Summer camp season is coming. If you’re a Sonoma County parent, you’re probably already getting emails and seeing flyers. The options are overwhelming, the prices add up fast, and it’s hard to know what’s actually worth it.
We’ve sent our three kids (ages 6, 8, and 10) to camps across Sonoma County for years. Here’s our honest take on what we’ve tried, what we’d recommend, and what we’d skip.
Our Top Pick: Lionheart OCR
Not a summer camp, but our #1 recommendation for kids in Sonoma County.
Lionheart OCR - obstacle course training that builds grit, fitness, and community
Before we get into summer camps, we have to mention Lionheart OCR. Our kids have been in Lionheart classes nearly every week for the past four years. If we could only pick one activity in the area, this would be it.
What it is: Obstacle course racing training for kids, run by a motivational and enthusiastic instructor. Think CrossFit meets ninja warrior meets character development.
What kids get out of it:
- Real athletic skills
- A tougher, more persistent attitude
- Competition with each other in games
- Competition with themselves (tracking mile times, personal bests)
- A community of like-minded families
We’ve introduced many homeschool families to this program, and it’s become a mainstay of youth fitness in Sonoma County. Families travel from pretty far away to be part of it.
About summer camps: We haven’t done a Lionheart summer camp specifically, but given our experience with the weekly classes, we’d be surprised if the camps are anything but great.
Camps We’ve Tried and Recommend
Camp Wa-Tam
Ages: 6+ Type: Traditional outdoor day camp (optional overnight Thursday) Our verdict: Recommend - especially for extroverted kids
Camp Wa-Tam - the classic Sonoma County summer camp experience
Camp Wa-Tam is the classic summer camp experience. A full week of being outside, swimming or fishing in the lake, playing in the woods, singing songs, and making crafts. The older teen counselors are typically fun and energetic, and younger kids really respond to that energy.
What to expect:
- Chaotic parking lot drop-off in the morning (there’s just no good setup for it)
- Kids come home worn out from a full day outside
- Thursday starts late because of the evening performance
- Thursday night: Each group performs a skit (usually a silly pun that gets cheers or groans), followed by dessert, games, and candy
- Some kids stay overnight Thursday; we’ve always picked ours up around 10pm
- Friday is abbreviated - breakfast, some playing, goodbyes
The honest take: One of our kids loved it for a year or two, then was ready to move on. Another will probably want to go every year. It works better for extroverted kids who thrive in group chaos. The warm summer memories are real - new friends, campfire songs, a week of adventure.
Rohnert Park Gymnastics
Ages: Varies by session Type: Gymnastics day camp Our verdict: Strongly recommend
Rohnert Park Gymnastics - real skill development in a fun environment
Our kids had a great time here. They actually learned body control - running, jumping, swinging with purpose. The instructors are engaged, and the structure works.
What makes it great:
- Fun warm-up games on the big mat with everyone together
- Real skill development
- Pizza and shave ice on Fridays
- Kids come home tired in a good way
We’ll very likely be going back again this year.
Art & Soul Center
Ages: Varies Type: Dance, art, and themed creative camps Our verdict: Recommend
Art & Soul Center - singing, dancing, and making art together
Our daughter has had an absolute blast at camps here. Singing, dancing, and making art together - typically themed around characters or movies kids already love (think Disney, etc.).
What to expect:
- More casual and fun than a focused skill class
- Small performance at the end (at least for some camps)
- Small parking lot that gets crowded, but we haven’t had real trouble
It’s interesting how different this is from the ballet classes our daughter took here when younger. The classes were focused on technique toward a specific skill. The camps are looser, more creative, more about the joy of it.
Rincon Valley Recreation - Space Camp
Ages: Elementary Type: STEM/themed day camp Our verdict: Recommend
“Space Camp: Blast Off to Adventure!” - our kids learned about the solar system and came home every day with new arts and crafts and stories of fun activities.
What made it work:
- Great for siblings to attend together (our youngest loved being with his older sister)
- Daily crafts and activities
- Kids genuinely seemed to learn new things
Less parent-instructor interaction than camps with performances, but the kids enjoyed themselves. Check Rincon Valley Recreation for current offerings - they run various themed camps each summer.
Camps We’ve Tried But Wouldn’t Prioritize
Charles M. Schulz Museum Camps
Ages: Varies Type: Themed day camps (Lego Animation, cooking, science, etc.) Our verdict: Fine, but we won’t prioritize these
The daily agenda for the Ready Set Dough camp at the Schulz Museum
We’ve done several: Lego Animation (multiple levels), Summer Science Mini, Cook it Up, and Ready Set Dough.
