Summer Day Camp

For students entering K-3rd grade 
Thematic Camps | One-Week Sessions

$445  Members / $460 Non-Members - per week

A Pirate’s Life for Me: June 2 - 6 
Join the Circus: June 9 - 13
Farm to Table: June 16 - 20 (Camp closed June 19)
Master of the Elements: June 23 - 27

A Pirate’s Life for Me: June 30 - July 3 (Camp closed July 4)
Join the Circus: July 7 - 11
Farm to Table: July 14 - 18
Master of the Elements: July 21 - 25

A Pirate’s Life for Me: July 28 - August 1 
Join the Circus:  August 4 - 8

Thematic Camps Descriptions

A Pirate’s Life for Me: Climb aboard, me hearties! We’re off to find treasure, swashbuckle, and navigate the seas. Pirate maps, pirate lingo, pirate skills, and pirate treasure ahoy.

Join the Circus: Clown around, become a wild beast, and put on the most amazing performances under the big top!

Master of the Elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Learn how each element is a force of nature and become the master of all four elements! 

Farm to Table: Get hands-on and dig deep into the journey food takes from dirt to plate.

For students entering 3rd - 6th grade
Performance Camps | Two Week Sessions

$1,070 Members / $1,100 Non-Members - per two-week session

Improv Theatre 1: June 2 - 13
Physical Theatre 1: June 16 - 27 (Camp closed June 19)
Improv Theatre 2: June 30 - July 11 (Camp closed July 4)
Physical Theatre 2: July 14 - 25

Performance Camps Descriptions

Improv Theatre: Learn elements of drama and comedy by developing your improvisation skills through games, practice, and performance.

Physical Theatre: Create a compelling story from scratch using movement as the primary storytelling method according to the principles of masked physical theatre.

In Performance Camps, thespians will create their own production from start to finish. An experienced theatre educator will guide campers through the storytelling process while exploring performance skills and stagecraft. At the end of each two week session, children will present their play for family and friends at Fairyland’s beloved Aesop’s Playhouse. Teamwork, communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and the fine tuning of social-emotional skills all take center stage at Fairyland’s performance camps.

For students entering 4th - 6th grade
Specialty Camps | Two Week Sessions

 $1,170 Members / $1,200 Non-Members per two-week session

Stop Motion I: June 2 - 13
Stop Motion II: June 16 - 27 (Camp closed June 19)
Stop Motion III: June 30 - July 11 (Camp closed July 4)

Farm to Table 2.0 I: July 14 - 25
Farm to Table 2.0 II: July 28 - August 8

Specialty Camps Descriptions

Stop Motion: Students will learn how animation works and get an introduction to digital media/motion graphics. Campers will create a short video using their own drawings or using found/handmade objects with Stop Motion Studio Pro and an iPad. 

Farm to Table 2.0: Campers get their hands dirty as they learn about gardening, composting, and how food goes farm to table. By planting, harvesting, and creating food from scratch, campers will gain a deeper understanding of where their food comes from and gain a new appreciation of the beauty of food.

For students entering 7th-9th grade
Counselor In Training Program | One-Week Sessions

Children's Fairyland offers a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program for youth ages 12 to 14 or rising seventh through ninth graders in conjunction with our Summer Day Camp program. CITs become stewards of Fairyland Camp, serving as role models for our younger campers. CITs assist in activities, games, and team-building projects. They will have a chance to develop their leadership experience in a fun and supportive environment while gaining real-world work experience.

This program is suitable for youth who are passionate about helping younger children and aspiring to become future camp counselors. They should be able to follow instructions and be prepared to take on a leadership role and new challenges. We offer sessions from June 2 to August 8 through our one-week Thematic Camps or two-week Theatre-Based Camps. Participation in the program includes a certificate of completion at the end of the session.

Fairyland is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are dedicated to making sure our youth programs are affordable for all families. Our scholarship program is designed to support families in need who have children/young people wanting to participate in our Children’s Theatre and Summer Day Camp. There is a short application process required. Eligible families will receive up to 70% reduced fees for Summer Camp and 100% scholarship for Children’s Theatre.

The scholarship application is OPEN for 2025. 

How it works:

1. Submit the application.
2. Please allow 3-weeks of processing time.
3. You will receive the decision via email 3-weeks from the date of your application.
   1. For Summer Camp, we will share a code unique to your household that applies towards the level of scholarship so that you can register when registration is open on January 17, 2025, and one week earlier for Fairyland Members.
   2. Summer Camp registration opens January 17, 2025 and one week earlier for Fairyland Members and will remain open until all spaces are filled. Members will receive an email communication with a link to sign-up. We sell out fast! Be sure to save this date.
   3. If your preferred session has a waitlist, be sure to complete your waitlist registration for Camp. We make best efforts to give priorities to families who are receiving a scholarship.

