Active Family Magazine | March 2023

NINE DISCUSSIONS TO HAVE WITH YOUR TEEN BEFORE COLLEGE

HOTEL SPOTLIGHT

MAUNA LANI

Tracie Brown

Elizabeth Kang

ekang@activefamilymag.com

Social Media & Sales Manager

Trista Cambra-Flanders

Design/Production

Teresa Agnew Craft

Contributing Authors

Elizabeth Kang

Renee Trudeau

Dr. Laura Markham

Dr. Meg Meeker, Md

Dr. Laura Markham is the author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University and has worked as a parenting coach with countless parents across the English-speaking world, both in person and via phone. You can find Dr. Laura online at AhaParenting.com, the website of Aha! Moments for parents of kids from birth through the teen years, where she offers a free daily inspiration email to parents.

Nine Discussions to Have With Your Teen Before College

by Dr. Laura Markham

If your child is leaving for college soon, you're probably both busy with shopping lists and health forms. You might well find yourself fighting about things that don't matter, because the enormity of letting go of your child and wondering if he's ready can make parents terribly anxious.

During the teen years, your relationship with your child has been steadily evolving. You've found yourself biting your tongue and letting go more and more, as your teen steps up to manage herself and her responsibilities. This is rarely a graceful dance, since teens can be mature one moment and thoughtless the next. But by the time she leaves your home, hopefully all the love and lessons you've shared will mean she's ready for the next adventure.

So take a breath, have a private cry, and let go some more. Don't increase his anxiety with your own. It's important for him to make some of these decisions the way he wants to, no matter what you think. Every time you let him lead, that's a vote of confidence in his maturity, and he'll act more mature.

Then, start asking questions, listen much more than you talk, and have some really good discussions. Teaching him to do his laundry and buying a lamp for his dorm room may be important, but those tasks aren't nearly as essential as helping him prepare, mentally and emotionally, for the life changes and rites of passage ahead.  Here are nine discussions you'll want to be sure you have with your teen before they head for college.

1. TELL YOUR CHILD HOW PROUD YOU ARE OF HIM AND HOW HAPPY YOU ARE TO BE HIS PARENT.

Explain that most of your job is done but that you will always be there if he needs you. Be sure he knows that you mean it when you say that he can call you 24/7 for any reason at all. Tell him you have confidence in his judgment.

2. LISTEN TO YOUR TEEN'S HOPES, FEARS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR COLLEGE

Ask questions, listen, reassure, and brainstorm with her. Point out that this is a huge adjustment and she needs to nurture herself. Everyone goes through anxiety and homesickness as they adjust to college. The best cure is connecting with others who are feeling the same way.  Does she feel comfortable making friends? Reaching out for help if she needs it? If she has roommate problems, who can she turn to? How can she support herself if she feels stressed or depressed? What routines and activities will help her?

3. ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT ACADEMICS.

How will he choose which classes to take? Be sure that he's taking at least two classes he will probably love, because at least one of his classes will likely be a disappointment. Explain that many students find college much harder than high school and need extra tutoring, help from professors, or regular visits to the writing lab. If he finds himself struggling academically, who can he go to for help? Tell him that getting to know professors can be life changing and ask how he might develop those relationships. Explain that sitting in the back of the class might feel safer, but that professors interpret that as a sign that he isn't interested and isn't doing the work. Over-focusing on grades often means students take easier classes and get less pleasure out of learning, so tell her you'd rather she focus on learning and expanding her horizons than worry about grades. Explain that while you don't want her wasting your tuition dollars, her grades this first semester are not as important to you as her creating a balanced life for herself at college that

includes healthy friendships and self nurturing. And since you won't have legal access to her grades, discuss how she'll feel most comfortable communicating with you about them.

4. HELP YOUR TEEN THINK THROUGH TIME MANAGEMENT. Kids spend less time in class during college than they do in high school, but they're expected to use that extra time studying, not fritter it away on screens. How will your teen organize himself? Where will he study and how much time does he expect to need per class? What extracurricular activities does he expect to do? How much partying does he expect to do? How much gaming? How will he be sure he doesn't sleep through his alarm? Should he really take that 8am class or is that wishful thinking?

5. HAVE A FRANK TALK ABOUT ALCOHOL AND DRUGS. Alcohol-related hospitalizations of college students are still on the increase and many experts feel that the greatest risk is in the first semester, when students are just learning how to manage their social lives and independence. If your child will partake in alcohol -- as most college students do -- how can she stay safe? It IS possible for a young person to drink responsibly in the context of pregaming, beer pong and binge drinking. What will that look like for your child? Does he know the law? Does she know her limits? Do they know that binge drinking, including beer pong, can be fatal? Do they know that every year college students who drive after drinking end up dead? If someone passes out at a party, what will he do? Does she understand the importance of the buddy system? If she goes to a party with her friend and the friend gets very drunk, what will she do? Do they realize that taking a friend's adderral is a dangerous habit, and why? Be sure your child knows that you expect them to call an ambulance if someone else needs help, regardless of the repercussions. And definitely set up an Uber and/or Lyft account and have your teen practice using it. Tell them you will pay the bill for the car service if they ever need it for safety reasons. Your teen should never have to wonder if they can get home safely or find themselves in a car with a driver who has been drinking.

