack London Square eateries will make this a fantastic family night.8 p.m. games, 9 p.m. movie begins. Free. All ages. J ack London Square, 70 Washington St., Oakland. 510645-9292, www.jacklondonsquare.com

Fleetwood Mask — Pleasant Hill

Part of the Plaza Concert series, Fleetwood Mask plays music to dance to. Stroll the plaza and enjoy a meal at one of the plaza eateries, while enjoying uplifting tunes. 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Free. All ages. Downtown Pleasant Hill on Crescent Dr. www.shopdowntownpleasanthill.com

7 | Friday Bites Off Broadway — Oakland

The food truck revolution is here to stay, so bring the family down and enjoy an evening of delicious meals and treats in a low key, family setting. Bring picnic blankets, enjoy live music and lawn games with gourmet food. This event runs every Friday. 5:30-8:30p.m. Free admission, food prices vary. All ages. 365 45th St., Oakland. 510-654-6346, www.bitesoffbroadway.com

Friday Nights @ Oakland Museum of California — Oakland

Join OMCA and Off the Grid in April for DJs, live bands, dancing, gourmet food trucks, and more. There will be a family Drop-in activity related to one of the exhibits. 5-9 p.m. Members and ages 18 and under free, $7.50 / adults. Oakland Museum of California, 50 10th St., Oakland. 510-318-8400, www.museumca.org

$5 First Fridays @Chabot Space & Science — Oakland

An Exciting and Immersive Experience Every First Friday. At $5 First Fridays you can embark on a Mini Mission to Mars, join a Night Hike through the redwoods, and enjoy various laser and planetarium shows. Admission also includes hands-on activities

and live demonstrations throughout the center, as well as any special events that are going on that evening. 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Admission $5. Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. 510-3367300, www.chabotspace.org

a nighttime and morning guided tour of the Zoo, a special behind the scenes, live animal presentations, interactive and educational activities, a Wildlife Theater show, a hot morning breakfast, and s’mores! 5 p.m. -10 a.m. Ages 4 and older. $90.00 per person for non-members / $80.00 per person for members. Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland, 510-632-9525, www. oaklandzoo.org

8 | Saturday Halal Fest — Fremont

9 | Sunday

The 5th Annual Halal Food & Eid Festival. Food vendors serving Indian, Pakistani, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and American cuisine, plus global arts vendors, children’s activities. 12 - 11 p.m. $5, under 10 free. All ages. 40451 Albrae St., Fremont. www.halalfest.com

Niles Canyon Railway — Sunol

Jack of All Trades — Oakland

An eclectic event put on by the Treasure Island Flea Market promises lots of interesting workshops and activities for families. Tinkers, builders, and indie designers, plus live DJ and waterfront eateries. 11a.m.-5p.m. Free. All ages. Jack London Square, 70 Washington St., Oakland. 510-645-9292, www.jacklondonsquare.com

Music In The Park — Danville

Danville’s 32nd Annual Music in the park celebration. Guests are invited to make themselves comfortable on the lawn with a picnic or enjoy offering from Food Truck Mafia. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Free. All ages. Oak Hill Park, 3005 Stone Valley Rd., Danville. www.danville.ca.gov

Known as the railway museum where the exhibits come to life, the Pacific Locomotive Association, Inc. operates the Niles Canyon Railway as a living history museum interpreting the importance of our heritage railroads in the development of California and the nation. Their mission is to develop and operate a working railroad museum for the benefit of the general public .The Pacific Locomotive Association also has railroad artifacts on display and interpretive educational exhibits at the Sunol Depot. Families can enjoy rides through the scenic east bay on a historical train. Repeats on the first and third Sunday of each month. Diesel train departs Sunol Depot 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30pm. Free under 3. $7 ages 3-12, $10 Seniors, $13 ages 13-adult. All ages. Niles Canyon Railway, 6 Kilkare Rd. Sunol. 510-996-8420, www.ncry.org

Ice Cream Tours — Rockridge

Black Visions and Blue Indeed in Family-Friendly Concert — Martinez

Part of Bouncefarm’s Summer Concert Series, groove and boogie to music, while kids bounce themselves silly and everyone enjoys pizza. Event repeats on Jul. 22 with Zen Kali Doors at 4 p.m., music at 5 p.m. 4 p.m.-7.30 p.m. $7.50 per person, under 1 free. All ages. Bouncefarm, 280 Arthur Rd. Ste. A, Martinez. 925-2282028, www.bouncefarmfun.com

Family Sundown Safari — Oakland

Rockridge Food Tours is celebrating one year of food tours with a new Ice Cream tour, featuring tastings at Cream, Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, and Dryers Ice Cream Parlor. This tour is a walking tour lasting approximately one hour, and occurs every other Sunday through October. Please book a reservation online. This event repeats on July 17. 3 p.m.- 4 p.m. $15/adults, $10/kids 12 and under. All ages. Rockridge District, Oakland. 510-604-6546, www. rockridgefoodtour.com

10 | Monday Wee Play Drop-in — Alameda

Grab your tent, sleeping bag, your family, and a few friends and get ready for an overnight adventure at Oakland Zoo. This unique program includes dinner,

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.$6 Drop-in per day per child OR $60 Drop-in Card for 12 visits. Ages 6 mths - 3 years. Alameda Veteran’s Memorial Building, 2203 Central Avenue,

Alameda, alamedaca.gov/recreation/wee-play

11 | Tuesday Playland After Dark — El Cerrito

Kids and grandkids are great! You know what is also great? A bit of Grown up only time! Enjoy the usual fun of Playland with the addition of about 20 board games. Pinball, arcade and carnival games throughout our Museum of Fun. 6 p.m.- 10 p.m. $10 general admission, over 18, no children or babies. Playland Not-at-the-Beach, 10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 510-592-3002, www.playland-notat-the-beach.org

Toddler Time — Fremont

Bring the tiny tots out for an exciting morning at the farm. Each day we’ll meet and learn all about a new animal friend through stories, chores and fun. We’ll meet rain or shine! (1-4 yrs.) 10:30 a.m-3 p.m. Free. Ages 1-4. Ardenwood Historic Farm 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Fremont 888-EBPARKS, www.ebparks.org

Nature Play Lindsay Wildlife — Walnut Creek

Every Member Tuesday come to Lindsay’s outdoor classroom and experience Nature Play! A great way to explore the wonders of nature outside with your little one, this nature-themed playgroup provides an opportunity for our member families to play outside and discover the sights, sounds, and sensations all around them. 11 a.m12 p.m. Free to Members. Ages 4 to 6. Lindsey Wildlife Experience, 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek. 925935-1978, www.lindseywildlife.org

