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PALO ALTO, CA

Palo Alto Summer Camp

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Here, we put kids in charge.

Preposterous? Possibly. Effective? You betcha.

When you trust kids, they trust themselves. For 44 years, we’ve put kids in charge of their own learning experience. As they try, fail, and learn on their own, they learn to trust their own judgment, and tackle the challenges of an ever changing world with creativity and confidence.

Campers choose minute to minute from a variety of activities. They’ll decide what they want to do, and for how long. Our job is to get out of their way, cheerlead creative risks, and provide just enough guidance to make sure nobody does anything totally* senseless.

*Totally senseless: By our definition, mistakes aren’t senseless. They’re how you learn.

Buy any number of days. Use them any time. Get refunds for unused days.

You can buy a Day Pass here and 22 there, or go for the whole shebang with a Summer Pass. You don’t even have to tell us when you’re going to show up (or pretend like you know when you’re going to show up). If you have unused passes left over, we’ll automatically refund them in full at summer’s end.

Lunch, snacks, and all hours, 8am–6pm, included.

Camp Details

DATES

Jun 10 - Aug 9

NOTES

Closed on 7/4

HOURS

8:00 am - 6:00 pm

AGES

4-12 | We also offer a Mentorship Program for ages 14-15

ADDRESS

Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School
450 San Antonio Road
Palo Alto, CA 94306

DIRECTOR

Shannon

CALL/TEXT

650-265-4152

Activities for Every Interest

In the early morning and late afternoon, campers ramp up and wind down with recreational choices. For the bulk of the day, children will choose from the activities listed below. While we can’t say exactly what the day will look like, one thing is for sure: The campers are in control.

STOP-MOTION ANIMATION

Kids bring their stories to life in the Media Lab, as they create stop-motion “shorts” filmed on our custom-built animation stages designed to frame sets perfectly.
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SEWING SALON

Campers of all ages design their own clothing & adornments using customized patterns & challenges. They’ll make items like bags, clothing, & accessories through a mix of hand & machine sewing.
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CODING

Learn hands-on coding concepts on time-controlled iPads in the Media Lab. Our curated apps utilize drag-and-drop platforms to cater to early & advanced readers, while gamifying the learning process to entice new users.
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THE STAGE

Enjoy motion-based games like Switch & Just Dance, plus new karaoke systems, back drops, & party props. Whether it’s expressing themselves through song & dance, or acting out a play, if they can dream it, they can do it!
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ROBOTICS

Within the Media Lab, campers have access to the latest in robotic equipment to promote learning & problem-solving. This space has both guided activities & self-directed games & tools like robot landscapes & custom mazes.
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BAKERY

A beloved space where baking enthusiasts & taste-testers unite to experiment with recipes. Choosing from a variety of fillings, spices, & add-ons, campers explore new flavors or customize creations to suit their individual tastes.
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TINKER LAB

Explore creativity through crafts, inventor kits, & even 3D pens, to construct take-home projects or collaborate on large-scale builds. Our hand-selected STEAM-based materials are designed to foster curiosity & exploration.
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S&K TRADITIONS

Our 43+ year-long camp traditions continue, with games such as Finding Chuckie (a beloved, mini rubber chicken) & Friday Pieday–where campers & staff celebrate the end of the week with a whipped cream pie to the face!
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SPORTS & REC

Each site is filled with a core set of athletic equipment that utilizes & complements the unique spaces & interests of its campers. Kids & staff band together to exercise, play sports, design games & obstacle courses, & more!
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WEEKLY SPECIALS

Each day, campers delight in a unique, show-stopping special activity. These could include movement classes, workshops, performances, local speakers, or more! Summer 2024 activities coming this spring.
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WATER PLAY

Games and activities like water tag, inflatable slip n’ slides, & giant sprinklers make for unforgettable water-adventures on hot summer days (space and local water restrictions permitting).
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LOUNGE

A communal place to socialize & play with a wonderland of indoor games like foosball & marble mazes. In our quiet corner, campers unplug with sensory objects, puzzles, fidget toys, & a library of books for all ages.

Testimonials From Our Summer Camp in Palo Alto

We are truly pleased with Steve & Kate's Camp. It's the kind of camp I would have enjoyed going to as a kid; but back then, we got to be kids. We love everything it has to offer and [our son] looks forward to going everyday! I only have great things to say about the camp and how it is arranged/structured. Steve & Kate's Camp is a great fit for our family!
Nichole W.

(S&K parent)

Want to see more reviews or add your own kudos? Check us out on Google, Yelp, or Facebook!

My kids love Steve and Kate's; they make strong friendships, they are able to feel the self efficacy of creation, and they learn more about what they enjoy doing when they have autonomy. [The director] always knew about everything that was going on with each camper and facilitated the camp experience to make sure that the students' voices were first and foremost. When my kids got out of the car each morning, they couldn't stop themselves from running to start their day at camp!
Jody

(S&K parent)

Want to see more reviews or add your own kudos? Check us out on Google, Yelp, or Facebook!