6. DISCUSS LOVE, SEX AND CONSENT.

Young women in their first year of college are considered by many experts to be at higher risk of sexual assault. Is it possible to act with integrity and to stay safe in romantic and sexual relationships in the age of hook-

up culture, and what would that look like for your son or daughter?  If they feel too awkward having sex with that stranger without getting wasted, then maybe it's a bad idea to proceed with the sex. Every young man and woman needs to understand that inebriated consent is not consent, that the absence of a Yes is effectively a No. Many teen boys have used pornography as their introduction to sex. Does he understand that porn is not a realistic depiction of healthy sex, and why? (Most porn is male centered and it often includes verbal or physical violence toward women.) Does he know how to ask a girl what she likes in bed? Does she feel good about pleasuring herself, and comfortable saying No if she decides during foreplay that sex isn't a good idea? What's their plan for birth control and protection from STDs? Does your teen know how to follow her own inner compass and trust her instincts, so she's less likely to end up in scary situations? Hopefully, this isn't the first time you've had these discussions with your teen, so ask questions, listen and help your teen evaluate what kind of intimate connections they really want and how they might create those.

"When you have sex with a girl, be gentle. Listen to what she wants. Respect her, even if you don't love her......"Dad to son who is leaving home, Captain Fantastic

7. EDUCATE ABOUT HEALTH.

Does your child know what to do if he breaks his leg or gets sick? Does she know what to do if she's raped? No parent wants to think about these emergencies, but it is better for your child to be prepared. Be sure they know their insurance information, how to fill prescriptions, etc. Finally, ask about sleep. Does your child realize that too little sleep compromises their intellectual ability, causes weight gain, and makes it more likely that she'll spend time in bed with strep throat when everyone else is having fun?

8. DISCUSS COVID PREVENTION.

Unfortunately, we are still battling COVID as new, more infectious, variants emerge. Your teen is (presumably) vaccinated since colleges require that, but can still become infected. Most infections in young people, especially those who are vaccinated, are not serious, but even young people sometimes exhibit worrisome, long-lasting symptoms of "long covid." Be sure your teen understands that following the prevention protocols of their college is important.

9. MAKE AGREEMENTS ABOUT MONEY.

Who pays for what? Is your child expected to cover his own incidentals? Will he work part time? Does he need to open a bank account or can he just use his debit and/ or credit card? Who will pay the credit card bill? Where is the closest ATM to where he'll be living? How will he budget his money? What will happen if he overspends? Finally, explain that college is a privilege, a gift you are happy to help with, and you want to be sure he understands how much each class costs. Divide the cost of a semester by the number of classes and the number of weeks. He needs to know how much he'll be wasting every time he skips class.

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Take a deep breath, enjoy these discussions, and be sure to stay calm and make them fun for your teen. And every time you talk, don't forget to give your teen a big hug and say again how very proud you are of her, and how lucky you are to be her parent!

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HOTEL SPOTLIGHT: Mauna Lani

by Elizabeth Kang

The Big Island of Hawaii had been on my bucket list so long that it had slowly descended somewhere near the very bottom, pushed down by the ever-popular islands of Maui and Oahu, which were booked and rebooked again. But recently, when my best friend planned a month-long stay in Kona with her mom and suggested, on a whim, that I join her on a long holiday weekend, suddenly the big island jumped straight to the top of that list, once again. I cashed in some airline miles, threw together a carry-on, and gave my husband an extra big smooch for agreeing to solo parent for four days.

Excited to finally experience and explore the big island of Hawaii, I hurriedly researched where to eat and what to see. When it came to where to stay, however, I already knew exactly which hotel to book during my short, but sweet, girls’ getaway. My favorite resort brand, Auberge Resorts, happened to have a gorgeous oceanfront resort located in Waimea, not far from where my friend was staying, on one of the most picturesque beaches on the island. Mauna Lani was an easy choice, and will forever be my go-to lodging when I inevitably return to Hawaii with my two daughters, and husband.

Something For Everyone

Mauna Lani is a wonderful choice for both adults and families, and offers a variety of room styles and sizes to suite every traveler’s needs. I admired the stylish and tasteful decor, openair architecture, and the intimate feel of the place, (despite the fact that the resort is one of the largest of the Auberge properties.) The resort never felt over-crowded, and there was always an open cabana or pool chair to laze on, with plenty of aloha spirit from the attentive staff. The restaurant options are unbelievably high-quality, and the beachfront snorkeling is some of the best of the island.

Nestled along the stunning and secluded Kohala Coastline, Mauna Lani boasts a private, calm beach that’s protected from rough surf by coral reefs, making for excellent snorkeling any time of the day. I was thrilled to sea a giant Green Sea Turtle just minutes into my snorkeling adventure, along with neon-colored fish of all shapes and sizes. Renting snorkel gear is a breeze too, with affordable gear available by the hour, just feet away from the beach at the Surf Shack.

Adventures & Leisure

Another unforgettable family friendly activity the resort offers is the sunrise outrigger canoe paddle, where experienced guides take a handful of guests on a breathtaking sunrise water adventure. The experience is nothing short of magical, with ancient Hawaiian chanting, stunning sunrise views, breathtakingly still water, and very often, visits from whales during the winter and spring months. This is an unforgettable experience that’s well worth the additional cost.

Along with the spectacular water activities available at the resort is worldrenowned golfing, with two regulation courses, as well as a “fast” nine-hole course that’s ideal for families. There are also private and group lessons available, and clinics to help perfect your shot. A recently renovated clubhouse offers apparel, light bites, and a full-service bar.

