Summer Day Camp at Live Oak park?

Jan 2015

We're considering the cost & convenience of the summer day camp at Live Oak Park, but unfortunately there aren't many recent reviews. What do folks think of it? We're concerned our 6.5 yo son will be bored with the activities compared to Camp Galileo (last year at Cragmont). But we're hoping he also might meet kids from our neighborhood (while saving ~$1,000/mo on fees!) Camp curious

My kids went to this camp many years ago but I still remember it well. You know the saying '' you get what you pay for?'' Well it is totally accurate for this camp. Staff arrived late some days, seemed disinterested in the kids, and my daughter said she felt all they did was march from place to place all day! We tried the Cal sports camp later and the kids raved about it--even my non athletic kid. I hope things have improved at the City of Berkeley camp but if it is like it was when my kids went there, I would try to find another spot. anon

Techsplosion Lego Solar Engineering Camp at Live Oak

Jan 2012

My daughter did this Green Machine Lego Solar Engineering Camp during the December school break at Berkeley's Live Oak Rec Center. I can't say enough good things about it and the instructor Shumit DasGupta. The projects were challenging and fun. My daughter was the youngest (age 6) and the only girl in a class of boys in the 9-10 year old range, but this wasn't a problem. The instructor did a great job of getting kids to work together and he provided each child with challenges appropriate to his/her own level. Some kids had a lot of engineering experience, others had none but they all seemed to learn and enjoy themselves. This camp will be given again during the week of Berkeley Schools' Spring Break. If you have a child with an interest in science or inventing, I highly recommend it. I understand Techsplosion also offers Robotics and Rocketry camps and after school programs for a slightly older age group, though I don't know when/where these will be offered next. I hope to get my daughter's school onboard for the after school programs. cheryl

Tilden Park camp vs Live Oak Park camp

April 2008

I just realized that the city of Berkeley offers a day camp that goes to Tilden and the Marina and another camp at the Live Oak Community Center. Does anyone have experience with one or both of these camps? Would love to hear about your experience. Thanks. Cindy

My son (8 years old) went to Berkeley Day camp the last two summers, and to the Live Oak camp this past winter break for three days. The Live Oak camp included several disabled children and they had minimal activities. They were scheduled to do some outdoor activities, but it rained so they stayed in and watched movies all day. I wouldn't send my child back - it wasn't a good fit. Berkeley Day camp is great, lots of running around in the forest, good counselors, devoted staff. Whole different thing. anon

After-school program at Live Oak Park

1998

I'm glad that at least one parent has had such a good experience with the City of Berkeley's afterschool program (at Willard), but here's another view... My experience with the program at Live Oak Park is that while this program is almost free, it may be one of those cases in which you get what you pay for. My kids, who are not exactly sheltered prudes, found it pretty rough -- many of the kids in the program appear to come from families where it is acceptable to use rude, insulting and/or vulgar language and to tease and sometimes threaten others, and that behavior is pretty much unchecked (unobserved?) by program staff. The staff-to-child ratio is not great, and they often resort to dumping the kids in front of a TV. On occasion they have botched even this, and shown something PG-13 by mistake. On most days there is a room (sometimes quiet, sometimes not) to do homework in, but there's little staff or peer support for kids who choose to use it, and very few kids do.

In terms of getting in, if you have an extraordinarily focussed or resilient kid: I showed up at 5:30AM on the designated day and was 10th or 15th in line; some parents *did* spend the night in the park to be first in line. The registration process is phenomenally slow, inefficient and frustrating, so no matter what time you come, it's going to take you 6 or so hours in line. Bring a *thick* book.

I just had to put my two cents in after reading about the Berkeley Park's after school programs.

I used to bring my little one to Live Oak Park to play in the tot lot there. I was astounded at the low quality of the after-school 'program' going on around me. Unsupervised children running everywhere, NO adult guidance once they were outside, just a whirlwind of chaos. Seriously, half of the children could walk off the park grounds and it would never be noticed until the end of the day. I only saw one adult even relating to the children and he was always yelling. He didn't speak - he yelled. Every sentence.

I always wanted to slip notes into the pockets of all the children telling their parents to get them out of that program. Marian