Kids Bowl Free — Pacheco/Albany/ Concord/Castro Valley/Dublin/ Fremont/Montclair

PRESCHOOLS H e l p i n g t O m a k e c h i l d h o o d a j O u r n e y, n O t a r a c e .

ps-k through elementary multi-age classroOms open year-round, 7am to 6pm educational exCellence since 1978 dance, gymnasticS, capoeira S i g n u p o n l i n e f o r a t o ur t o d ay !

www.grandlakemontessori.com 466 Chetwood, Oakland (510) 836-4313

Helping your child excel in a warm and nurturing environment

We provide a Year Round Program Infant and toddler care for ages 12-24 months Preschool for ages 2-5 years Part-day program: 8:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Extended Part-day program: 8:45 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Full-day program: 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

510-652-7021 admin@rockridgemon tessori.org

www.RockridgeMontessori.org

Email to Schedule a Tour

CMY

Close to Rockridge Bart 5633 Manila ave – Oakland 94618 Lic. 01213520,013417669 & 013417787

38 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

Montessori Children’s Center

An Authentic Montessori preschool and Kindergarten, serving children ages 2 - 6

Full and half-day programs available • Before and after school care Open 7am - 6pm

for our E-Newsletter

Summer Adventure Camp

Art & Science Projects | Cooking | Nature Activities 8 week session June 19 through August 11

delivered semi-monthly to your inbox!

80 Juan Bautista Circle | San Francisco | 415.333.4410 | montessorichildrenscenter.org

Lic #384001313

The Child Unique Montessori School

2012 2013

www.parentspress.com

• Toddler • PreSchool Transitional Kindergarten New second language and PE program

Enrolling Now!

A ministry of Bay Area Chinese Bible Church

Limited Openings

A ministry ofMonday Bay Area Chinese Bible Church - Friday 7am - 6pm

for Fall 2017 2226 Encinal Avenue Alameda 510.521.9227 www.thechildunique.org

lunch service provided

1803 TTPreschoolalameda.org North Loop Rd. Alameda, CA 94502

Facility # 013422027 1803 North Loop Rd | Alameda | Facility # 013422027 510-995-5383 ext. 1336 | kim.smith@bacbc.org Telephone # 510-995-5383 ext. 1336

Lic.#013414800

Celebrating 31 years! (510) 724-1724 www.la-casita.org Lic. #073400781

A Unique Bilingual Montessori Education Preschool, Transitional-K and Kindergarten (2.5-6 years)

Spanish and English

Music Classes

Flamenco

Gymnastics

Mindful Life Yoga

Drama

592 Tennent Ave. Pinole, CA 94564

Now Enrolling Fall 2017-2018

American Montessori Society Member

Fax # 510-373-2241

Dynamic Education The kim.smith@bacbc.org Optimizing Each Child’s Potential Enrolling Now for Summer & Fall Child Day Schools, LLC Family operated since 1976

• Language & Literacy • Math & Science • Problem Solving • Art & Creativity • Social Skills 2017 Low Ratios Highly Trained Teachers

www.t cdschools.com Preschool • Pre-K • Jr.-K • Toddlers • Kindergarten • School Age ANTIOCH 925-754-0144 Lic# 073406638 073406639

SAN RAMON 925-820-2515 Lic# 073406846 073406845, 0734066634

PLEASANTON 925-462-1866

LAFAYETTE 925-284-7092

MORAGA 925-376-5110

Lic# 013420524 013420525

Lic# 073406632 073406633

Lic# 073406850 073406849

Color Me Children Preschool & Kindergarten #013411559

“A Place Where Learning is FUN-DA-MENTAL” Ages 2 Yrs.– Kindergarten

• 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday • Challenging Academics • Large Outside Play Area

• Full-time & Part-time Rates • Small Classes • Computers

NOW ENROLLING FOR KINDERGARTEN 2

s… ion 8115 Fontaine St., Oakland, CA 94605 • (510) 430-1322

at loc

Preschool

#013412517

1141 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94702 • (510) 548-6423

Hands-on learning in a small, group environment 12–14 children ages 3 – 5 years The Creative Play Center’s program provides a rich, nurturing environment in which creative play and learning takes place. Preschool is 9 am until 1 pm - (extended hours available)

Applications are currently being accepted

(510) 524-9399

www.CreativePlayCenterAlbany.com 1151 Portland Ave., Albany, CA 94706

Lic. #010204748

July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 39

The Model School

Comprehensive Humanistic Learning Center

Infants • Toddlers • Preschool !

Multicultural, Multiethnic Environments • Se Habla Español!

Flexible Scheduling Loving, Developmental, Child-Oriented Classrooms Year’round Enrollment, Reasonable Rates

2330 Prince Street, Berkeley, CA 94705 NAEYC Accredited

(510) 549-2711

Lic. 010211122 & 010211112

CHATHAM SCHOOL

Chool FUN Chatham HILD-CENTERED PRESCHOOL Fun Child-Centered PreSChool 4500 Road 4500 Redwood Redwood Road Oakland, CA 94619 Oakland, CA 94619 Lic#013418176 Lic#013418176 Lic#013418177 Lic# 013418177

66 mo. mo. --Kindergarten Kindergarten

((510) 5 1 0 ) 531-1302 531-1302 fax: (510) 531-1301

4359 39th Avenue 4359 39th Avenue Oakland, CA 94619 Oakland, CA 94619 Lic#01341436 Lic#01341436

2 yrs. - Kindergarten 2 yrs. - Kindergarten extended care

(510) ( 5 1 0531-1534 ) 531-1534

• We do Potty Training • Snacks/Hot Lunch We do Potty Training • Snacks / Hot Lunch Part Time/Full Time 7:30 am-6 pm Part Time / Full Time 7:30am - 6pm

www.chathampreschool.com www.chathampreschool.com

All ages. This program requires kids pay only for shoe rental. Check participating bowling alleys for hours of operation. Register children at www.kidsbowlfree.com

6 p.m.-8 p.m. Free. All ages. Oak Hill Park, 3005 Stone Valley Rd., Danville. www.danville.ca.gov

15 | Saturday

13 | Thursday

East Bay SPCA Pet Adopt-A-Thon — Oakland

Kids Club at Theater Square — Orinda

On this special day, the waterfront will welcome friendly dogs, adorable kittens, bunnies, guinea pigs, birds and reptiles from several East Bay pet adoption agencies. Potential pet owners are invited to meet these shelter animals seeking new homes from more than 50 pet adoption agencies. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free. All ages. Jack London Square, 70 Washington St., Oakland. 510-645-9292, www.jacklondonsquare.com