In keeping with the theme of being both adult-and-kid-friendly, Mauna Lani boasts three distinct and separate pools. The secluded infinity adult pool offers respite near the Ha Bar, with poolside service. There’s also a large family pool open to all guests, and a shallow splash pool perfect for babies and toddlers.

Tasteful Dining

Swimming invariably works up an appetite, and happily, this luxury resort offers two incredibly delicious full-service restaurants, as well as a few convenient-casual options, too. To that end, the Surf Shack offers lite bites and local brews, along with beachside vibes and ocean views. The Market is a specialty deli featuring early morning, afternoon, and evening treats like freshly brewed coffee and fresh fruit smoothies to grab’ n’ go salads, sandwiches, poke bowls and desserts. The Ha Bar is a great spot to sip a house-made Mai Tai, or linger over a casual lunch or dinner while watching hula dancers sway to live acoustic music.

For a more formal meal, take a short walk over to the resort’s signature restaurant, CanoeHouse. Featuring breathtaking ocean-sunset seating, both indoors and outdoors, CanoeHouse features Japaneseinspired dishes with a reverence for local ingredients. Don’t miss the thoughtful chef’s tasting menu, which showcases the best this innovative eatery has to offer.

HaLani is the resort’s other upscale restaurant, serving fresh, local fish and grassfed beef, along with craft cocktails and premium wine for dinner, and a sumptuous, decadent breakfast buffet in the morning. The breakfast buffet is sure to please even the pickiest diner in the group, with offerings such as macadamia-nut pancakes, madeto-order acai bowls and omelets, fresh poke and sashimi, just-made malasada donuts, scrambled eggs, and so much more.

A Soothing Spa

Along with incredible high-end dining, Mauna Lani offers adults a dreamy respite from the sun at their full-service spa, the Auberge Spa. Here, expertly trained staff provide a variety of healing and soothing treatments, which showcase signature beauty products made from locally sourced, all natural ingredients. Indulge in a signature “Goop Glow” facial, from Gwyneth Paltrow’s high-end line of Goop products, or a “Lomi Lomi” massage, perfect for soothing sore muscles and rejuvenating the spirit.

Mauna Lani is an unforgettable, indulgent experience for both families and adults alike, and I can’t wait to book a trip with my family for them to experience the resort for themselves. I know they’ll get a thrill snorkeling with colorful fish all morning on the resort’s private beach, and splashing in the gorgeous, oversized pool all afternoon. In between, we’ll explore volcanoes, learn about Hawaiian culture, and indulge in all the shave ice they can handle. Mauna Lani perfectly suits the needs of our family, and I can’t wait to visit again. Is it ok to put a location on your bucket list even if you’ve already been? I’m not sure, but I do know that Mauna Lani is worth the repeat.

Trudeau is passionate about helping parents come into balance through the art/ science of self-care. She's been featured in The New York Times, Good Housekeeping, Spirituality & Health and more, and thousands of women in ten countries are becoming RTA-Certified Facilitators and leading/joining self-renewal groups/retreats based on her award-winning curriculum. She is the author of several life balance books including The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal and Nurturing the Soul of Your Family: 10 Ways to Reconnect and Find Peace in Everyday Life. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and 15 year-old son. Subscribe to her weekly, award-winning blog Live Inside Out here and check out her upcoming retreats at www.ReneeTrudeau.com .

NATURE: The Ultimate Anti-Depressant (+ 9 Ideas to Get You Outside)

by Renee Peterson Trudeau

One of our family’s favorite spots is the Davis Mountains in West Texas, home to the second darkest night skies in the U.S. We love to go there for the magical starry nights where the Milky Way can easily be seen without a telescope and for the sparsely populated terrain and the vast wilderness. For years we made this annual digital detox a priority. We’d unplug and hike, stargaze, sleep and read. This journey brought us back to ourselves and to one another.

Nature opens me up to the now; to the present moment. It allows me to access wisdom and insights I never could have in my 24/7 modern life. I never cease to be amazed by the ideas and clarity that often bubble up after a weekend at the ocean or a day in the cool, dark woods.

Time in nature is often referred to as the ultimate antidepressant because it affects us physically, mentally and emotionally. Being outdoors alleviates stress, positively affects our mood/overall mental health, helps us to “reset,” promotes cognitive functioning, fosters problem solving and creativity,

Transformational coach/author/ speaker Renée Peterson

supports work/life balance, stimulates social interactions and helps family connection and intimacy. Whew! Yes, all that!

Spending time in nature should be as natural and regular as breathing. Not something we save for a special occasion–but something that is built into our daily flow. If it’s been years since you’ve spent time outdoors, or perhaps you feel out of your element chasing bears and mountain lions, consider the following 10 ideas to help “get thee outdoors!”:

• Team up. Ask your nature loving friends for advice on local spots, and join them on their next excursion to discover hidden gems in your area.  Maybe you even set up a weekly or monthly “nature date” with family or friends, and rotate which park or natural area you visit (let the kids choose!).

• Stay close to home. Get to know your own backyard, street, neighborhood park, streams/trails and any natural areas within walking distance. Don’t feel hemmed in by your urban or suburban home turf. Seek out all the green spaces you can find: botanical gardens, sculpture gardens, a rooftop garden, a neighbor’s outdoor space, a school playground, or even an open plaza or square where you can watch the birds and squirrels.