The honest take: These camps were fine, but we felt the level of instruction, attention, and learning wasn’t significant. In some cases, instructors seemed a little casual and less involved than we’d hope.
That’s okay - not every camp needs to be transformative. But if you’re hoping kids will really learn the subject the camp is about, you might be disappointed. We won’t be prioritizing these going forward.
En Garde Fencing (Fencing & Archery Camp)
Ages: Varies Type: Fencing and archery Our verdict: Decent, but not for us
Archery practice at En Garde’s fencing and archery camp
Located in a warehouse-type space. The camp was a decent time. Our son also tried two months of their unlimited monthly access.
The honest take: Our son wasn’t really drawn to fencing as a skill. The instructors and community lean toward the D&D / Renaissance Fair / LARP crowd. That’s not a criticism - it’s just a certain vibe. It wasn’t the best social fit for our family, so we’ve moved on to other physical fitness options.
If your kid is into that world, they might love it.
Other Camps Worth Knowing About
We haven’t tried these personally, but they’re on our radar or come recommended:
Traditional / Outdoor
Sonoma County Regional Parks Camps Discovery Camp and Junior Lifeguard Camp at Spring Lake. Registration opens late spring. Camperships available covering 75% of costs for families with need.
Sonoma County Family YMCA Multiple locations (Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sonoma). 100+ years of camping experience.
Boys & Girls Club Sonoma Valley location. Free breakfast, lunch, and snacks through partnership with Redwood Empire Food Bank. Scholarships and payment plans available.
Farm Camp Overnight camp for ages 8-17. 500 acres of Sonoma County redwoods near the Pacific Coast. Traditional coed overnight experience. Established 1952.
Weaving Earth Nature-based camps for ages 4-10. The local ecosystem is the classroom - woods, creeks, meadows, plants, and animals.
Sports
Hanna Center (Sonoma) Soccer, tennis, lacrosse, baseball, and basketball camps. Also an all-day recreation camp for ages 5-14.
Boys & Girls Clubs Sports Camps (Petaluma) Basketball and soccer camps at various skill levels.
WESCO Soccer Camps Western Sonoma County Soccer League partners with Challenger Sports for week-long camps with international coaches.
Arts / Theater
Transcendence Kids Camp Musical theater camp led by Broadway artists. Ages 8-17 at Presentation School in Sonoma. Non-competitive, nurturing environment with a performance at week’s end.
Rhoten Productions 30+ years of camps including performing arts at the historic Sebastiani Theatre.
Roustabout Theater (Santa Rosa) Training for young performers ages 11-20. Dance, acting, and singing from professional performers.
STEM / Tech
iD Tech at Sonoma Country Day School Coding, game design, robotics, Minecraft, and more for ages 7-17. One of the few local STEM camp options.
Museum / Educational
Children’s Museum Wonder Camps Nature-based camps for ages 6-12. $390/week, members get 10% off. 8:30am-3:30pm.
All-Day / Flexible
Steve & Kate’s Camp Ages 4-12. One fee covers the entire summer (up to 49 days). $119/day or $3,570/summer. Includes lunch, snacks, 8am-6pm. Self-directed model where kids choose activities.
The Zones Ages 6-12 in Santa Rosa, Rincon Valley, and Bennett Valley. $50/day, 8am-6pm. Sports, arts, and enrichment.
How We Choose Camps
Before signing up for anything, we:
- Do research - Read reviews, check websites, look for red flags
- Talk to other families - Try to find at least one family who’s tried it or knows something about it
- Consider our kids’ personalities - Extroverted vs. introverted, interests, energy levels
- Think about what we want them to get out of it - Skill development? New friends? Just fun? Childcare?
We’ve never sent our kids to a truly bad camp. That’s not luck - it’s doing the homework upfront.
Quick Reference
| Camp | Type | Ages | Our Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lionheart OCR | Fitness (year-round) | Varies | Our #1 pick overall |
| Camp Wa-Tam | Traditional outdoor | 6+ | Great for extroverts |
| Rohnert Park Gymnastics | Gymnastics | Varies | Strongly recommend |
| Art & Soul | Dance/art | Varies | Fun, creative, recommend |
| Rincon Valley camps | Themed day camps | Elementary | Good value, solid |
| Schulz Museum | Various themes | Varies | Fine, but won’t prioritize |
| En Garde Fencing | Fencing/archery | Varies | Specific vibe, not for us |
Registration Tips
- Camp Wa-Tam fills up fast. Register as soon as it opens.
- Sonoma County Parks registration opens late spring 2026.
- Steve & Kate’s offers early-bird discounts.
- Many camps offer sibling discounts - always ask.
Have a camp we should check out? Let us know.
Looking for other activities? Check out our guides to playgrounds and rainy day activities.