Fees

Maybe you’re the type who likes to plan ahead. Maybe you’re not. Either way, we’ve structured our fees to work around your calendar–whether you’re making it up on the fly or trying to crack the color code of a multi-tab Excel spreadsheet.

 

Buy any number of Day Passes or a Summer Pass, and use them whenever you’d like during the summer. You don’t even need to let us know when you plan to join–just show up! If for any reason your plans change, we’ll automatically refund your unused Passes in-full at summer’s end. We also offer need-based financial aid to qualifying families. Learn more or submit an application, here.

All fees include lunch, snacks and all hours 8:00am to 6:00pm.

Includes: Lunch, snacks, activities, and all hours, 8am–6pm

  • Buy any number of Day Passes and use them anytime
  • Upgrade to a Summer Pass at any time by purchasing 30 Day Passes per a given child
  • Unused Day Passes are automatically refunded in mid September

Includes: Lunch, snacks, activities, and all hours, 8am–6pm

  • One fee covers the entire summer–that’s up to 44 days of camp in Palo Alto!
  • If you purchase a Summer Pass and use less than 30 days of camp, we’ll calculate what you would have paid at the Day Pass rate and refund you the difference automatically in mid September

STAFF

Tireless child advocates, who balance structure and guidance with staying out of campers’ ways. All staff members are background checked and trained in CPR & first-aid.

FOOD

We provide daily lunch options from a rotating variety of local restaurants and caterers. We’ll also offer an array of snacks for kids to nosh on throughout the day. Check out the daily menu below.

Mentorship Program

This camp location also participates in a Mentorship Program (or junior counselor program) for teens who might want to work at camp some day or who just aren’t quite ready to give up that sweet camper life. This program guides children ages 14-15 through camp experiences aimed to develop their leadership skills, all while honoring our approach to self-directed learning. Learn more, here

 

Details About Camp in Palo Alto

Mentorship Program


We’re excited to offer our Mentorship Program at this camp location for Summer 2024!

Intended exclusively for children ages 14-15, our Mentorship Program is an experience where participants can get a taste of what it’s like to be a counselor and develop leadership skills, while upholding our self-directed philosophy.

With the supervision of Steve & Kate’s staff, Mentees (our program participants) will help facilitate camp activities, engage with campers, and help encourage camper connection and participation. The program utilizes self-directed learning to support Mentees in their development into young adults ready to take on more responsibilities.

Mentorship Rates:

Mentorship Day Pass Rate: $90
Mentorship Summer Pass Rate: $2,700
Returning Mentees: $0

Per usual, any unused Mentorship Day Passes will be automatically refunded in full at summer’s end. If you purchase a Mentorship Summer Pass and end up using less than 30 days of camp, then we’ll calculate what you would have paid at the daily rate and refund you the difference automatically.

Mentorship Application

To participate in the Mentorship Program, please submit an application here. Please note that Mentees must attend the camp location they apply for. Once approved, your local director will email you with instructions for completing registration. If you have any questions, please reach out to your local director.

Virtual Camp Orientation & Drop-off/Pick-Up Procedures

Check out our virtual camp orientation for everything you need to know before your first day of camp, coming this spring. Once we get closer to summer, we’ll email registered families a link to our virtual, camp orientation. This will provide important information such as camp drop-off & pick-up procedures, how to check-in and check-out of camp each day, what to bring (and not bring), and a few more camp details.

Daily Menu

VG= Vegetarian , VV= Vegan , GF = Gluten Free , DF = Dairy Free , SF = Soy Free , EF = Egg Free

*No food items provided by camp contain nuts or nut products. However, some products may have been packaged or prepared in a facility that has nut products and may be labeled “may contain nuts”.

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WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
DAILY SNACKS

Steve & Kate's Events

Join us at an upcoming virtual Information Session to learn all the camp basics. We’ll give a quick presentation and overview on our program, and then answer any questions you have. Please note that Information Sessions are open to all Steve & Kate’s Camps, and are not specific to any given location. All Information Sessions are listed in ET.

Local Events

Contact Your Local Director

Our directors work year-round and would love to help you learn more about our program and at the same time learn more about you and your camper. Get in touch with your local director:

Shannon K

SHANNON

She/Her

This is Shannon’s 3rd summer directing at Steve & Kate’s Camp, but her 4th year working with us! Shannon loves all kinds of art making, especially multi-media and recycled art, and can regularly be found exploring parks or trails near Capitola.

This summer Shannon is looking forward to incorporating some of her love of art into camp, and hopes to make some camp-wide projects!

Best-of-Marin-Hall-of-Fame-flooring-400b3456 (1) Top 6 Summer Camps in North America Boston Parents Paper Family Favorite Make it Better 2018 Best Of san gabriel valley

AND DOZENS MORE!

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