•Get campy. Dare yourself to go camping. This can be a wonderful experience for families; invite a group of friends to join you. Take it slow and easy: sleep in “camping cabins” or set up a tent in your own backyard!

• Plan a picnic. Pack a simple picnic of cold food, grab a blanket and head to your closest park; everyone loves the spontaneity of picnics on a weeknight or on a lazy Sunday evening!

• Make it a game. If hiking is no draw, play outdoor games like soccer, horseshoes, Wiffle ball, and Frisbee golf — or turn exploration into a competition: Who can spot the most squirrels, birds, or bats, or find the most unusual rocks or shells?

• Tune into nature’s rhythms. Consider marking the full moon, new moon, or equinox with a hike, outdoor drum circle, or swim — we all love ritual, and it can be a fun, meaningful way to connect to nature’s rhythms.

•Create new habits. Make nature a daily or weekly habit. Head to a local park after work to help you unwind before dinner or have your morning coffee on the back porch and make it a point to see what birds are in your backyard. After dinner walks in your neighborhood are relaxing and help everyone prepare for good sleep.

• Tap local groups for help. Contact your state park office and ask about their family or outdoor programs. Also visit the websites for REI, the Sierra Club and the Children and Nature Network — founded by my friend Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods — to learn about family-oriented events in your area.

• Be adventurous. Experience nature’s “wild side” and do something you’ve never done before! National parks are ideal for this, since they preserve our continent’s natural treasures and usually maintain accessible, familyfriendly facilities. Or choose an “extreme” activity: go sea kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, zip-lining, rock climbing, snowshoeing. Perhaps consider swapping homes with another family in a natural area you’d like to visit; try using a service like Home Exchange.

Even getting outside at night in a place where you can see the stars — and taking in their amazing vastness — is enough. The experience always reminds me of how small and inconsequential my worries are.

Nature is one of the greatest gifts we have available. In our galaxy, the sun is one of a hundred billion stars. Now how important is it to make sure you finish your laundry and your car gets washed again? Pick up a copy of my book Nurturing the Soul of Your Family: 10 Ways to Reconnect and Find Peace in Everyday Life to get more great ideas on how to immerse yourself (and your family) in the healing power of nature!

Dr. Meeker is a pediatrician, who has practiced pediatric and adolescent medicine for 25 years. She is the author of six books including the best-selling Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: Ten Secrets Every Father Should Know; Boys Should Be Boys; Your Kids At Risk;, The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers: Reclaiming Our Passion, Purpose and Sanity; Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: The 30 Day Challenge and Strong Mothers, Strong Sons: Lessons Mothers Need to Raise Extraordinary Men, (Ballantine) April 2014. She is a popular speaker on pediatric health issues and child-parent relationships.

Dr. Meeker is co-host and physician-in-residence of Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk Radio. She is also Assistant Clinical Professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and currently teaches medical students and physicians in residency training. She is board certified with the American Board of Pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Meeker serves on the National Advisory Board of the Medical Institute. She has been married to her husband, Walter for 32 years. They have shared a medical practice for over 20 years. They have three grown daughters and a grown son. She lives in northern Michigan.

As a pediatrician, I used to scoff at the “wives’ tale” that grandmothers told their children and grandchildren when they went outside. “Wear a hat so you don’t get sick!” they would exhort us. When my patients asked why their kids got sick more frequently during the winter, I told them what I had learned. The reason that upper respiratory tract infections rise during the winter months was probably due to the fact that people spend more time indoors in closer contact with others.

A new study released by Harvard Medical School shows us doctors that we were wrong and that, surprise, grandmothers were right all along.

Cold air does, in fact, affect the number of head colds we get in the winter. Until their study, no one really understood the body’s immune response in the nose to typical upper respiratory infection viruses.

According to The new study, published Dec. 6 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, when a virus enters the nose (either through the air or by touch) it lands in the front of the nose. The nose alerts the cells nearby that a virus has hit. Then, the cells produce millions of small vesicles called extracellular vesicles or EV’s. These EV’s swarm to the front of the nose, attacking the viruses. They also grab bacteria fighting proteins and shuttle them to the back of the nose to protect those cells. This keeps the virus

Why Grandma Was Right When She Said “Wear a Hat Outside in the Cold So You Won’t Get Sick.”

by Dr. Meg Meeker

from going farther in the nose and moving into the bloodstream.

But the EV’s do more. They have the ability to “grab” hold of the viruses themselves and dump them into nasal mucus, in a sense deflecting them from going to the back of the nose. The whole process is extraordinary when you think about it.

Here’s where cold air comes in. During the winter, when the temperature drops, the temperature inside the nose drops too. The study shows that when they are cold, the cells inside the nose are unable to release as many EV’s by a whopping 42%. With fewer EV’s, the nasal cells aren’t able to fight off the viruses and bacteria as effectively.  Also (not to get too technical) but the proteins in the EV’s are less effective in the cold. So, the immune system inside the nose takes a double hit. And that’s where Grandma comes in (I love this part because I am a grandmother and now-perhaps-my own kids will listen to me.) She knew that cold temperatures lead to head colds that also lead to ear infections. “Put on a hat and keep your ears covered!” she would say. Would kids listen? Usually not.

