What is City Camp?
City Camp takes children 6-12 on fun, fascinating field trips around the Bay Area to find out what makes cities special and develop skills to become successful urban explorers.

Why City Camp?
The future will be increasingly urban as more people populate cities and suburbs. Children need to develop skills to understand and enjoy the unique resources and opportunities cities offer - skills they do not learn at school nor by staying at home. At the same time, cities need kids - introducing children to urban life fosters a lifelong appreciation that can help urban areas become stronger, healthier, more attractive places to live. City Camp provides safe, positive urban experiences for children in a caring environment to help them develop urban skills and think about the city as a fun, exciting place.

Where is City Camp?
City Camp San Francisco meets at the San Francisco Ferry Building and City Camp East Bay meets at UC Berkeley.

When is City Camp?
Monday-Friday, 9 am-3 pm, Extended Hours 3-5pm. All sessions are 1 week long. Please see Sessions for exact dates and more information.

What does City Camp offer to kids?
The educational objectives of City Camp are to help children…

Participate in fun, positive urban activities such as visiting some of the landmarks that are linked with the identity of the city as well as going behind-the-scenes to see how cities work and what makes them special

Develop skills to negotiate the city, such as safely walking in busy areas, crossing streets, reading maps and signs, and referring to familiar sites for orientation

Gain both experience and confidence using multiple forms of public transportation, including trains, buses, streetcars, cable cars, and ferries

Enjoy and appreciate the human health benefits of exploring cities through walking and regular physical activity

Meet diverse urban citizens such as Mayors, government workers, business owners, artists, and residents of various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds

Appreciate the geographical setting of the city by visiting some local natural areas, such as parks, mountains, lakes, rivers

Discover some of the free resources available to urban citizens like libraries, concerts, parades, festivals, street fairs, and galleries

Understand the fabric of the city and components of neighborhoods and districts, what makes a city, how different zones are used, elements of a neighborhood

Become aware of the concentration of educational institutions that a city offers, such as major universities and colleges

Recognize the infrastructure required to maintain the function of a city, by visiting the police station, the fire station, the post office, the solid waste management center, and the centers for power, water, and communications systems

Identify the potential ecological benefits of cities: water conservation, public transit/air quality, habitat protection, agricultural preservation

What are some of the places City Camp visits?
City Camp takes trips to fun destinations chosen for their educational value and the important roles they play in the urban environment. City Campers walk and take BART, buses, streetcars, cable cars and ferries to visit exciting places in the Bay Area, such as…

Berkeley: Berkeley City Hall, The University of California campus, Berkeley Public Library, Berkeley Fire Department, Berkeley Botanical Gardens, Whole Foods Market

Oakland: The Oakland Museum of California, Oakland A’s baseball games, Oakland Farmer’s Market, The SPCA, Jack London Square, Old Oakland, EBMUD headquarters, Fenton's ice cream factory

San Francisco: The Ferry Terminal and market, Hyde Street Pier, Museum of Modern Art, Yerba Buena Gardens, North Beach, Chinatown, California Academy of Sciences, Wells Fargo Museum, The Mission District, The Financial District, SBC Park, Golden Gate Park, Golden Gate Bridge, Fire Department Museum

There are too many fun and interesting places to visit in just one week, so each City Camp session offers a unique combination of trips and activities.

What is a typical day at City Camp?

9 am Camp opens – City Campers do group games, activities, prepare for field trip
9:30 Leave for a field trip – Walk, take BART, or the bus
11:00 Lunchtime!
1:30 Snack and return
2:55 Arrive at pick-up location
3 pm Regular camp ends – Extended care City Campers do art activities, play games, visit nearby places
5 pm Extended care ends

How old are City Campers?
City Campers are kids 6-12 years old. The youngest City Campers must have completed one year of Kindergarten, and students who have entered the seventh grade would be considered too old for City Camp. If you are looking for opportunities for older kids, please consider the City Camp Jr. Counselor Training program.

Does City Camp have a CIT or Jr. Counselor Program?
The City Camp Jr. Counselor Training program is for youth ages 15-18 (students entering grades 10-12) who would like to gain experience working with younger children in the City Camp setting. Participants are involved in all aspects of City Camp just like regular staff members and receive training, supervision, and both formal and informal feedback to help them develop skills needed as educational professionals. A limited number of positions in this program are available during each summer session of City Camp. To apply, please email info@citycamp.net or call 510.847.7123 to request an application and schedule an interview. Once accepted into the program, the cost of participation is $199 per session.

Do all City Campers do the same things?
All City Campers visit the same places and enjoy similar experiences, but they are organized into small groups based on age. Within each group they follow a specially designed curriculum appropriate for their developmental and physical energy levels. Naturally, older City Campers function at a more active pace and are able to comprehend more complex concepts than younger City Campers, who will learn basic ideas and rest at various times of the day. City Camp recognizes these differences, and customizes programs for each age group to best fit the group’s abilities.

How safe is City Camp?
Building children’s skills to safely experience the urban environment is City Camp’s top priority. Small, age-based groups with average camper to counselor ratios of 7 to 1 ensure excellent supervision and care. The use of the Buddy System and other City Camp techniques reduce the risks of exploring the world. City Camp has adopted the national Kids Walk-to-School program strategies developed by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion to teach and practice pedestrian safety. City Campers will also learn how to care for themselves by dressing comfortably, wearing sunscreen, staying hydrated, and resting when necessary to best enjoy the excitement of the city.

What if a City Camper gets sick or injured?
City Camper emergency contact information is available to staff at all times. In case of sickness or injury, a parent and other appropriate people are contacted immediately.

What do City Campers eat?
City Campers must bring their lunch to camp every day. In addition, City Camp provides a daily snack and drink.

What should City Campers wear?
City Campers should dress in layers, prepared for unpredictable Bay Area summers, wearing comfortable clothes and walking shoes. City Campers should always wear their City Camp caps. Occasionally, City Camp may have a Dress Up Day to experience the glamour and sophistication of the city. On such days, City Campers will be expected to dress appropriately for the occasion.

Do City Campers get T shirts?
ALL City Campers will receive very cool T shirts and City Camp caps on the first day of camp!

What should City Campers bring to camp?
City Campers should bring their lunch, including a drink, their City Camp caps, and extra clothes in their backpack. They will not need any money at City Camp except on special occasions, and they should not bring any valuables to camp at any time. City Camp does not allow toys, personal stereos, video games, cell phones, or pagers.

How much does City Camp cost?
City Camp is $309 for regular hours from 9 am-3 pm and $90 for afternoon extended care (3-5 pm).

Does City Camp have scholarships available?
Low-Income scholarships are available: click here for an application or email info@citycamp.net or call 510.847.7123 to inquire. See below for discounts for siblings and multi-sessions.

Are there any discounts?
Sibling discounts: $10 off each additional sibling
Multi-session discounts: $10 off each additional session

Are there any extra costs?
The tuition fees include ALL of City Camp - the places we visit, the fun things we do, transportation, snack - even your City Camp T shirt and cap! The only extra cost to a City Camp family would be the penalty charge for picking up a camper more than 10 minutes late ($10 for each 10 minute period).

How do City Campers sign up?
Just go to Register Now!

What is the TAX ID for City Camp?
The TAX ID is EIN 87-0722845 and the mailing address is
1429 Oxford St.
Berkeley, CA
94709

More questions? See Sessions, Staff or Directions.