The Basics

What is the age range for Fairyland summer camp?

For our thematic camps, children must be five (by September 1, 2025) to eleven years old or rising kindergarten through 6th graders. Theatre Camps are for children eight to eleven years old or rising 3rd through 6th graders. Specialty Camps are for children nine to eleven years old or rising 4th through 6th graders. The Counselor-In-Training (CIT) program is for youths twelve to fourteen years old or rising 6th through 9th graders.

How much does camp cost?

Prices are for weekly and biweekly sessions:

Thematic Camps are one-week, $465 for Fairyland members and $480 for non-members.

Theatre Camps are two-weeks, $1,070 for members and $1,100 for non-members.

Farm to Table 2.0 is two-weeks, $1,070 for members and $1,100 for non-members.

Stop Motion Camp is two-weeks, $1,170 for members and $1,200 for non-members.

Weekly Counselor-In-Training program is $200 per week.

Aftercare is $150 per week (Monday through Friday). There is no cost for CITs who need aftercare. 

The camp fee includes one camp T-shirt (one for each week your child is registered for), a commemorative Fairyland’s 75th Anniversary drawstring bag (one per camper), and a Magic Key. The aftercare fee includes two snack items per day and choices of activities. 

Additional shirts are available for $12 each.

Can I sign up for just one week of a two week session? 

To provide campers with a better experience, we do not allow one-week registrations for our two-week sessions, such as Improv Theatre, Physical Theatre, Farm to Table 2.0, and Stop Motion Camp. Our two-week sessions are a specialized curriculum that gives campers more time to develop friendships with their peers and counselors. We offer multiple one-week options within our Thematic Camps. 

What are your camp hours? Is there aftercare?

Camp hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Arrival is 8:30 to 9 a.m., and pick-up is 3:30 to 3:45 p.m. Aftercare is from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. (Registration is required for aftercare.) 

Campers signed in to aftercare can be picked up anytime between 3:45 and 5:30 p.m.

A late fee of $1 per minute will be applied if a child not registered in aftercare is not picked up by 3:45 p.m. The late fee applies to each minute after 5:30 p.m. for children in aftercare.

What is a day like?

Sample Thematic Camp

8:30-9:00 a.m. Arrival, games

9-10:30 a.m. Morning welcome and team building, thematic play creation, animal/plant/puppet workshop

10:30-10:45 a.m. Snack, break

10:45-12 p.m. Group activities and park exploration

12-1 p.m. Lunch, chill out time

1-3:30 p.m. Rides, scavenger hunt, group games, park exploration

3:30-3:45 p.m. Afternoon team building, pick-up or aftercare

Sample Performance Camp, Stop Motion, and Farm to Table 2.0 Schedule

8:30-9 a.m. Arrival, games

9-9:20 a.m. Morning welcome

9:20-10:30 a.m. Skill building workshop, behind-the-scenes activity

10:30-10:45 a.m. Snack

10:45-12 p.m. Games, scriptwriting, character design, project time

12-1 p.m. Lunch, chill out time

1-2 p.m. All-camp team-building activity, park exploration

2-3:30 p.m. Prop building and costume making, project time or supervised free play

3:30-3:45 p.m. Pick up or aftercare

3:30-5:30 p.m. Aftercare (free play, arts and crafts, games)

3:45 p.m. Last Show for Performance Camps

What kinds of activities are available for campers registered in aftercare?

All activities will begin after snack time. Campers will have a variety of activities to choose from each day, including organized outdoor games, art projects, and the opportunity to work on their costumes or props for the Friday play.  

Who are your camp counselors?

Our camp counselors are chosen for their significant experience with children, enthusiasm for play and pretend, and vibrant, compassionate personalities. All camp staff are background-checked and trained in first aid and CPR. 

We build on a caring culture with many layers of support within to help children feel connected. As children ‘age out’ of the program after turning 12, they can join the Counselor in Training cohort. Each camp group consists of twelve to fourteen campers and two Counselors In Training (CIT’s) who assist the Camp Counselors. High school interns from the OUSD’s Summer Internship Program also support camps with younger children.

The Big Picture

What is the camp’s philosophy?

Camp is where the magic happens and children can unlock the power of storytelling through play.  

What makes our summer camp special?

