Like many parents in Marin and the Bay Area, I'm always looking for summer activities for my children that are not only fun but educational as well. This summer, my eight-year-old son attended Camp Galileo day camp at their Marin location at the beautiful Marin Country Day School in Corte Madera. Camp Galileo offers campers hands-on art, science and outdoor activities as well as fun camp traditions like dress-up day, water day, and the rubber chicken cheer. Furthermore, Camp Galileo boasts impressive curriculum partners, including the de Young Museum, the Tech Museum, and Klutz.

My son was a member of Camp Galileo's Supernovas group—comprising children entering third, fourth, and fifth grades. The camp theme during the week he attended was Detective in Paris: Impressionism & the Science of Sleuthing. In this adventure centered around a fictitious 19th-century art theft, campers explored Impressionist art and used science to try to find the culprit behind the heist. Camp Galileo offers a unique approach that teaches children to be innovators. Campers learn to innovate, collaborate, identify their goals and audiences, generate ideas, and be creative.

Golf is one of those sports that you have to try at least once, so you learn how to swing the clubs properly and understand the game. A number of Marin County summer camp programs offer golf lessons for kids starting at pre-K. Here are some of the choices:

• Marinwood Community Center in San Rafael offers a Junior Golf Summer Camp for ages 7–16. There are 9 sessions starting on June 13, Monday–Friday from 9 am–noon or 1–4 pm. The Junior Golf Camp takes place at the McInnis Park Golf Academy in San Rafael. The camp focuses on building the confidence of young athletes through training in proper technique and foundational skills. The cost is $325 per session. Visit their website to sign up or more info.
• McInnis Park Golf Club Summer Camp in San Rafael offers weekly camps for ages 7 and up Monday–Friday with morning and afternoon sessions. Their golf camps cover all aspects of the game with a low student-to-teacher ratio. Camp ends with a graduation BBQ and presentation of graduation certificates. The price is $325 and includes a daily snacks. For more info, call (415) 492-1800 or go to their website.

Guest contributor Barbara McVeigh shares some great resources for summer sailing and nautical fun for kids and families.

The America’s Cup sailing race is yet two years away, but the excitement in the maritime communities is beginning to build just like the wind before a full blown gale.

There are lots of family fun sailing events planned this summer with activities promising to please the youngest of sailors to the crustiest of old salts. Treasure hunts, model boat building, schooner sails and pirates in Vallejo are just some of the teasers to lure a landlubber into the magical world of sailing.

Youth sailing camps start in June. The sport encourages teamwork and develops self reliance and confidence unlike any other activity. For a child, this can be the beginning of lifelong knowledge of the sport and art of sailing, as well as a connection to the natural elements of sea and wind. Kids laugh and have fun sailing!