These camps were voted the Best Special Interest Camps in the Bay Area in Bay Area Parent’s 2023 Best of the Best reader poll. Read the full list of winners here.
Silicon Valley
Gold: Silver Creek Academy. It offers academic camps focusing on reading, writing, math, public speaking, leadership and more. San Jose. scaasanjose.com/summer-academic-camps.
Silver: The Music Place. Multiple locations. musicplace.com.
Bronze: Children’s Musical Theater San Jose. San Jose. cmtsj.org.
Peninsula
Gold: Pied Piper Players. Students are coached by theater professionals, develop teamwork and creativity, and gain confidence and skills as they work together to put on a showcase performance at the end of their session. Burlingame. piedpiperplayers.org.
Silver: San Carlos Children’s Theater. San Carlos. sancarloschildrenstheater.com.
Bronze: California Kung Fu & Tai Chi Institute. Redwood City. wushutaichi.com.
San Francisco/Marin
Gold: Slide Ranch. Campers care for farm animals and an organic garden, hike, explore tide pools, learn about ecosystems, enjoy farm fresh food and more. Muir Beach. slideranch.org.
Silver: ARTifact. San Francisco. sfartifact.com.
Bronze: Terra Marin Outdoor Nature & Language Immersion Camp. Multiple locations in Marin County. terramarin.org/camps.
East Bay
Gold: Lareen Fender The Ballet School Performing Arts. Summer programs include dance camps, Young Actors Studio and ballet intensives. Walnut Creek. theballetschool.org.
Silver: UpSwing Aerial Dance Company. Berkeley. upswingaerialdance.org.
Bronze: Viva el Español. Lafayette. Vivaelespanol.org.