Sing-A-Long with Melita of Octopretzel followed by Story Time with Lin Look from the Orinda Library. This is a weekly event on Thursdays. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Free. Ages 0-5. Orinda Theater Square, Brookwood Road and Moraga Way, Orinda. orindatheatresquare.com

Free Art Studio Time — Berkeley

Donate three or more canned food items and enjoy three hours of open art studio time at Brushstrokes. Donations go to Alameda County Food Barrel. This event is ongoing every Monday and Tuesday evening. Please call to confirm. 5-8 p.m. Donation of three canned goods per person is admission. Ages 5-12. Brushstrokes Studio, 745 Page St., Berkeley. 510-528-1360, www.brushstrokestudio.com

14 | Friday Summer Outdoor Concert — Point Richmond

Enjoy live music, dancing in the streets, local eateries, and face-painting for the kids in historic Point Richmond. 5:30 p.m.-7:45 p.m. Free. All ages. Downtown Pt. Richmond, Park Pl. at Washington Ave., Richmond. www.pointrichmondmusic.org

Movies in the Park: “Secret Life of Pets” — Oakland

Watch “Secret Life of Pets” (PG) All movies begin at dusk. Be sure to dress warm, bring a lawn chair and/or blanket. Movie begins at dusk. Free. All ages. Redwood Heights Recreation Center, 3883 Aliso Ave, Oakland. 510-4827827 www.oaklandnet.com/parks

Music In The Park — Danville

National Ice Cream Day — El Cerrito

With memories of the original Playland and It’s Its going hand in hand how could we NOT celebrate this happy coincidence. Come see the artifacts of San Francisco’s Playland and have an It’s It with us (available onsite for a small charge). 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $10 children and seniors, $15 general admission. Playland-Not-at-the-Beach, 10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 510-592-3002, www.playland-not-at-thebeach.org

Summer Sleepover — Oakland

Sleep under the stars at Children’s Fairyland, and enjoy breakfast in the park upon waking. Ride the rides and see the shows at night! This event requires pre-registration, so book ahead of time. Dinner and breakfast will be served, included in the cost of admission. 5:45 p.m. check-in, 8:30 a.m. Sunday check-out. $55 per adult, $30 per child. All ages. Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. 510-452-2259, www.fairyland.org

Bug Eaters— Berkeley

Danville’s Annual Music in the park celebration. Guests are invited to make themselves comfortable on the lawn with a picnic or enjoy offering from Food Truck Mafia.

Family members of all age are invited to discover some of the fascinating and beautiful plants that can eat insects. Get up close with the amazing leaf adaptations as you learn more about them. 11a.m -12 p.m. $16 for adults, $5 ages 13-17, $2 ages 5-12, under 5 are free. All ages. UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens, 200 Centennial Dr., Berkeley. 510-642-5045, www.botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu

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16 | Sunday Eats, Beats, and Brews Block Party — Berkeley

Downtown Berkeley comes alive on summer Sundays with this fun, family friendly block party with a beer garden, food from around the world, live music and art. BART into downtown and have a fun time. Every third Sunday of each month this summer! 12-6 p.m. Free. All ages. Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza, Shattuck at Center St. www.downtownberkeley.com

Ice Cream Tours — Rockridge

22 | Saturday

Movies in the Park — Oakland

Watch “Secret Life of Pets” (PG13) All movies begin at dusk. Be sure to dress warm, bring a lawn chair and/or blanket. Repeats August 25th with a screening of “Sing” Movie begins at dusk. Free. All ages. Redwood Heights Recreation Center, 3883 Aliso Ave, Oakland. 510-482-7827 www.oaklandnet.com/ parks

Movies in the Park :“Finding Dory”— Alameda Watch “Finding Dory” At the Alameda Point Multipurpose field under the stars. Pre-show activities include games and crafts for the children. All movies begin at dusk. Be sure to dress warm, bring a lawn chair and/or blanket. Fun begins at 6:30 p.m. Movie begins at 8:15 p.m.. Free. All age1101 West Redline Ave, Alameda. 510-747-7529 alamedaca.gov

PedalFest — Oakland

Pedalfest rolls into Jack London Square to celebrate all-things cycling at the Bay Area’s premier bicycle festival. In partnership with Bike East Bay, this annual event will pack the waterfront with more than 20,000 biking enthusiasts enjoying bicycle-themed entertainment, food and exhibits. 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Free. All ages. Jack London Square, 70 Washington St., Oakland. 510-645-9292, www.jacklondonsquare.com

Music In The Park — Danville

friends and get ready for an overnight adventure at Oakland Zoo. This unique program includes dinner, a nighttime and morning guided tour of the Zoo, a special behind the scenes, live animal presentations, interactive and educational activities, a Wildlife Theater show, a hot morning breakfast, and s’mores! 5 p.m. -10 a.m. Ages 4 and older. $90.00 per person for non-members / $80.00 per person for members. Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland, 510-632-9525, www. oaklandzoo.org

Family-Friendly Concert — Martinez

Part of Bouncefarm’s Summer Concert Series, groove and boogie to Zen Kali while kids bounce themselves silly and everyone enjoys pizza. Doors at 4 p.m., music at 5 p.m. 4 p.m.-7.30 p.m. $7.50 per person, under 1 free. All ages. Bouncefarm, 280 Arthur Rd. Ste. A, Martinez. 925-2282028, www.bouncefarmfun.com

Family Sundown Safari — Oakland

Grab your tent, sleeping bag, your family, and a few

17 | Monday

SCHOOLS

Munchkin Mondays — Concord

Energetic toddlers can jump for one hour or longer. Sky High Sports features dozens of large trampolines for hours of indoor bouncing fun. For kids walking up to 6 years. 11a.m.-1p.m. $6 per child, per hour. Not valid on holidays. Sky High Sports, 1631 Challenge Dr., Concord. 925-6825867, www.con.jumpskyhigh.com

18 | Tuesday Nature Play Lindsay Wildlife — Walnut Creek

Every Member Tuesday come to Lindsay’s outdoor classroom and experience Nature Play! A great way to explore the wonders of nature outside with your little one, this nature-themed playgroup provides an opportunity for our member families to play outside and discover the sights, sounds, and sensations all around them. 11 a.m-12 p.m. Free to Members. Ages 4 to 6. Lindsey Wildlife Experience, 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek. 925935-1978, www.lindseywildlife.org

Children’s Yoga — Berkeley

Join Prana for tiny yoga with tiny yogis. This is an ongoing class that meets each Tuesday. Drop in or sign up for a block of classes. 4 p.m.-5 p.m. $9 per student. Ages 3-5. Prana Yoga Center, 1723 Alcatraz Ave., Berkeley. 510-655-3664, www. yogalayam.org

