Cue Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out”; summer vacay beckons. Locally, that means parents should begin shopping summer camps for their progeny—whether the kiddos’ interest is robotics, goats or Shakespearean soliloquies, there’s a lanyard with that child’s name on it somewhere in Marin.
Steve & Kate’s Camp, Corte Madera
At Steve & Kate’s, structure takes a back seat to self-direction. Campers choose their activities minute by minute—sewing salon, media lab, stop-motion animation, bakery, coding, sports and the occasional pop-up carnival or water play day. The model is famously flexible: Families purchase day passes and use them whenever needed, with automatic refunds for unused days.
8am–6pm, Monday–Friday, June 15–Aug. 14; ages 4–12 (PreK–7th grade); The Cove School, 330 Golden Hind Passage, Corte Madera. 415.604.0078, co*********@**********te.com, steveandkatescamp.com.
Marin GreenPlay Camp, Mill Valley & Ross Valley
For kids who prefer mud on their shins and a magnifying glass in hand, Marin GreenPlay leans into creek walks, native plant projects, beach cleanups and citizen science challenges. Programs are tailored developmentally, from Watershed Warriors (incoming TK–2) to older campers exploring forest ecology and service learning.
9am–12pm (half day) or 9am–3pm (full day), weekly sessions July 6–Aug. 14. Ages 4+, multiple drop-off sites in Mill Valley and Ross Valley. maringreenplay.com/register2026.
Marinwood Summer Day Camps, San Rafael
A perennial favorite, Marinwood delivers nine weeks of themed day-camp energy—tie-dye, creek walks, dodgeball, waterslides and field trips for older campers—wrapped in a reassuringly traditional schedule.
9am–3pm, Monday–Friday, June 15–Aug. 14 (no camps on local holidays); ages 3–12; Marinwood Park, 775 Miller Creek Rd., San Rafael. Before care 8–9am; after care 3–5pm. marinwood.org.
Camp Galileo, Kentfield
STEAM takes center stage at Camp Galileo, where kids tackle design challenges, physics experiments and collaborative builds—then run outside to burn off the brainpower. Multiple age groups allow younger campers to focus on imaginative play while older students take on more complex engineering projects.
9am–3pm, June 15–July 24; before care 8–9am; after care 3–6pm; grades K–10; Marin Catholic High School, 675 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Kentfield. 628.246.2249. Details via campgalileo.com.
Slide Ranch Summer Camp, Muir Beach
Perched along the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Slide Ranch feels like stepping into a children’s book about coastal farm life. Campers milk goats, gather eggs, explore tidepools and harvest vegetables across 134 acres of working farm and wild shoreline.
9:30am–3pm (extended to 5pm), weekly sessions June–August; ages 5–12; 2025 Shoreline Hwy., Muir Beach. 415.381.6155. slideranch.org/summer-camp.
Gravity Vault Marin Climbing Camp, San Rafael
For kids with chalky hands and upward ambitions, Gravity Vault’s week-long climbing camps focus on technique, safety and confidence. Rope climbing and bouldering mix with yoga, games and teamwork challenges.
9am–3:30pm, June 15–Aug. 14; after care 3:30–5pm; ages 7–12 (Summer Rocks) and grades 6–8 (Middle School Rocks); 1910 Francisco Blvd. E., San Rafael. bit.ly/climb-camp.
Marin Shakespeare Company Summer Camps, San Rafael
Young performers can trade stage fright for stage presence through Marin Shakespeare’s creative drama camps. Half-day programs introduce ages 5–8 to storytelling and character play, while older campers and teens rehearse, refine and perform in longer intensives.
9am–12pm, weekly July 20–Aug. 7 (ages 5–8); Young Company and Teen Intensives 10am–3pm in July; 514 Fourth St., San Rafael. marinshakespeare.org/summer-camps
Marin County 4-H Overnight Camp, Fairfax
For a classic sleepaway experience, Marin 4-H’s week at Camp Tamarancho delivers archery, hiking, campfires and tribal games—the kind of unplugged rite of passage that smells faintly of pine needles and sunscreen.
Overnight, Sunday–Saturday, June 21–27; ages 9–14 (campers), 15–18 (youth staff); Camp Tamarancho, 775 Bolinas Rd., Fairfax. bit.ly/marin-4-h-camp.
San Domenico Summer Programs, San Anselmo
From art and film to athletics and STEM, San Domenico’s robust lineup spans dozens of themed weeks. Full-day sessions include swimming and optional extended care, with programming for ages 4 through 18.
9am–3:30pm, weekly blocks June 15–July 31; 1500 Butterfield Rd., San Anselmo. 415.258.1900. bit.ly/san-dom-camp.
As always in Marin, the hardest part may be choosing. Many programs fill by spring, and waitlists are as common as reusable water bottles (should be). The good news: Whether it’s goats, gravity or iambic pentameter, Summer 2026 offers a hundred ways to grow.
— Weeklys Staff