Does the cold air itself produce ear infections? No, but having colds leads to them. When a child develops a head cold, the cells produce more fluid - in the nose, throat, sinuses and Eustachian tubes (the canal going from behind the eardrum to the back of the throat.) Most of the time, the fluid drains from the head, but when children are young, their Eustachian tubes are narrow, thus making it hard for any fluid that collects behind the eardrum to drain. When this fluid stays there at normal body temperature (98.6 degrees) the bacteria move in and take over. Thus, the ear infection.

When a child develops an ear infection, he often doesn’t let you know his ear hurts until he lies down. This is because the infected fluid behind the ear drum doesn’t put pressure on the eardrum until he is flat. So, when he goes to bed at night, the infected fluid pushes against the inflamed eardrum and this hurts. That’s why kids wake up screaming at night with an ear infection. They genuinely felt fine until they laid down.

As one who has suffered from a lot of ear infections (one of the job hazards) I can tell you that they hurt! Back in the old days, I could spot a child with an ear

infection coming through the emergency room doors at 3:00 am. The child’s face would be beet red, he would be screaming and holding his ear. He wasn’t being histrionic. He felt like his ear would explode. It was because of this level of pain that we would sometimes give kids a whiff of codeine to help the pain until the antibiotic kicked in - usually 24 hours later.

So, what are parents supposed to do with this information? Here are some tips.

1. When it’s cold outside, listen to your mother. Make your child wear a hat and neck warmer if it’s really cold. This won’t completely keep your child’s nose from getting colder but it will help by keeping the head at a warmer temperature.

2. If you have small children who are more likely to get ear infections, try putting them outside for more frequent, shorter periods of time. This may keep the nose temperature from dropping as much.

3. After your child has been out in the cold for a long time, be extra diligent about having her wash her hands. When the nose temperature drops, then the viruses move in. Some are inhaled and you can’t do much about that but you can decrease the number that enter through the nose via hands and fingers.

4. Get out the hot chocolate (or warm milk.) When kids come in from the cold, giving them a hot drink can allow them to inhale steam through their nose. There is no scientific evidence that this will keep them from getting a cold but it will help the nose temperature rise. And - well - it feels like a good mother - intuition - thing to do.

5. Don’t get paranoid. Sometimes we, who worry, go overboard when we hear information like this and we over react by keeping our kids from doing things. Don’t. There are far more advantages for kids to be outside playing in the winter, risking a cold, than there are disadvantages. Kids need to burn off energy. They need fresh air. Mentally, getting outside and running, sledding or building a snowman leads to a much happier child - yes - perhaps with more upper respiratory infections or maybe even an ear infection. But - at least you’ll know that mentally, he’ll be far happier.