19 | Wednesday Railroads once connected many of the farms with towns in the East Bay. Today they still run around the farm. Journey past rows of crops and through eucalyptus groves as you travel back in time. Check the daily schedule and meet the train at Arden Station or Deer Park. 10:15 a.m- 3:45 p.m. Free. All Ages. Ardenwood HIstoric Farm 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Fremont 888-EBPARKS, www.ebparks.org

Dance With Me — Berkeley

Shawl-Anderson Dance Center’s Dance with Me class is for walkers through age 4 and their caretakers. Children and adults will dance, sing, play movement games and enjoy props for this fun-filled 45 minute class. This class repeats every Wednesday. 9a.m.-9:45 a.m. $16 per child. Ages walking to 4 years. Shawl-Anderson Dance Center, 2704 Alcatraz Ave., Berkeley. 510-654-5921, www.shawl-anderson.org

20 | Thursday Waterfront Flicks: “Dirty Dancing”— Oakland

Watch “Dirty Dancing” on the grass, cozy in picnic blankets, with the family. Pre-show trivia and games for prizes, as well as Jack London Square eateries will make this a fantastic family night. 8 p.m. games, 9 p.m. movie begins. Free. All ages. Jack London Square, 70 Washington St., Oakland. 510-6459292, www.jacklondonsquare.com

Third Thursday Piedmont Stroll — Piedmont

Bring the family and enjoy supporting local artists, independent businesses, all within the Piedmont Avenue community. Evening entertainment can be found in restaurants, salons, retail stores, and many other shops. Featuring art, music, and more! 6-9 p.m. Free admission. All ages. Piedmont Ave., Piedmont. www.piedmontavenue.org

21 | Friday Free Friday Lindsay Wildlife — Walnut Creek

Every third Friday of each month at Lindsey Wildlife Museum is free to all. All ages will get a chance to get up close to the exhibits and activities at no cost. 10 a.m-5 p.m. Free. All ages. Lindsey Wildlife Experience, 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek. 925-935-1978, www.lindseywildlife.org

TRIS

Ride the Rails — Fremont

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July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 41

23 | Sunday The Amazing Bubble Man — Alameda

Thrilling audiences around the world for nearly 30 years with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles, the Amazing Bubble Man (a.k.a. Louis Pearl) explores the breath-taking dynamics of bubbles. 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. $20 adults, $10 for children. All Ages. Rhythmix Cultural Works 2513 Blanding Ave Alameda, www. rhythmix.org

Niles Canyon Railway — Sunol

Known as the railway museum where the exhibits come to life, the Pacific Locomotive Association, Inc. operates the Niles Canyon Railway as a living history museum interpreting the importance of our heritage railroads in the development of California and the nation. Their mission is to develop and operate a working railroad museum for the benefit of the general public .The Pacific Locomotive Association also has railroad artifacts on display and interpretive educational exhibits at the Sunol Depot. Families can enjoy rides through the scenic east bay on a historical train. Repeats on the first and third Sunday of each month. Diesel train departs Sunol Depot 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30pm. Free under 3. $7 ages 3-12, $10 Seniors, $12 ages 13-adult. All ages. Niles Canyon Railway, 6 Kilkare Rd. Sunol. 510-996-8420, www.ncry.org

24 | Monday Nature Play Lindsay Wildlife — Walnut Creek

25 | Tuesday Butterfly Walk — Berkeley

Join Sally Levinson, docent and resident “caterpillar lady” as she takes guests on a walk around the grounds of the UC Botanical garden to see all the butterfly hot-spots.

3-4 p.m. $10 for adults, $5 ages 13-17, $2 ages 5-12, under 5 are free. All ages. UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens, 200 Centennial Dr., Berkeley. 510-642-5045, www.botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu

26 | Wednesday Toddler Time — Fremont

Bring the tiny tots out for an exciting morning at the farm. Each day we’ll meet and learn all about a new animal friend through stories, chores and fun. We’ll meet rain or shine! (1-4 yrs.) 10:30 a.m-3 p.m. Free. Ages1-4. Ardenwood Historic Farm 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Fremont 888-EBPARKS, www.ebparks.org

27 | Thursday Family Night — Dublin

This farmers market has fresh produce and food vendors, but also has activities for the kids to enjoy. Get kids excited about fresh food. 4 p.m.-8p.m. Free. All ages. Emerald Glen Park, 4201 Central Pkwy., Dublin. www.ci.dublin.ca.us

Ride the Rails — Fremont

Railroads once connected many of the farms with towns in the East Bay. Today they still run around the farm. Journey past rows of crops and through eucalyptus groves as you travel back in time. Check the daily schedule and meet the train at Arden Station or Deer Park. 10:15 a.m- 3:45 p.m. Free. All Ages. Ardenwood Historic Farm 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Fremont 888-EBPARKS, www.ebparks.org

28 | Friday Model Railroad Society Show — Walnut Creek

Come see the Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society’s large HO scale model with standard gauge, narrow gauge and overhead electric freight and trolley lines. This is a permanent 54 by 34-foot layout with 4,300 feet of track surrounded by mountainous scenery, towns and more. 8 p.m.-10 p.m. $3/ages 13 and up. $2/ ages 6-12 and seniors, free/ under 6. All ages. Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society, 2751 Buena Vista Ave., Walnut Creek. 925-937-1888, www.wcmrs.org

29 | Saturday Downtown Alameda Art & Wine Faire — Alameda

Annual weekend event featuring craft vendors, live music, food and drink, a kids’ area, and more. Also Sun., July 30. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., free. Park Street, Alameda, downtownalameda.com

Kite Festival — Berkeley

Come to the Berkeley Marina’s Caesar Chavez Park for the annual kite festival. Bring a kite or just watch the skies and the many fantastic kites of all varieties soar in the bay breeze. There will be a candy drop and free kite making for kids. Continues Sunday, July 30. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. All ages. Caesar Chavez Park at the Berkeley Marina, 11 Spinnaker Way, Berkeley. www.anotherbullwinkelshow.com

Live.Wild.Animal Exhibition: Bug Out! — Walnut Creek

Come inspect the Insect Discovery Lab. See bugs you might find while camping, such as scorpions, and have fun TOUCHING darkling beetles, lubber grasshoppers, and walking sticks! 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Free with Admission. Lindsay Wildlife Museum, 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek. 925-935-1978, lindsaywildlife.org