• Our focus is storytelling with emphasis on imagination and social-emotional development.
• Highly experienced, fun, and compassionate staff members.
• Children learn to collaborate with peers, improve confidence, and be playful through improvisation.
• Children use creativity while engaged in hands-on activities to explore each theme. They use teamwork to create and perform amazing plays at the end of each week - boosting confidence!
• Opportunities to go behind the scenes with Fairyland’s puppet theater, gardens, and gentle animals.
• Lots of park exploration time for the campers to do everything they love at Fairyland.  
•  

What do you do all day at camp?

Our activities fall into three categories:

• Park Exploration – Hit the rides, slides, Jack and Jill Hill, use a Magic Key, climb the rigging on the pirate ship, and dig in the sand at Play Island.
• Activities – These workshops involve the horticulture, gentle animal, and puppetry specialists, as well as arts and crafts and unforgettable experiences through daily thematic activities.
• Dramatic Play – Dramatic play promotes the development of social skills. We encourage children to make up plays by pretending, group brainstorming, and practicing for the Friday show. 

Is there a show or performance that families can attend?

Our Friday skit challenges and chant-offs are created by the campers in each camp. We start with the theme and use our imaginations and teamwork to put on a short 3 to 5-minute skit. Skits are a way for campers to develop their confidence, find their voices, and add a theatrical element. These skits and chant-offs are built in as camp activities as a part of the curriculum and will be performed to the campers, CITs, and counselors only and will not be recorded and shared with families, as it is not meant to represent a full production.

We will offer in-person viewing for Improv Theatre and Physical Theatre families only. Improv Theatre will perform on Friday, June 13 for Session 1 and (Thursday) June 27 for Session 2. Physical Theatre plays will be presented on Friday, July 11 for Session 1 and July 25 for Session 2. 

How about children with learning differences?

While our camp may not have the capacity to accommodate every need, we have found that we tend to be very successful at camp when we work one on one with families and are well informed about the campers’ needs before the session begins. We invite you to contact us so we can help you decide if camp is the right fit for your child.

How do you incorporate social and emotional learning into camp?

All camp staff are trained in conflict resolution and are committed to helping children resolve their differences with words. We consciously work to create a caring community of adults and children who treat each other with respect and are ready to make new friends. Taking turns, cooperation, sharing, and being a good sport are continuously reinforced, and we take time at the end of each week for the children to share their appreciation for each other.

Registration

How do I register my child?

The registration link will be open beginning January 10 at noon for early bird access exclusively for Fairyland Members and January 17 for everyone. Members will receive an email with the link when it’s time. The link will then be available on this website starting January 17 at noon.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept Visa, Mastercard, and E-checks.

What is your cancellation policy?  

You may cancel your registration via ACTIVE through April 15. After this date, all cancellations must be submitted by email to VIcky Chen at vicky.chen@fairyland.org.

A $50 processing fee will be assessed for all cancellation requests before April 15. 

After April 15, 25% of the full registration fee per camper will be assessed. 

For cancellations on sessions 30-days prior to the first day of camp, 50% of the full registration per camper will be assessed.​

Camp fee is nonrefundable if the request is made less than 30-days prior to the first day of camp. 

You may change your camp session up to 30-days before the start of your confirmed session, but only if we have space.

We appreciate your interest in Children’s Fairyland Summer Day Camp! Please do not hesitate to email our Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement, Vicky Chen, or call 510-452-2259 ext 3529, with questions or concerns.

Keeping campers safe and healthy is our top priority. As we work diligently to update our operations plan, we are taking the following preventive measures, including what you can do at home.

During Camp:

• Make sure your campers arrive healthy, hydrated, and well-rested.
• Staff will make sure that campers are practicing good hand hygiene habits and respiratory etiquette.
• Masking is recommended only for individuals experiencing cold and flu-like symptoms and if the COVID-19 Community Level in Alameda County is Medium or High.
• If a mask is required by the County, campers may take off their face coverings when they are able to social distance and during field activities and snack/meal time. When social distancing is not possible (rides, attractions and workshop activities), campers will be asked to keep their face coverings on.

​What you can do at home to prevent the spread of communicable diseases:

• Screen your child’s temperatures at home if they develop any cold and flu-like symptoms. For temperatures over 100.4°F, please stay home until 24 hours have passed and they no longer have a fever.
• If you travel by airplane before your camp session starts, we recommend using an at-home kit three days after your return to test for COVID-19. 
• Help your campers establish good hygiene.
• Consult your health provider if you have any concerns.

What will Fairyland do to prevent the spread of communicable diseases:

• We will train our camp staff on health and safety procedures.
• Establish PPE (personal protection equipment) protocols and health screening as required.
• Stay current with any new guidance issued by the Alameda County Public Health Department and CDC.
• Continue to update you on camp guidelines should there be changes.