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Drew School

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PreK-12

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Live Oak School

K - 8

Visit School Website

Lycée Français de San Francisco

Preschool - 5

Visit School Website

Lycée Français de San Francisco

6-12

Visit School Website

Millennium School

6-8

Visit School Website

Mission Montessori

Preschool - 6

Visit School Website

Presidio Hill School

TK - 8

Visit School Website

SOUTH BAY

Archbishop Mitty High School

9-12

San Jose

Visit School Website

Avenues Silicon Valley

4-10

San Jose

Visit School Website

Almaden Country Day School

PreK-8

San Jose

Visit School Website

Bowman School

TK-8

Palo Alto

Visit School Website

The Carey School

Pre-K - 5

San Mateo

Visit School Website

Castilleja School

6-12

Palo Alto

Visit School Website

Charles Armstrong School

2 - 8

Belmont Visit School Website

PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE

Crystal Springs Uplands School

6-12

Hillsborough

Visit School Website

Episcopal Day School of St. Matthew

PK - 8

San Mateo

Visit School Website

The Girls’ Middle School

6 - 8

Palo Alto

Visit School Website

The Harker School

Tk/JK/PreK, K - 12

San Jose

Visit School Website

Helios School

K - 8

Sunnyvale

Visit School Website

Hillbrook School

JK - 8

Los Gatos

Visit School Website

The Hilldale School

K - 8

Daly City

Visit School Website

Imagination Lab School

K - 8

Palo Alto

Visit School Website

Keys School

K - 8

Palo Alto

Visit School Website

Khan Lab School

K - 12

Mountain View

Visit School Website

Menlo School

6-12

Atherton

Visit School Website

Mulberry School

Younger than TK- grade 8

Los Gatos

Visit School Website

The Nueva School

PreK - 12

Hillsborough

Visit School Website

Odyssey School

6 - 8

San Mateo

Visit School Website

Phillips Brooks School

Younger than TK- grade 5

Menlo Park

Visit School Website

Pinewood School

K - 12

Los Altos

Visit School Website

Ronald C. Wornick

Jewish Day School

TK - 8

Foster City

Visit School Website

Sacred Heart Schools

Younger than TK- grade 12

Atherton

Visit School Website

Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School

PreK - 8

Saratoga

Visit School Website

Saint Simon Parish School

PreK - 8

Los Altos

Visit School Website

Sea Crest School

TK - 8th

Half Moon Bay

Visit School Website

Serendipity School

TK - 5

Belmont

Visit School Website

Silicon Valley International School

TK - Grade 12

Palo Alto

Visit School Website

St. Francis High School

9 - 12

Mountain View

Visit School Website

Synapse School

K - 8 Menlo Park

Visit School Website

Trinity School

Younger than TK- grade 5

Menlo Park

Visit School Website

Waldorf School of the Peninsula

Younger than TK,JK, PreK, K-12

Mountain View / Los Altos

Visit School Website

Woodland School

Younger than TK- grade 8

Portola Valley

Visit School Website

Woodside Priory School

6-12

Portola Valley Visit School Website

NORTH BAY

Marin Academy

9-12

San Rafael

Visit School Website

Marin Country Day School

K - 8

Corte Madera

Visit School Website

Marin Waldorf School

Younger than TK- grade 8

San Rafael, CA

Visit School Website

Mark Day School

K - 8

San Rafael

Visit School Website

Mount Tamalpais School

K - 8

Mill Valley Visit School Website

San Domenico School

K - 12

San Anselmo

Visit School Website

VARIOUS BAY AREA LOCATIONS

BASIS Independent School

PreK – 12

Visit School Website

Stratford School

PK-12

Visit School Website

Summer

Alameda County

ALAMEDA

Alameda School of Music

1307 High St. 510.769.0195

www.alamusic.org

Camp Bladium

800 West Tower Ave

510.814.4999

www.bladiumalameda.com/ youth-kids/kids-camps

Sticky Art Lab 1682 University Ave. 510.981.1148

www.stickyartlab.com

Young Writers Camp UC Berkeley Campus 510.642.0971

www.bawpwritingcamp.org

Green Stuff Summer Camp UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens 510.643.4832

www.botanicalgarden.berkeley. edu

Lawrence Hall of Science UC Berkeley 510.642.5134

www.lawrencehallofscience.org

BERKELEY/ECHO LAKE

City of Dublin 100 Civic Plaza 925.556.4500

www.ci.dublin.ca.us

Valley Christian School 7500 Inspiration Dr. 925.560.6270

www.ValleyChristianSchools.org

Edge Gymnastics Training Center 6780 Sierra Court St. K 925.479.9904

www.edge-gymnastics.com

Kidz Kraftz Quail Creek Cir. 925.271.0015

www.kidzkraftz.com/camps

BERKELEY

Music Discovery Workshop

2005 Berryman St. 510.528.1725

www.sfems.org

St. John’s Camp Elmwood 2727 College Ave. 510.845.6830

www.stjohnsberkeley.org/ campelmwood

Camp Kee Tov 1301 Oxford St. 510.842.2372

www.campkeetov.org

Habitot

2065 Kittredge St. 510.647.1111 ext. 14

www.habitot.org/museum/ activities_camps.html

Monkey Business Camp

2880A Sacramento St. 510.540.6025

www.monkeybusinesscamp.com

Berkeley Echo Lake Camp Lot #7 Echo Lakes Rd 530.659.7539

www.cityofberkeley.info/camps

CASTRO VALLEY

Skye Valley Training Camp 10250 Crow Canyon Rd 925.858.8825

www.psi.lunariffic.com/~skyev0/

Sarah’s Science 21525 Knoll Way 510.581.3739

www.sarahscience.com

Bee Best Learning 20394 San Miguel Ave. 510.728.2110

www.beebestlearning.com

DUBLIN

East Bay SPCA Animal Camp

4651 Gleason Dr. 925.479.9670

www.eastbayspca.org/camp

Tri-Valley YMCA 6693 Sierra Ln 925.263.4444

www.trivalley.ymcaeastbay.org

Extended Day Child Care 8435 Davona Dr. 925.829.4043 & 7997 Vomac Rd. 925.551.8170 7243 Tamarack Dr. 925.833.0127 & 5301 Hibernia Dr. 925.803.4154 & 3300 Antone Way 925.826.5538