30 | Sunday Ice Cream Tours — Rockridge

Rockridge Food Tours is celebrating one year of food tours with a new Ice Cream tour, featuring tastings at Cream, Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, and Dryers Ice Cream Parlor. This tour is a walking tour lasting approximately one hour, and occurs every other Sunday through October. Please book a reservation online. 3 p.m.- 4 p.m. $15/adults, $10/kids 12 and under. All ages. Rockridge District, Oakland. 510-604-6546, www. rockridgefoodtour.com

31 | Monday Baby Brigade — Oakland

Finally a theater where baby’s crying is allowed. Baby Brigade shows are recommended for babies one and under. Movies are usually rated PG 13

or R and over 4 will be charged admission. Both bathrooms and theaters are equipped with changing tables. Lights are only dimmed so parents can move around with baby as needed. Check website for showings and show times. 6:30 p.m. most Mondays, and midday showings on Saturdays. $8 | Parent. The New Parkway, 474 24th St., Oakland. 510-658-7900, www.the new parkway.com

AUGUST 1 | Tuesday Hikes For Tykes — Oakland

Meet at Redwood Regional Park for a hike at a little one’s pace, to see all there is to see of the native plants and animals that live so close to our homes. Strollers are not recommended. Parents must come along. 10:30 a.m-11:30 a.m. Free. Ages 3-6. Redwood Regional Park,7867 Redwood Rd., Oakland. 888-EBPARKS, www. ebparks.org

Mini Model Build—Pleasanton

Visit a local LEGO Store on the first Tuesday of every month and learn how to build a cool mini model, and take it home for free! Quantities are limited and offer is good while supplies last only. One free per child. See store for more details. 5 p.m. Free. Ages 6-14 Only. Lego Store, Stoneridge Shopping Center, 1 Stoneridge Mall Rd., Pleasanton, 925737-0704.

Nature Play Lindsay Wildlife — Walnut Creek

Every Member Tuesday come to Lindsay’s outdoor classroom and experience Nature Play! A great way to explore the wonders of nature outside with your little one, this nature-themed playgroup provides an opportunity for our member families to play outside and discover the sights, sounds, and sensations all around them. 11 a.m-12 p.m. Free to Members. Ages 4 to 6. Lindsey Wildlife Experience, 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek. 925935-1978, www.lindseywildlife.org

2 | Wednesday Solano County Fair — Vallejo

SCHOOLS

granD lakE moNtessOri eLemenTary

The Solano County Fair has fantastic concerts. The fair opens today and goes until the 6th. Wednesday is free for seniors, and Thursday is Kids Day with all kids getting in for free. Unlimited ride wristbands will be for sale and there will be plenty of fried foods on sticks. It’s what summer is all about. 3 p.m.-11 p.m. Wed./ Thu./ Fri; 12-11p.m. Sat. /Sun. $10 for adults, $6 for children and seniors. All ages. Solano County Fairgrounds, 900 Fairgrounds Dr., Vallejo. 707-5512000, www.scfair.com

First Wednesdays Street Festivals — Walnut Creek Sign up online for a tour today!

Free First Wednesday at Bay Area Discovery Museum — Sausalito

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(510) 841-8489 42 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

WCD hosts Walnut Creek First Wednesdays Street Festivals each month for all ages! Festivities include live entertainment, arts & crafts, shopping, treats & more! 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Free. All ages. 1275 Broadway Plaza Walnut Creek. www.broadwayplaza.com

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Ninth Annual Mascot Day — Fairfield Visit with local and national favorite mascots, in-

graph and Clarke, Oakland. www.temescalalleys.com

5 | Saturday Summer Sleepover — Oakland

Sleep under the stars at Children’s Fairyland, and enjoy breakfast in the park upon waking. Ride the rides and see the shows at night! This event requires pre-registration, so book ahead of time. Dinner and breakfast will be served, included in the cost of admission. This event repeats on August 19. 5:45 p.m. check-in, 8:30 a.m. Sunday check-out. $55 per adult, $30 per child. All ages. Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. 510-452-2259, www.fairyland.org

Music In The Park — Danville

Niles Canyon Railway — Sunol cluding the Jelly Belly, and celebrate with fun times and high fives and a free tour. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. All ages. Jelly Belly Factory, 1 Jelly Belly Ln., Fairfield. 707-428-2800, www.jellybelly.com

3 | Thursday Top Shelf Classics! Motown and More — Pleasant Hill

4 | Friday $5 First Fridays @Chabot Space & Science — Oakland

At $5 First Fridays you can embark on a Mini Mission to Mars, join a Night Hike through the redwoods, and enjoy various laser and planetarium

shows. Admission also includes hands-on activities and live demonstrations throughout the center, as well as any special events that are going on that evening. 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Admission $5. Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. 510-3367300, www.chabotspace.org

Friday Nights @ Oakland Museum of California — Oakland

Join OMCA and Off the Grid in August for DJs, live bands, dancing, gourmet food trucks, and more. There will be a family Drop-in activity related to one of the exhibits. This event repeats each Friday night. 5-9 p.m. Members and ages 18 and under free, $7.50 / adults. Oakland Museum of California, 50 10th St., Oakland. 510-318-8400, www.museumca.org

Temescal Alley First Friday Block Party — Oakland

Every first Friday of the month join the block party with live music, shops open late, monthly art exhibits and more. 6-9 p.m. Free. All ages. Temescal Alley, 49th St. @Tele-

9 | Wednesday Toddler Kindergym — Oakland

Kids who are walking to age 3 can come and enjoy tumbling, climbing, parachute play, bubbles and the ball pit. Baby siblings are welcome. This event repeats several times a week, check the website for details. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. $12 first visit, $132 for program sign up. Ages 1-3. Temple Beth Abraham Social Hall, 327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 510-832-0936, www.tbaoakland. org

Kids Bowl Free — Pacheco/Albany/ Concord/Castro Valley

6 | Sunday

July 12, Lion Appreciation Day—Oakland

minimally structured which allows children to enjoy and explore on their own terms. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.$6 Drop-in per day per child OR $60 Dropin Card for 12 visits. Ages 6 mths - 3 years. Alameda Veteran’s Memorial Building 2203 Central Avenue, Alameda, alamedaca.gov/recreation/wee-play

Known as the railway museum where the exhibits come to life, the Pacific Locomotive Association, Inc. operates the Niles Canyon Railway as a living history museum interpreting the importance of our heritage railroads in the development of California and the nation. Their mission is to develop and operate a working railroad museum for the benefit of the general public .The Pacific Locomotive Association also has railroad artifacts on display and interpretive educational exhibits at the Sunol Depot. Families can enjoy rides through the scenic east bay on a historical train. Repeats on the first and third Sunday of each month. Diesel train departs Sunol Depot 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30pm. Free under 3. $7 ages 3-12, $10 Seniors, $12 ages 13-adult. All ages. Niles Canyon Railway, 6 Kilkare Rd. Sunol. 510-996-8420, www.ncry.org

