One of the great things about living in the San Francisco Bay Area is having companies like Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Industrial Light and Magic right in our backyard, as well as having the creative, talented, and skilled people who work there as members of our community. And what kid hasn't dreamed of making his or her own movies?
This summer kids ages 10 and up can take advantage of the skills of digital effects professional and Marin County resident Howard Gersh, whose series of comprehensive digital filmmaking classes run from June 18 through August 10. Howard has helped create some of the movie world's most memorable and fantastic images, and has worked on such films as Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith, and many more.
Everyone's been telling us how much fun they've had at the House of Air, San Francisco's indoor trampoline park, so we decided that it was high time we paid it a visit. House of Air is located in an historic airplane hangar at Crissy Field in the Presidio of San Francisco, and features 8,000 square feet of trampolines that allow you to jump, fly, flip, and have a blast.
We booked our session online (always a good idea at this busy place, it turns out), and headed south across the Golden Gate Bridge. Unlike some places in San Francisco, there's plenty of free parking in the area, especially in the large lot adjacent to the beach.
When you go in, sign the waiver if you haven't already, then check in and get your bracelet. You either jump barefoot, or you can buy a pair of special House of Air trampoline socks to wear for $2. You'll jump in the Matrix, a large area of 42 interconnected trampolines, which includes the 2X Bowl, a special freestyle trampoline area modeled after a skate park. The House of Air's staff of Air Traffic Controllers give you a short briefing before your session, and then you're good to go. You also have access to the smaller Collosseum, a space with 22 conjoined trampolines that's used for organized sports like trampoline dodgeball.
One of my passions in life is the game of tennis. As a child, I took lessons, and I love to play with friends and family. I love the challenge of tennis, and of course it’s great exercise at any age. It's also a great game to challenge the little ones and a good way for them to meet new friends. Listed below are a list of tennis camps available throughout Marin County.
Belvedere
Belvedere Tennis Club is offering a Activity Day Camp for ages 4–8 and an Aces Summer Camp for ages 8–12. Activity Camp is weekly, full day camp from 9 am-2 pm that includes tennis, games, crafts, activities, snack and lunch. Prices range from $65–$350 per child. The Aces Summer Camp is a weekly, full day camp from 9 am-4:30 pm that includes summer camp fun and professional tennis instruction. Prices range from $85-$95 a day. For more info, visit their website.
Corte Madera
Ross Valley Swim and Tennis Club offers a summer camp for ages 6–16 starting on June 18. Bay Club Ross Valley Junior Tennis Academy Summer Camp is designed for those players looking to improve their tennis on both technical and tactical levels. The Camp will use situational based training to enhance the learning environment and provide a "play-based" setting in which juniors will learn specific tactical responses to situations. Camps are Monday–Friday from 9 am-noon. The cost is $275 for members and $325 for non-members. For more info, call (415) 461-5431 or visit their website.
Fairfax
The Cañon Tennis and Swim Club in Fairfaxoffers a tennis camp for ages 7–14, grouped according to their ability level. The weekly camp sessions start on June 11 and runs through August 17. Sessions are Monday–Friday from 11:30 am–3 pm, with extended day care available from 3–5 pm ($75 per week or $20 per day). The cost is $235 per week. To register, call (415) 457-9217. For more info, visit their website.
With its wind-swept hills, vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean, and wealth of natural wonders and historic sites, the Marin Headlands sounds like the ideal place for a summer camp. Well, in fact, it is—Coastal Camp by Naturebridge offers educational and fun day camps in the Marin Headlands for children entering kindergarten through 9th grade, and partners with the National Park Service and the Marine Mammal Center for some fantastic educational opportunities.
Campers will explore this amazing national park and learn about the area's natural and cultural history, marine mammals, and coastal ecology, investigate tidepool creatures in the intertidal marine lab, hike along coastal trails, and even sail San Francisco Bay on board an 82-foot schooner. Coastal Camp programs are led by college-age camp counselors and experienced professional field science educators.
With all the summer camp choices available out there, things can get a bit confusing when it comes to finding one for your children. If you need a little help with making your summer camp decision, don’t miss the Strawberry Recreation District Summer Camp Night on Thursday, March 1 from 5–7:30 pm.
Over 70 different camps from the Bay Area and beyond will attend, offering parents and campers an evening to explore, research and choose the perfect camp for this summer 2012. Meet special guest Susan Gal, local author of Into the Outdoors. There will also be a REI seminar on what to pack for camp, youth contests, and giveaways. This free event includes door prizes, a jump house, food vendors, and more. All ages are welcome (all children must be accompanied by an adult).
Stop by check out this summer’s offerings. For more info, please call (415) 383-6494 or visit their website. The Strawberry Recreation District is located at 118 East Strawberry Drive in Mill Valley.
One of the great things about living in the San Francisco Bay Area is having companies like Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Industrial Light and Magic right in our backyard, as well as having the creative, talented, and skilled people who work there as members of our community. And what kid hasn't dreamed of making his or her own movies?
One of my passions in life is the game of tennis. As a child, I took lessons, and I love to play with friends and family. I love the challenge of tennis, and of course it’s great exercise at any age. It's also a great game to challenge the little ones and a good way for them to meet new friends. Listed below are a list of tennis camps available throughout Marin County.
With its wind-swept hills, vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean, and wealth of natural wonders and historic sites, the 
With all the summer camp choices available out there, things can get a bit confusing when it comes to finding one for your children. If you need a little help with making your summer camp decision, don’t miss the Strawberry Recreation District Summer Camp Night on Thursday, March 1 from 5–7:30 pm.
