Alameda, CA, USA
Children can choose between two distinct Alameda Arts summer experiences. Camp by the Beach is based at the organization’s Ballena Bay site, where campers move between creative projects and outdoor time. The program includes drawing and painting, open-ended building materials, games, giant bubbles, walks to the beach across the street, and trips to nearby parks. Camp by the Beach serves children in transitional kindergarten through fifth grade and organizes campers in groups for art projects, outdoor play, and time with new friends.
Camp on the Road is a mobile day camp for elementary-age campers. A small group rides in the Alameda Arts adventure van to a different Bay Area destination each day. Examples include museums, regional parks, zoos, science and discovery sites, sightseeing stops, water parks, and hiking locations. Transportation, destination entry fees, and snacks are included in the road-camp tuition. Campers bring lunch, water, and a booster or car seat when needed.
Both formats are week-based day programs. Camp by the Beach runs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, while Camp on the Road runs until 4:30 PM. The programs emphasize art, outdoor activity, exploration, and small-group participation rather than a single repeated activity. Families can choose the consistent creative home base or a week of changing destinations.
| Ages: | 4–11 |
| Type: | Day |
| Gender: | Co-Ed |
| Setting: | City, Coast |
| Water: | Water, Swimming, Pool |
| Adventure: | Adventure, Exploration, Outdoor, Hiking, Nature, Zoo |
| Arts: | Arts, Fine Arts, Arts & Crafts, Painting |
| Meals Type: | Partial |
| Time: |
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| Staff to Сamper Ratio: | 1:15 |
You won’t be charged yet. The camp will contact you to confirm all terms first.
You can still submit a quick request to let the camp know you’re interested.
Camp by the Beach uses the Alameda Arts Ballena Bay headquarters as a flexible indoor-outdoor base. Campers break into groups for engaging art projects, then also have access to outdoor play, the beach across the street, and nearby parks. Activities and materials include cardboard, craft sticks, LEGO building, melty beads, games, giant bubbles, drawing, painting, and a large supply of art materials. The program runs as a full-day weekday camp, with healthy snacks provided and families supplying lunch and a water bottle.
Camp on the Road follows a different structure. A small group travels in the Alameda Arts adventure van to a new Bay Area destination each day. Possible experiences include museums, regional and state parks, zoos, science centers, sightseeing sites, hikes, and swimming or water-park outings. The weekly fee includes transportation, admission charges, and snacks. Campers bring lunch, water, weather-appropriate clothing, and a booster or car seat when needed. Itineraries may change, so alternate destinations can be substituted.
Together, the two formats let families choose between a consistent creative home base and a mobile week of daily excursions with varied creative and outdoor experiences.
Alameda Arts provides healthy snacks during camp. Campers bring a packed lunch and a water bottle every day for both Camp by the Beach and Camp on the Road. The road-camp fee also includes snacks as part of its transportation and destination-entry package.
Staff members who work with children must pass California Department of Justice Live Scan screening and provide proof of a negative tuberculosis test. Alameda Arts also provides professional development and ongoing staff training.
For Camp on the Road, families provide a booster or car seat when needed and dress campers for the weather because the group plans to be outdoors daily. The itinerary may change when alternate destinations are needed. Campers travel as a small group in the Alameda Arts adventure van.
Alameda Arts was founded by Kate and Hazel, who developed the organization’s child-centered arts programs in Alameda. Site directors and teaching staff support the programs. Employees working with children must complete Department of Justice Live Scan screening and provide proof of a negative tuberculosis test. Alameda Arts also provides professional development and ongoing training. High-school helpers and former program participants may work alongside adult staff, giving campers additional familiar older helpers during activities and helping extend the organization’s community-based approach.
Camp by the Beach meets at the Alameda Arts Ballena Bay location and runs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Campers bring a packed lunch and water bottle. Camp on the Road runs until 4:30 PM and departs from the Ballena Bay location in the Alameda Arts adventure van. Road campers also bring lunch, water, weather-appropriate clothing, and a booster or car seat when needed. Enrollment for Camp on the Road is limited to a maximum of two weeks per camper. Published itineraries may change, and families should confirm that they selected the intended camp week during registration.
Camp cancellation rules include a $100 fee. Refunds are not available for missed days or cancellations after March 31, 2026. Camp by the Beach also limits fee-based cancellations to three sessions.