7 | Monday Wee Play Drop-in — Alameda

Indoor drop-in playtime is offered through the city for children ages 6 months to 3 years. Activities include play, music time, and coloring. Activities are

Kids Bowl Free is an amazing organization that allows all children who register to play two games a day, every day, for free. With many locations around the Bay Area there is a place close by to get exercise, beat the heat and boredom and have fun. All ages. This program requires kids pay only for shoe rental. Check participating bowling alleys for hours of operation. Register children at www.kidsbowlfree.com

10 | Thursday Family Night — Dublin

This farmers market has fresh produce and food vendors, but also has activities for the kids to enjoy. Get kids excited about fresh food. 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Free. All ages. Emerald Glen Park, 4201 Central Pkwy., Dublin. www.ci.dublin.ca.us

Ride the Rails — Fremont

Railroads once connected many of the farms with towns in the East Bay. Today they still run around the farm. Journey past rows of crops and through eucalyptus groves as you travel back in time. Check the daily schedule and meet the train at Arden Station or Deer Park. 10:15 a.m.- 3:45 p.m. Free. All Ages. Ardenwood Historic Farm 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Fremont 888-EBPARKS, www.ebparks.org

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July / August 2017 | Parents’ Press 43

11 | Friday Zoovie Night” Disneynature: African Cats — Oakland

Pillows, blankets and jammies encouraged as families get cozy in the Zimmer Auditorium to see “Kung Fu Panda 3” Roosevelt the Alligator mascot will introduce moviegoers to some nocturnal animals that call the zoo their home. Hot cocoa and popcorn are provided but bringing a picnic basket is encouraged as well. 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. $7/person. All ages. Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland. 510-632-9525, www.oaklandzoo.org

Summer Outdoor Concert — Point Richmond

Enjoy live music, dancing in the streets, local eateries, and face-painting for the kids in historic Point Richmond. 5:30p.m.-7:45 p.m. Free. All ages. Downtown Pt. Richmond, Park Pl. at Washington Ave., Richmond. www.pointrichmondmusic.org

12 | Saturday Jack of All Trades — Oakland

Festival of Globe’s India Day — Fremont

Two-day cultural and health fair and carnival (mela) with more than 300 booths, culminating in grand parade. 10 a.m. -7 p.m. Free . All ages. 39439 Paseo Padre Parkway and nearby streets,www.fogsv.com

Japanese Summer Festival — Concord

Taiko, judo and dance performances, bonsai and ikebana displays, traditional food, games for children. 1 - 9 p.m. Free. Diablo Japanese American Club, 3165 Treat Blvd., Concord, www.diablojaclub.com

Lion Appreciation Day — Oakland

There will be lots of fun activities, including lion enrichment at 10am and a keeper talk at 1:15pm during which you can learn all about our lions. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. All Ages. Free with Admission. Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland, 510-632-9525, www. oaklandzoo.org

Family Sundown Safari — Oakland

Grab your tent, sleeping bag, your family, and a few friends and get ready for an overnight adventure at Oakland Zoo. This unique program includes dinner, a nighttime and morning guided tour of the Zoo, a special behind the scenes, live animal presentations, interactive and educational activities, a Wildlife Theater show, a hot morning breakfast, and s’mores! 5 p.m. -10 a.m. Ages 4 and older. $90.00 per person for non-members / $80.00 per person for members. Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland, 510-632-9525, www. oaklandzoo.org

13 | Sunday

August 27, Oakland Triathlon, Oakland

American Iron Car Show — Pleasant Hill

Kids and grown-ups alike will enjoy ogling the shiny classic cars, each one lovingly polished and customized to be admired. Enjoy live music and food while walking around at this fun event. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $30. All ages. Downtown Pleasant Hill on Crescent Drive. 925-682-0896, www.pleasanthillrec.com

polines for hours of indoor bouncing fun. For kids walking up to 6 years. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $6 per child, per hour. Not valid on holidays. Sky High Sports, 1631 Challenge Dr., Concord. 925682-5867, www.con.jumpskyhigh.com

Ice Cream Tours — Rockridge

Hikes For Tykes — Oakland

Rockridge Food Tours is celebrating one year of food tours with a new Ice Cream tour, featuring tastings at Cream, Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, and Dryers Ice Cream Parlor. This tour is a walking tour lasting approximately one hour, and occurs every other Sunday through October. Please book a reservation online. This event repeats on August 21. 3 p.m.- 4 p.m. $15/adults, $7.50 /kids 12 and under. All ages. Rockridge District, Oakland. 510-604-6546, www. rockridgefoodtour.com

14 | Monday Munchkin Mondays — Concord

Energetic toddlers can jump for one hour or longer. Sky High Sports features dozens of large tram-

SCHOOLS

St. Paul School

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510-233-3080

Ride the Rails — Fremont

Railroads once connected many of the farms with towns in the East Bay. Today they still run around the farm. Journey past rows of crops and through eucalyptus groves as you travel back in time. Check the daily schedule and meet the train at Arden Station or Deer Park. 10:15 a.m.- 3:45 p.m. Free. All Ages. Ardenwood Historic Farm 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Fremont 888-EBPARKS, www.ebparks.org

Toddler Time — Fremont

• Small classes • Safe, loving & faith-filled • Academic rigor • Art, PE, music, Spanish & STEAM • Character Formation • FREE Before/Afterschool care www.st-paulschool.org

Meet at Redwood Regional Park for a hike at a little one’s pace, to see all there is to see of the native plants and animals that live so close to our homes. Strollers are not recommended. Parents must come along. 10:30 a.m-1130 a.m. Free. Ages 3-6. Redwood Regional Park,7867 Redwood Rd., Oakland. 888-EBPARKS, www. ebparks.org

16 | Wednesday

Educating the Mind • Body • Spirit with Faith

Preschool - 8th

15 | Tuesday

San Pablo

Bring the tiny tots out for an exciting morning at the farm. Each day we’ll meet and learn all about a new animal friend through stories, chores and fun. We’ll meet rain or shine! (1-4 yrs.) 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Ages1-4. Ardenwood Historic Farm 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Fremont 888-EBPARKS, www.ebparks.org

Dance With Me — Berkeley

Shawl-Anderson Dance Center Dance with Me class is for walkers through age 4 and their caretakers. Children and adults will dance, sing, play movement games and enjoy props for this fun-filled 45 minute class. This class repeats every Wednesday. 9a.m.-9:45 a.m. $16 per child. Ages walking to 4 years. Shawl-Anderson Dance Center, 2704 Alcatraz Ave., Berkeley. 510-654-5921, www.shawl-anderson.org

