With the choice and variety of summer camps available in 2013, boredom won't be an option. Organizations, from the YMCA to your local parks and recreation department, offer dozens of camp choices for science, reading, sports, music and more. Whether you're looking for an all-around experience or a more focused camp, this list features a few in your town and nearby.
Union City
Location: Union City
Name: Union City's Early Bird Summer Camp Sign-Up Night.
Type of camp: Outdoor fun and field trips preview.
Cost: To be announced.
Where: Holly Community Center, 31600 Alvarado Blvd., Union City.
When: March 20, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Registration: View www.UnionCity.org.
Details: Parent preview and early sign-up opportunity for kids' weekly camps, that include outdoor activities, field trips, sports, specialized interests.
For more information: (510) 675-5488.
Fremont
Location: Fremont
Name: Tule Ponds at Tyson Lagoon 2013 Day Camps
Type of camp: Nature, artifacts, wetlands, animals for ages 6 to 14. (Age groups vary by week.)
Cost: Per week for members $270 ($310 after June 5); non-members $310/ after June 5 $340.
Where: Tule Ponds at Tyson Lagoon Wetland Center, 1999 Walnut Ave. (Behind Fremont BART station.)
When: Weekly camps June 17 to Aug. 16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Before/after care is extra.
Registration: Info at Math/Science Nucleus Organization.
Details: Camps cater to age groups and topics. See web site for week-by-week details.
For more information: (510) 790-6284 or email msn@msnucleus.org
Location: Fremont
Name: City of Fremont Summer Camps 2013
Type of camp: For pre-K to teens; camp options to be announced early March.
Cost: To be announced.
Where: Varies by camp.
When: Weekly through summer.
Deadline for registration: Registration online through city web site.
Details: Camp offerings to include sports, arts, special interests. Activities brochure will be online here.
For more information: (510) 494-4300.
Location: Fremont
Name: Euro School of Tennis 2013 Summer Camp
Type of camp: Tennis for ages 6 to 14.
Cost: $180 per week with early-bird, sibling, multiple-week discounts. (July 1-5 is $144.)
Where: Glenmoor Tennis Center, 38350 Alta Drive, Fremont.
When: Weekly sessions, June 24 to Aug. 23.
Registration: underway.
Details: Coaches focus on tennis skills, etiquette, safety, all levels.
For more information: (510) 491-3007
Location: Fremont
Name: Camp Galileo: Fremont Mission.
Type of camp: Weekly themed day camp (such as space and safari) for pre-K through grade 5.
Cost: $369 per week, with multiple-week discounts.
Where: Gomes Elementary School, 555 Lemos Lane.
When: June 24 to Aug. 16, Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Extended care available.
Registration: underway here.
Details: Art projects, science challenges, outdoor activities.
For more information: Galileo Innovation Camps For Kids at 1-800-854-3684.
Location: Fremont
Name: Camp Galileo: Fremont Ardenwood.
Type of camp: Weekly themed day camp (such as space and safari) for pre-K through grade 5.
Cost: $369 per week, with multiple-week discounts.
Where: Ardenwood Elementary School, 33955 Emilia Lane.
When: June 24 to Aug. 2, Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Extended care available.
Registration: underway here.
Details: Art projects, science challenges, outdoor activities.
For more information: Galileo Innovation Camps For Kids at 1-800-854-3684.
Location: Fremont
Name: Children's Natural History Musuem
Type of camp: Bones, fossils, science, space for ages 6 to 11. (Age groups vary by week.)
Cost: Per week for members $135 ($155 after June 5); non-members $155/ after June 5 $175.
Where: Children's Natural History Museum, 4074 Eggers Drive.
When: Weekly camps June 17 to Aug. 16, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Before/after care is extra.
Registration: Info at Math/Science Nucleus Organization.
Details: The three-hour camps cater to age groups and topics. See web site for week-by-week details.
For more information: (510) 790-6284 or email msn@msnucleus.org
Location: Fremont
Name: Around The World Camp
Type of camp: For ages 7 to 12- culture, art, cooking, history.
Cost: $165 - residents; non-residents $170.
Where: Olive Hyde Art Center.
When: July 22 to 26, 9 a.m. to noon; Aug. 19 to 23, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Registration: underway at city web site.
Details: A new camp on culture, arts, and a colorful understanding of multicultural societies. Plus hands-on cooking projects.
For more information: (510) 494-4300.
Location: Fremont
Name: Fremont/Newark YMCA Day Camps
Type of camp: For grades 1 to 8 -- summer agenda expected early March on the Y's web site.
When: Weekly June 24 to Aug. 23.
For more information: (510) 657-5200.
Newark
Location: Newark
Name: City of Newark Summer 2013
Type of camp: Variety for youngsters; camps coming soon on city web site.
Cost: To be announced.
Where: To be announced.
When: Weekly through summer.
Registration: online through city web site.
Details: Camp offerings to include sports, arts, special interests. Activities brochure will be online here.
For more information: (510) 578-4620.
Castro Valley
Location: Castro Valley.
Name: Spectrum Of Science: Science Returns!
Type of camp: Hands-on, kid-friendly science curriculum.
Cost: $631 for five-week session. (Weekly registration available.)
Where: Independent Elementary School, Castro Valley.
When: June 24 to July 28, 8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Registration: Underway, view details here.
Details: Fun, interactive study of chemistry, oceans, race cars and rockets.
For more information call: (925) 820-2415.
Location: Castro Valley
Name: 24-7 UK Soccer Academy Summer 2013.
Type of camp: Half-day and full-day soccer for youth 6 to 14.