www.extendeddaychildcare.com

Quarry Lane School 6363 Tassajara Rd. 925.829.8000

www.quarrylane.org

FREMONT Learning Bee Summer Camp 39977 Mission Blvd. 510.226.8408

www.learningbeeusa.com

Ohlone for Kids

43600 Mission Blvd. 510.659.6000

www.ohlone.edu/org/ ohloneforkids

HAYWARD

Hayward Area Recreation Park District (H.A.R.D.) Day Camps 510.881.6700

www.haywardrec.org

LIVERMORE Horizons East Equestrian Center 5111 Doolan Rd. 925.960.9696

www.showstables.com

Roy’s Magic Camp 2466 8th St. 925.455.0600

www.magiccamp.org

Camp Arroyo Taylor Family Foundation 5535 Arroyo Rd. 925.371.8401

www.ebparks.org/activities/ daycamps/parks_camp_arroyo

Saddle to Ride

Topline Training, Inc. 4180 Greenville Rd. 925.858.3933

www.saddle2ride.com

Xtreme Force Dance Company 847 Rincon Ave. 925.455.6054

www.xtremeforcedanceco.com

Double Diamond Sports Academy 2272 Research Dr. 925.830.9765

www.doublediamondsportsacademy.com

Valley Montessori 1273 N. Livermore Ave. 925.455.8021

www.valleymontessorischool. com

OAKLAND

Lakeshore Children’s Center 3534 Lakeshore Ave. 510.893.4048

www.lakeshorechildrenscenter.org

Urban Adventure Camp 5701 Cabot Dr. 510.339.0676

www.urbanadventurecamps.com

East Bay SPCA Animal Camp 8323 Baldwin St. 510.569.0702

www.eastbayspca.org/camp

California Shakespeare Theater Summer Conservatory

4660 Harbord Dr. 510.809.3293

www.calshakes.org/v4/educ/ summer_conservatories.html

Oakland Summer ZooCamp 9777 Golf Links Rd. 510.632.9525

www.oaklandzoo.org

Lake Merritt Boating Center Youth Boating Camps 568 Bellevue Ave. 510.238.2196

www.sailoakland.com

Raskob Learning Institute 3520 Mountain Blvd. 510.436.1275

www.raskobinstitute.org

Kids N’ Dance 3840 Macarthur Blvd. 510.531.4400

www.kidsndance.com

Camps

MOCHA Summer Camp 1625 Clay St. 510.465.8770

www.mocha.org

PLEASANTON

Gingerbread Preschool 4333 Black Ave. 925.931.3430

www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/services/ recreation/gb/gbhome.html

Extended Day Child Care 5199 Black Ave. 925.846.5519

www.extendeddaychildcare.com

Quarry Lane School - East 3750 Boulder St. 925.846.9400

www.quarrylane.org

Quarry Lane School - West 4444B Black Ave. 925.462.6300

www.quarrylane.org

Yang Fan Academy 4160 Hacienda Dr. St. 100 925.699.4664

www.yfacademy.org

City of Pleasanton Summer Programs 200 Old Bernal Ave. 925.931.3436

www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us

Expressions Dance & Art 3015 Hopyard Rd. Ste. I 925.200.9908

www.expressions-dance-arts.com/

Young Ivy Academy 5460 Sunol Blvd (#3) 925.548.0188

www.youngivyacademy.com

Inspire Music Academy 2340 Santa Rita Rd. Ste. 7 925.461.3266

www.inspiremusicacademy.com

Contra Costa County

ANTIOCH

City of Antioch

Parks and Recreation 213 “F” St 925.776.7070

www.ci.antioch.ca.us/Recreation

Four Stars Gymnastics Academy 1799 Vineyard Dr. 925.778.8650

www.fourstarsgym.com

CONCORD

City of Concord Parks and Recreation 925.671.3404

www.cityofconcord.org/recreation/ summercamps

Camp Concord in South Lake Tahoe 1000 Mt. Tallac Trailhead Rd South Lake Tahoe 530.541.1203

www.ci.concord.ca.us/recreation/ camp

Backyard Explorers Corner of Babel Ln & Cowell Rd. 925.671.3118

www.cityofconcord.org/recreation/ summercamps/backyardexp.htm

DANVILLE City of Danville Camps 420 Front St. 925.314.3400

www.danville.ca.gov/Recreation/ Camps

Vision Tech Camps 117 Town & Country Dr. St. B 925.699.9602

www.visiontechcamps.com

Athenian Summer Programs at Athenian School 2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd 925.837.5375

www.athenian.org

Color Bundles 301 Hartz Ave. #104 925.727.3137

www.colorbundles.com

Camp Brainy Bunch 741 Brookside Dr. 510.548.4800

www.campbrainybunch.com

Quest Therapeutic Camps Charlotte Wood Middle School 600 El Captain Dr. 925.743.2900

