I have always loved living with my family in the Marina District, but it was only last year that I realized how fortunate we are to have a huge variety of summer camps within walking distance. I can send my kids to a different camp every week this summer, and never have to drive them there! Many of the features that make the Marina a great place to live – museums, the Presidio, the Bay, Crissy Field, Fort Mason Center – also allow for a wonderful diversity of summer camps within a short distance. Your kids can climb, cycle, hike, sail, dance, swim, explore, experiment, play hoops, and more, all without needing to commute across the City, let alone a bridge.

Here is a short list of local camps to check out, but there are many more. Take a look at www.signupforcamp.com, the summer camp planning website, for more information about these and hundreds of other camps. (Prices listed below are per week, but times vary
by camp.)

The Marina

• Wheel Kids Bicycle Club: Daily bike rides on the San Francisco waterfront, weekly field trips within the greater Bay Area, cycling skills clinics, bicycle maintenance instruction, and more. $320–$375, Fort Mason, www.wheelkids.com, 415-203-2727

• Exploratorium Summer Day Camp: Get an insider’s view of the museum’s exhibits and then spend the day doing hands-on activities related to science, art, and human perception. $365, 3601 Lyon Street, www.exploratorium.edu, 415-561-0376

• Destination Science: Kids 5–11 increase their science confidence while building robots, launching rockets, busting myths, and solving mysteries. $359, Fort Mason,
www.destinationscience.org, 888-909-2822

• St. Francis Yacht Club Summer Camp: Beginning to advanced sailing classes for ages 7–16. $425–$550, Yacht Road,
www.stfycjuniorsailing.com, 415-820-3729

• San Francisco Children's Art Center: Morning (22 mo.–5 yrs.) or afternoon (5–10 yrs.) workshops focus on a different big idea and technique each week. $138-$210, Fort Mason, www.childrensartcenter.org, 415-771-0292

• Blue Bear School of Music: Exciting adventures in rock music, songwriting and more. $75–$525, Fort Mason, www.bluebearmusic.org, 415-673-3600

Cow Hollow and Pacific Heights
• Camp Edmo: Pre-K to 4th graders can explore, create, have fun, and grow with arts, science, and animation themes designed in partnership with top museums. $369–$444, Claire Lilienthal Elementary, www.campedmo.org,  415-282-6673

• Camp EdTech: 5th–9th graders create digital art with a program designed with Zeum. $519, Claire Lilienthal Elementary, www.campedmo.org, 415-282-6673

• JCCSF Rabin Summer Camp: So many options to choose from, including sports and specialty camps for grades K–6, urban and wilderness adventures for grades 6–8. 3200 California Street, www.jccsf.org/summercamps , 415-292-1265

• Legarza Basketball Camp: More than just a basketball camp, Legarza places the child and his or her personal development ahead of the game. $380, St. Vincent de Paul School, www.legarzabasketball.org, 415-334-3333

• Sunset Learning Center Academic Summer School: A full-day program for K–6th graders with an enrichment track for thriving students and a remediation track for kids needing academic support. 12:1 student-teacher ratios. $400, Calvary Presbyterian Church, www.sunsetlearning.net, 415-753-3636

The Presidio
• Crissy Field Center Summer Camp: Campers learn about important ecological concepts and issues with outdoor investigation, field outings, and fun hands-on projects. $585–$749 per two-week session, Crissy Field, www.parksconservancy.org, 415-561-7764

• San Francisco Gymnastics Camp:
Kids age 4½–12 are trained by professional instructors in gymnastics and many other activities. Full-week or drop-in options. $155–$420, 920 Mason Street,
www.sanfranciscogymnastics.com, 415-561-6260

• Planet Granite: Rock-climbing camp where kids age 5–13 explore all of the climbing features of the gym including bouldering walls, high-roped walls, and more. $250, 924 Mason Street, www.planetgranite.com, 415-692-3434

• Presidio YMCA Summer Camps: Almost 100 different options from arts and crafts to sailing. Grades K–8. Scholarships available. $235–$420, Letterman Gym, 1152 Gorgas Avenue, www.ymcasf.org/presidio, 415-447-9622

• Camp Edmo in the Park: Children from pre-K to 4th grade experience a new theme each week exploring a different aspect of Bay Area living, designed in partnership with top museums. $369, Julius Kahn Park, www.campedmo.org, 415-282-6673

• Nature Nurture: Nature walks, running hills, worm garden, grasshopper hill, stable, nursery, beach visits, and more for children 3–6. $330, Presidio Chapel,
www.naturenurture.com, 415-342-4040

These next two camps meet in the Presidio and then take the kids to outdoor experiences throughout the Bay Area:

• Wanderers: An outdoor education-focused camp where kids ages 6–12 spend their days touching tide pool starfish, finding huckleberries, spotting tule elk, and playing among the redwoods. $425–$620, Julius Kahn Playground, www.wandererscamp.com, 415-643-5686

• Adventure Camps: Mobile program for children over 4½. This is a fun, creative learning environment where children can find out about themselves and the world around them while having a great time. $400, Julius Kahn Park, www.adventurecamps.net, 415-388-2216