Discover whyDiscover families why families 17 | Thursday have been returning have been returning Third Thursday Piedmont Stroll — for generations. for generations. Piedmont

Bring the family and enjoy supporting local artists, independent businesses, all within the Piedmont Avenue community. Evening entertainment can be

TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN 8TH GRADE TRANSITIONAL THROUGH KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE

INFORMATION NIGHTS Decand 1, 2016 and 15 Jan•11, 2017 • 7PM Experience a day in• TK K • Nov 8:30AM INFORMATION NIGHTS • Dec 1, 2016 and Jan 11, 2017 • 7PM INFORMATION • DecAM 6 and Jan OPEN HOUSE • Jan 29,NIGHTS 2017 • 10:15 – 12: 15 10 PM• 7PM OPEN HOUSE •orJan 29, 2017a •tour 10:15 AM – 12: 15 PM Please call to RSVP schedule TUESDAY TOURS • Please call to schedule a tour TUESDAY TOURS • Please call to schedule a tour school.spnalameda.org • facebook.com/saintphilipnerischool school.spnalameda.org • facebook.com/saintphilipnerischool 1335 High Street, Alameda, CA 94501 • 510-521-0787 1335 High Street, Alameda, CA 94501 • 510-521-0787

44 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017

found in restaurants, salons, retail stores, and many other shops. Featuring art, music, and more! 6-9 p.m. Free admission. All ages. Piedmont Ave., Piedmont. www.piedmontavenue.org

Waterfront Flicks - “Moana”— Oakland

Watch “Moana” on the grass, cozy in picnic blankets, with the family. Pre-show trivia and games for prizes, as well as Jack London Square eateries will make this a fantastic family night. 8 p.m. games, 9 p.m. movie begins. Free. All ages. Jack London Square, 70 Washington St., Oakland. 510-6459292, www.jacklondonsquare.com

Ride the Rails — Fremont

Railroads once connected many of the farms with towns in the East Bay. Today they still run around the farm. Journey past rows of crops and through eucalyptus groves as you travel back in time. Check the daily schedule and meet the train at Arden Station or Deer Park. 10:15 a.m.- 3:45 p.m. Free. All Ages. Ardenwood Historic Farm 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Fremont 888-EBPARKS, www.ebparks.org

18 | Friday Free Fridays Lindsay Wildlife — Walnut Creek

Bites Off Broadway — Oakland

The food truck revolution is here to stay, so bring the family down and enjoy an evening of delicious meals and treats in a low key, family setting. Bring picnic blankets, enjoy live music and lawn games with gourmet food. This event runs every Friday. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free admission, food prices vary. All ages. 365 45th St., Oakland. 510-654-6346, www.bitesoffbroadway.com

19 | Saturday Art and Soul — Oakland

City of Oakland’s flagship festival that launched a downtown renaissance, with two big days of music, art, dance and food, including the Oaktown Throwdown BBQ Competition back by popular demand after last year’s wildly successful inaugural event.

Ride rides, listen to live music, see dance battles! Public transportation encouraged. Festivities Saturday and Sunday. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. $15/Adults, $7/Seniors (65+) & Youth (13-17), Free/12 and under. All ages. Frank Ogawa Plaza, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland. 510-444-CITY, artandsouloakland.com

Zucchini Festival — Hayward

Zucchini dishes, zucchini-growing contest, live music, arts and crafts, kids town with rides. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. $5-$1.. All ages. Kennedy Park, 19501 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward. www.zucchinifest.org

Music In The Park — Danville

Busta Groove — Clayton

Bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets to enjoy the music. A fun family event. 6-8:30 p.m. Free. All ages. The Grove, 6100 Main St., Clayton. 925-673-7300, www.ci.clayton.ca.us

Grilled Cheese Block Party — Oakland

Family Sundown Safari — Oakland

non-members / $80.00 per person for members. Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland, 510-632-9525, www. oaklandzoo.org

BIRD WALK: Peeps: Not Just for Easter Anymore — Hayward

Meet at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve to see if we can spot some returning migrants. Our smallest sandpipers, collectively called ‘peeps’, should be congregating in large numbers. These small birds, like the Western and Least Sandpiper are a delight to watch, and although we won’t eat them, they are still pretty cute and sweet! The reserve is at the intersection of Clawiter Road and Arden Road in Hayward. 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. $5 person. Ages 12 and up. Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center, 4901 Breakwater Ave., Hayward. 510-670-7270, www.haywardrec.org

Breakfast with the Animals — Walnut Creek Enjoy breakfast with our animal ambassadors, with exclusive access to the exhibit hall before Lindsay opens to the public. Members get exclusive seating and a special surprise at their table! 9 a.m.-11 a.m. $8 for Members; $15 for non-members. Lindsay Wildlife Museum, 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek. 925-935-1978, www.wildlife-museum.org

20 | Sunday Eats, Beats, and Brews Block Party — Berkeley

Niles Canyon Railway — Sunol

CLASSIFIEDS ➤ CHILD CARE Night Nanny 18+ years experience and 35+ Bay Area references. Available 10pm - 6am. Sun - Thurs. $25 per hour or $30 per for twins! 415-678-9372

➤ CLASSES/LESSONS MUSIC Best Violin lessons Professional concert violinist. Experienced and enthusiastic. All levels. North Berkeley studio. Call Donna at (510) 524-5203. $10 introductory lesson. Piano and Flute lessons Highly professional, experienced teacher. All ages welcome. Libushe Moskowitz, (510) 235-5860 in El Cerrito. Piano Lessons in Berkeley Patient, experienced teacher. I have successfully prepared students of all ages, beginners to intermediate-advanced. Alexandra Yurkovsky, MA (510) 849-2613 $10 introductory lesson.