www.questcamps.com

Summer

LAFAYETTE

California Shakespeare Theater Summer Conservatory

1000 Upper Happy Valley Rd 510.809.3293

www.calshakes.org/v4/educ/ summer_conservatories.html

Kids N’ Dance 3369 Mt. Diablo 925.284.7388

www.kidsndance.com

Sienna Ranch 3232 Deer Hill Rd. 925.283.6311

www.siennaranch.net

Sherman Swim School 1075 Carol Ln. 925.283.2100

www.shermanswim.com

Merriewood Children’s Center 561 Merriewood Dr. 925.284.2121

www.merriewood.org

MARTINEZ

John Muir

Mountain Day Camp John Muir National Historic Site

925.680.8807

www.johnmuirassociation.org/ muircamp/index.php

French For Fun

3381 Mt. Diablo Blvd 925.283.9822

www.frenchforfun.com

Lafayette Tennis Club

3125 Camino Diablo 925.937.2582

www.lafayettetennis.com

Husky House for Kids

3855 Happy Valley Rd. 925.283.7100

www.huskyhouseforkids.org/ summer-camp-programs

Lafayette Community Center Camps

500 Saint Mary’s Rd. 925.284.2232

www.lafayetterec.org

Roughing It Day Camp

1010 Oak Hill Rd. 925.283.3795

www.roughingit.com

Rancho Saguaro 1050 Pereira Rd. 925.788.5200

www.ranchosaguaro.com

MORAGA

Gaels Summer Camp 1928 St Mary’s Rd. 925.631.4FUN

www.smcgaels.com

Camp Saklan 1678 School St. 925.376.7900

www.saklan.org/about-us/campsaklan

OAKLEY

City of Oakley Parks and Recreation

3231 Main St. 925.625.7044

www.ci.oakley.ca.us

Diamond Hills Sports Club

1510 Neroly Rd. 925.420.4575

www.sparetimeclubs.com

ORINDA

BandWorks Summer Camp

28 Orinda Way 925.254.2445

www.bandworks.com/summer_ orinda.php

Orinda Academy

19 Altarinda Rd. 925.478.4504

www.orindaacademy.org

Camp Doodle

66 St. Stephens Dr. www.campdoodles.com

Pleasant Hill

City of Pleasant Hill Camps 147 Gregory Ln 925.682.0896

www.pleasanthillrec.com

PITTSBURG

City of Pittsburg

Parks and Recreation 300 Presido Ln. 925.252.4842

www.ci.pittsburg.ca.us

SAN RAMON

City of San Ramon Camps 2226 Camino Ramon 925.973.2500

www.ci.san-ramon.ca.us

School of Rock San Ramon 460 Montgomery Street 925.415.3340 510.207.9281

bit.ly/SORsanramoncamps

Adventure Day Camp

Dorris-Eaton School

One Annabel Lane 925.937.6500

www.adventuredaycamp.com

WALNUT CREEK

Adventure Day Camp

Seven Hills School 975 North San Carlos Dr. 925.937.6500

www.adventuredaycamp.com

Camp ARF for Kids 2890 Mitchell Dr. 925.256.1273

www.youth.arf.net

Castle Rock Arabians 1350 Castle Rock Rd. 925.933.3701

www.castlerockarabians.com

City of Walnut Creek Summer Camps 1666 North Main St. 925.943.5899

www.walnut-creek.org

COPA STC 2640 Shadelands Dr. Walnut Creek, CA 925.357.8999

www.copastc.com

Lindsay Wildlife Museum Summer Science Camp 1931 First Ave. 925.935.1978

www.wildlife-museum.org

Multiple Locations

The Growing Room Academy

Various locations around the Bay Offers: 3,4 and 5 Day Camps 925.837.4392

www.thegrowingroom.org

Camp Rocks: Girl Scouts of Northern California Offered at 5 locations: San Rafael (Camp Bothin), Santa Cruz (Skylark Ranch), San Jose (Camp Metro Day Camp), North Lake Tahoe (Deer Lake), and the Sierra Nevada Mountains (Sugar Pine) 800.447.4475 ext. 2091

www.camprocks.org

Mad Science Camp

Offered at several local Recreation sites and Community Centers

925.687.1900

www.mtdiablo.madscience.org

Steve and Kate’s Camp

Danville, Dublin, Fremont, Oakland, Walnut Creek and Berkeley 415.389.5437

www.steveandkatescamp.com

Camp Galileo

Alameda, Alamo, Berkeley, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Fremont, Oakland, Lafayette and Orinda 510.595.7293

www.galileo-learning.com

KinderCare

Walnut Creek, Concord, Danville, Martinez and Clayton 888.523.6765

www.kindercare.com/ summercamp

Viva el Espanol!

Lafayette, Piedmont, Pleasanton & San Anselmo

925.962.9177

www.vivaelespanol.org/ summerprograms.php

Stratford School

Summer Sports Camp & Enrichment

Danville, Fremont, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill and Pleasanton 925.737.0001

www.stratfordschools.com

Sky hawk’s Sports Camp

Various locations around the Bay Area

800.804.3509

www.skyhawks.com

Lango Language

Summer Camps

Serving Alamo, Blackhawk, Brentwood, Briones, Canyon, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pacheco, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon, Walnut Creek and surrounding regions

888.445.2646

www.langokids.com/parent/kidslanguage-summer-camps

Club Sport

Fremont, San Ramon, Pleasanton and Walnut Creek 925.938.8700

www.clubsports.com

Camp Edmo

Alameda, Fremont, and Oakland 415.282.6673

www.campedmo.org

Kids’ Carpentry

Berkeley, Lafayette, Alameda, Oakland, Alamo & Walnut Creek 510.524.9232

www.kidscarpentry.com

TechKnowHow Kids

Dublin, Berkeley, Fremont, Livermore, Oakland & Pleasanton

650.638.0500

www.techknowhowkids.com

iD Tech Camp

Moraga, Concord, Livermore, Berkeley and other Bay Area locations

www.idtech.com

888.709.8324

Camps

Out of Area

Golden Arrow Camps 644 Pollasky Avenue, Ste. 100 Clovis, 93612

800.554.CAMP

www.goldarrowcamp.com

Coppercreek Camp 1887 Williams Valley Rd. Greenville, 95947 800.350.0006

www.coppercreek.com

Camp Unalayee

3921 East Bayshore Rd. Palo Alto 650.969.6313

www.unalayee-summer-camp.com

CYO Summer Camp 2136 Bohemian Hwy Occidental, 95465 707.874.0200

www.camp.cccyo.org

Mountain Camp Woodside 302 Portola Rd. Portola Valley 650.576.2267

www.mountaincampwoodside.com

Camp Tawonga

131 Steuart Ste. 460 San Francisco 415.543.2267

www.tawonga.org

SF Zoo Camp Sloat Blvd. & the Great Highway San Francisco 415.753.7080

www.sfzoo.org

Almaden Equestrian Center 20100 Almaden Rd. San Jose 408.927.0232

www.almadenequestriancenter.net

Silver Creek Sportsplex 800 Embedded Way San Jose 408.224.8774

www.gotoplex.com

College For Kids

1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd. San Mateo 650.574.6149

www.collegeforkids-smccd.com

School of Rock Summer Camp 711 South B St. San Mateo, San Jose & Palo Alto 650.347.3474

www.schoolofrock.com

Kennolyn Camps 8205 Glen Haven Rd. Soquel 831.479.6714

www.kennolyncamps.com