Cost: Per week: $119 half-days (8:30 a.m. to noon); $169 full days (8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
Where: Canyon Middle School, 19600 Cull Canyon Road.
When: Five sessions: June 17 to 21; July 15 to 19; July 29 to Aug. 2; Aug. 12 to 16; Aug. 19 to 23.
Registration: Sign-ups underway online; 10 percent off enrollments four weeks before camp start.
Details: Fun-theme days, like wacky-hair day, plus soccer instruction and games.
For more information: (510) 861-3916 or email info@24-7uksocceracademy.com.
Location: Sunol
Name: Sunol Valley Golf Club Junior Camp.
Type of camp: four-day golf camps-- full-days for intermediate and advanced players, half-days for beginners and intermediates.
Cost: $295 full-day; $195 half-day.
Where: Sunol Valley Golf Club, 6900 Mission Road.
When: Full-day camps 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 25 to 28 and Aug. 6 to 9; half-days 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on June 18 to 21 and July 16 to 19.
Registration: underway here.
Details: Golf instruction and play with a 6:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
For more information, call: Head golf pro Dane Olah at (925) 862-0414.
San Leandro
Location: San Leandro
Name: Nike Golf Camps
Type of camp: Golf for boys and girls, ages 7 to 16.
Cost: Weekly rates -- full-day $425; half-day $239.
Where: Monarch Bay Golf Club, 13800 Monarch Bay Drive, San Leandro.
When: Weekly sessions June 17 to Aug. 23.
Registration: Online registration underway here.
Details: Small-group instruction from PGA pros for kids of all abilities. Includes lessons, course play, hat, balls, workbook, prizes.
For more information: 1-800-NIKE CAMP.
Location: San Leandro
Name: Boys & Girls Club San Leandro Summer Program
Type of camp: Sports, arts, crafts, academic enrichment, field trips for all ages.
Cost: To be announced.
Where: Marina Site, 401 Marina Blvd., San Leandro. (No summer program planned this year at Hillside Elementary School.)
When: To be announced.
Registration: materials to be available April 1.
Details: Summer camp details will be released April 1.
For more information: (510) 483-5581.
Location: San Leandro
Name: City of San Leandro Summer Camps 2013
Type of camp: Pre-K to teen, half-day and full-day swim, pottery, basketball, cooking, volleyball, soccer, flag football and more.
Cost: Varies from $83 to $215 per week depending on camp selection.
Where: Washington Manor Park and other city locales.
When: Runs weekly from June 17 to Aug. 16.
Registration: Online registration underway through city web site.
Details: Summer camps include field trips, sports, arts, special interests, and are listed in city's Spring Activities Guide.
For more information: (510) 577-3642.
Elsewhere in East Bay
Location: Pleasanton/Livermore (Shadow Cliffs); Berkeley (Lake Anza); Castro Valley (Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Center); Antioch (Contra Loma); Oakland (Lake Temescal).
Name: Junior Lifeguards East Bay Parks
Type of camp: Water safety, CPR, rescue, first aid for ages 8 to 13.
Cost: $125 for half-day sessions, either 9 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for Alameda County and Contra Costa County residents.
Where: Varies by city.
When: Pleasanton/Livermore July 8 to Aug. 16; Antioch June 17 to July 19; all other locales June 17 to Aug. 16.
Registration: underway. Details here.
Details: Week-long sessions of core lifeguard curriculum sponsored by East Bay Regional Park District.
For more information call: 1-888-EB-PARKS (1-888-327-2757) Option 2.
Location: Berkeley
Name: Tilden Nature Day Camps for ages 8 to 15.
Type of camp: Three camps: Camp of the Wild for ages 9 to 12; Little Farm Camp ages 8 to 11; Advanced Little Farm Camp, ages 12 to 15.
Cost: $200 to $250 per weekly sessions for residents,varies by selection. (For non-residents, fees are higher.)
Where: Tilden Nature Area north of Tilden Regional Park.
When: Weekly sessions July 1 to Aug. 2-- varies by particular camp. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details here.Registration: underway.
Details: East Bay Regional Park District offerings of outdoor cooking, animals, nature, plants, gardening. Curriculum varies by camp choice/age group.
For more information call: 1-888-327-2757 (option 2, then 3).
Location: Oakland
Name: Oakland Zoo Camps for 2013.
Type of camp: Science and nature for pre-K through high school.
Cost: Ranges by camp from $196 to $316 for members; $216 to $336 for non-members.
Where: Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland.
When: Various sessions June 17 through Aug.16.
Registration: Member registration begins March 11; non-members March 18.
Details: Numerous offerings. Age-appropriate outdoor activities and animal discovery.
For more information: ZooCamp Hotline (510) 632-9525 x280 or email Summer Camp Registrar.
Location: Dublin
Name: East Bay SPCA Animal Camp for grades 1 through 8.
Type of camp: Pet care, games, crafts, interaction, and training exercises for older campers.
Cost: $375/week, full day 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; $200 for younger kids' half-day camps.
Where: Dublin Adoption and Education Center, 4651 Gleason Drive, Dublin.
When: Grades 1 to 3- full-day June 17-21 and July 22-26, half-day July 8-12; grades 4 to 5- full day June 24-28, July 15-19, July 29-Aug.2; grades 6 to 8- Aug.5-9 or Aug.12-16.
Registration: Online now, view here.
Details: Hands-on pup and kitty fun with facility animals at not-for-profit East Bay SPCA.
For more information: email education@eastbayspca.org.
If you know of other summer camps in your area, please share them with us in the comments below.