➤ ➤ HEALTH & WELLNESS Lactation and Parenting Consultant Joanne Rucker, Pediatric RN, CLS

Experienced, knowledgeable, insightful, caring. Office or home visits. Long and respected local career. Breastfeeding and child development specialist. www.joannerucker-rn.com joanne@ joannerucker-rn.com 510-558-3120

➤ ➤ PARTIES FUR, SCALES AND TAILS ANIMAL SHOWS For your party, school, camp or daycare. Over 15 different animals in every show. Fun for children of all ages. Call Tracy the Animal Show Guy at: 510-8233923. www.furscalesandtails.com Please check out our great Yelp reviews. The Puppet Company Creates “Fantasies in Miniature” at your child’s party. Classics, Fables, fun for audiences of all ages! Professional puppeteer, 40 years of entertainment experience. 510-569-3144. www.puppetcompany.com All-Star Showgrams

Rated four stars in “Babies by the Bay.” Princesses, superheroes, pirates, train conductors, cowboys, Elsa, Mary Poppins, Mother Goose, Dorothy, clowns, wizards, magicians, face painters, balloonists, storytellers, dance parties, mascots, jugglers, Santa, Easter Bunny and lots more! Your child’s favorite character. 650-574-3568. www.allstarshowgrams.com The Bubble Lady - Rebecca Nile How about something really different? An interactive- award winning BUBBLE EXTRAVAGANZA SHOW – SUPER FUN! SUPER BUBBLES! PEOPLE IN BUBBLES! Bubble questions? 415-384-0619. rebecca@ thebubblelady.com or www.thebubblelady.com.

➤ ➤ SERVICES Impeccable Interiors House Cleaning Cleaning homes & offices in Contra Costa & Alameda Counties for over 20 years. One-time, weekly/ bi-weekly, monthly. Licensed & insured. Visa/MC. (510)521-9600, 925-736-9600. www.impeccableinteriors.com

➤ TUTORING / EDUCATION It’s All About Literacy Skilled, compassionate, effective, individualized reading and writing instruction, grades 1-10. Early intervention, remediation, skill building, or creative enrichment. Build self-esteem and success! Ivy (510) 528-8773. www.ivysandz.com Tutoring Is Caring Individualized help with mathematics, reading, writing, study skills, confidence, and motivation. All ages welcome. Rediscover the joy of learning. Call Esther, 510-733-0467.

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operate a working railroad museum for the benefit of the general public .The Pacific Locomotive Association also has railroad artifacts on display and interpretive educational exhibits at the Sunol Depot. Families can enjoy rides through the scenic east bay on a historical train. Repeats on the first and third Sunday of each month. Diesel train departs Sunol Depot 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30pm. Free under 3. $7 ages 3-12, $10 Seniors, $12 ages 13-adult. All ages. Niles Canyon Railway, 6 Kilkare Rd. Sunol. 510-996-8420, www.ncry.org

23 | Wednesday Kids Bowl Free — Pacheco/Albany/ Concord/Castro Valley

24 | Thursday Family Night — Dublin

25 | Friday Movies in the Park: ”Sing” — Oakland

Watch “Sing” (PG) All movies begin at dusk. Be sure to dress warm, bring a lawn chair and/or blanket. Movie begins at dusk. Free. All ages. Redwood Heights Recreation Center, 3883 Aliso Ave, Oakland. 510-4827827 www.oaklandnet.com/parks

Model Railroad Society Show — Walnut Creek

ous scenery, towns and more. 8 p.m.-10 p.m. $3/ages 13 and up. $2/ ages 6-12 and seniors, free/ under 6. All ages. Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society, 2751 Buena Vista Ave., Walnut Creek. 925937-1888, www.wcmrs.org

Ride the Rails — Fremont

Railroads once connected many of the farms with towns in the East Bay. Today they still run around the farm. Journey past rows of crops and through eucalyptus groves as you travel back in time. Check the daily schedule and meet the train at Arden Station or Deer Park. 10:15 a.m.- 3:45 p.m. Free. All Ages. Ardenwood Historic Farm 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Fremont 888-EBPARKS, www.ebparks.org

27 | Sunday Chocolate & Chalk Art Festival — Berkeley

Create chalk art and eat chocolate. Prizes awarded for best drawings. Live entertainment, vendors. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Free. All ages. Gourmet Ghetto, North Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. www.anotherbullwinkelshow. com

Oakland Triathlon — Oakland

The Oakland Triathlon Festival is the largest west coast urban triathlon and is all about the incredible triathlon community in Northern California. The race showcases the beautiful City of Oakland and generates fundraising for Oakland sports programs as well as the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. The Oakland Triathlon Festival features Sprint and Olympic distances for new and experienced athletes. The event will begin in the Oakland Estuary and finish in Jack London Square. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Free. All ages. Jack London Square, 70 Washington St., Oakland. 510-645-9292, www.jacklondonsquare.com

Ice Cream Tours — Rockridge

Rockridge Food Tours is celebrating one year of food tours with a new Ice Cream tour, featuring tastings at Cream, Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, and Dryers Ice Cream Parlor. This tour is a walking tour lasting approximately one hour, and occurs every other Sunday through October. Please book a reservation online. 3 p.m.- 4 p.m. $15/adults, $10/kids 12 and under. All ages. Rockridge District, Oakland. 510-604-6546, www. rockridgefoodtour.com

28 | Monday Mini Monday Dig Into Dinosaurs — Walnut Creek

Let your child guide their own explorations of the natural world, designed for children ages 2–5 to play and learn, along with an adult caregiver. Young children explore a variety of age-appropriate craft and activity stations at their own pace. Observe special demonstrations and hands-on presentations with our animal ambassadors. Visit Lindsay Wildlife exhibit hall outside of regular hours! 10 a.m.-12 p.m.$20 per child, $10 members, $6 additional children. Ages 2 and up with caregivers. Lindsay Wildlife Museum, 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek. 925-935-1978, lindsaywildlife.org

Kids Bowl Free — Pacheco/Albany/ Concord/Castro Valley

29 | Tuesday Hikes For Tykes — Oakland

Meet at Redwood Regional Park for a hike at a little one’s pace, to see all there is to see of the native plants and animals that live so close to our homes. Strollers are not recommended. Parents must come along. 10:30 a.m-1130 a.m. Free. Ages 3-6. Redwood Regional Park,7867 Redwood Rd., Oakland. 888-EBPARKS, www. ebparks.org

30 | Wednesday Toddler Time — Fremont

Bring the tiny tots out for an exciting morning at the farm. Each day we’ll meet and learn all about a new animal friend through stories, chores and fun. We’ll meet rain or shine! (1-4 yrs.) 10:30 a.m-3 p.m. Free. Ages1-4. Ardenwood Historic Farm 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Fremont 888-EBPARKS, www. ebparks.org

Wee Play Drop-in — Alameda

Indoor drop-in playtime is offered through the city for children ages 6 months to 3 years. Activities include play, music time, and coloring. Activities are minimally structured which allows children to enjoy and explore on their own terms. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.$6 Drop-in per day per child OR $60 Drop-in Card for 12 visits. Ages 6 mths - 3 years. Alameda Veteran’s Memorial Building 2203 Central Avenue Alameda, alamedaca.gov/recreation/wee-play

46 Parents’ Press | July / August 2017