The 2026 season has wrapped, so this is the shortlist for next year: city rec programs, specialty camps, sports academies, arts programs, and STEM weeks across the South Bay. Every listing still links to the operator's own page, which is where new dates and registration go up first.
Broad programs with clear dates and reliable registration links. Shortlist these first when next summer's schedules go up.
San Jose's flagship city day-camp program. Kids rotate through parks across the city for field trips, games, arts and crafts, and outdoor activities each week.
WhereHamman Park · Alviso Adobe Park
Zoo-based day camp with live animal encounters, behind-the-scenes tours, and STEAM activities. Four age bands — Little Critters, Juniors, Cadets, and Counselors-In-Training.
WhereHappy Hollow Park & Zoo, 1300 Senter Rd, San Jose
$395/wk non-member · $355.50/wk member (code HHMEM) · 75%-off scholarships
All-day camp at Y sites across the South Bay. Swimming, sports, arts, and field trips. Financial assistance available through the Y's scholarship program.
WhereCentral YMCA (San Jose) · East Valley YMCA (San Jose)
Quest core camp (ages 6–8): $414 member / $452 community · Little Campsters $752–$832 · Specialty weeks $522–$1,058 · Financial assistance at ymcasv.org/financial-assistance
Use one or two filters when you need them. Otherwise the directory stays out of your way.
Days on a working organic farm and wilderness preserve in the Los Altos Hills. Kids care for animals, harvest vegetables, explore creek trails, and learn from naturalists. One of the most beloved camp programs in the region — reserve early.
WhereHidden Villa, Los Altos Hills (22870 Moody Rd)
Sliding-scale pricing — no family turned away for financial reasons.
Project-based camp where kids design, build, and invent. Each week has a theme — robotics, fashion design, art & tech, outdoor adventure, and more. One of the Bay Area's most popular camp programs.
WhereBooksin Elementary (San Jose) · Cherry Chase Elementary (Sunnyvale)
Inaugural STEM camp inside The Tech Interactive — weekly themes, after-hours exhibit access, and an IMAX Dome film each session. Rising grades 3–6.
WhereThe Tech Interactive, 201 S. Market St., San Jose
$700/wk · Member 10% off · Multi-week $50 off · Extended care $50 AM / $100 PM.
The Bay Area's largest youth musical-theater summer program, no auditions required. Kids rotate through voice, acting, and dance, culminating in a themed final performance.
WhereCMT Creative Arts Center (1545 Parkmoor Ave, San Jose) · Holy Family School (4850 Pearl Ave)
Junior Talents/Rising Stars (gr 1–8) $765–$840 depending on field trip and registration window · Tiny Tots (TK–K) $530–$580 · 10% sibling discount · scholarships available.
Free wildlife day camp — a tradition since 1980. Hikes, crafts, and ranger-led presentations on Bay wildlife. Bus transport offered from Alviso for South Bay families.
WhereDon Edwards SF Bay NWR HQ, 1 Marshlands Rd, Fremont
FREE — application required.
Campbell Recreation's core summer program at John D. Morgan Park — arts, games, and sports in half-day or full-day formats. Sports and enrichment specialty camps also run under the same catalog.
WhereJohn D. Morgan Park · Campbell Community Center
2026 Rec1 catalog: Day Camp Teeter Totters (ages 2.5–5.5) $157/wk · full-day camps and specialty sessions observed $215–$512/wk (median $350).
City of Cupertino's big umbrella camp catalog — culinary, visual art, dance, music, STEM, nature, and sports tracks across 10 weeks.
Sports track via Lifetime Activities (2026 schedule): All-day tennis/basketball/chess/pickleball $599 resident · half-day $369 · Little Ballers (ages 4–6) $263. Other tracks (art, STEM, nature) vary — check the cupertino.gov catalog.
Week-long string-ensemble camp from the California Youth Symphony. Morning instruction, afternoon ensemble rehearsals, end-of-week concert. All skill levels welcome — no audition.
WhereMonta Vista High School, Cupertino
Youth enrichment academy at De Anza College for middle and high schoolers (grades 5–12). Rotating topics — creative writing, chess, Spanish, math, science, computing. Affordable, credible, on a real college campus.
WhereDe Anza College campus, Cupertino
2026 tuition via the Augusoft portal (deanza.augusoft.net) or 408-864-8817.
Nature-based city camps at Redwood Grove Nature Preserve — hikes, animal presentations, archery, gardening, and crafts. Staff ratios 1:6 to 1:8. Age-appropriate sub-programs include Redwood Grove Adventurers.
WhereRedwood Grove Nature Preserve, Los Altos
2026 Redwood Grove sessions observed at $198–$300/wk in the Los Altos Rec1 catalog.
