Classes & Education

An internationally recognized professional theater training program by American Conservatory Theater for grades 3-12. Classes in acting, musical theater, physical comedy, and ensemble performance at their Union Square campus.

One-on-one coding mentorship pairing kids with Stanford and UC Berkeley engineering students since 2011. Weekly 90-minute project-based sessions, in-person at Stanford or UC Berkeley, or virtually. Highly personalized curriculum.

Set on 7.5 acres at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, this museum features research-backed STEM exhibits, daily Maker Labs where kids use 3D printers and laser cutters, and the outdoor Lookout Cove with tide pools and caves.

Youth theater classes at the Tony Award-winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Programs include Play Creation Adventures for grades 1-3, acting intensives for grades 6-8, improv classes, and summer camps for grades 1-12.

A world-class museum in Golden Gate Park housing an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest dome, and natural history museum all under one living roof. The Steinhart Aquarium and Claude the albino alligator are perennial kid favorites.

One of the largest youth theater companies in the country. Produces 11 full-scale productions per season and casts all who audition. Year-round studio classes in voice, acting, and dance, plus summer camps.

The East Bay's premier music education center offering private lessons, Suzuki strings from age 3, group classes, chamber ensembles, and summer camps. Also home to the Crowden School, a K-8 school with daily music instruction.

One of the oldest and most respected martial arts schools in the Bay Area, training thousands of children and adults since 1988. Located near Hayward Park train station in San Mateo, specializing in taekwondo.

Award-winning Spanish immersion program for toddlers through elementary age, combining music and play as the foundation for language learning. Over 20 years in the Bay Area with preschool, mommy-and-me, and after-school classes.

The oldest continuously operating chess club in the United States, founded in 1854. Offers youth classes, school break camps, after-school programs at 16+ schools, and the annual Scholastic Chess Championship in the park.

An internationally recognized early childhood music program with classes across the Bay Area. Parent-child classes feature singing, dancing, and instrument play. Develops musical skills in babies through kindergartners in a joyful setting.

A premier music school with 45+ professional teachers offering piano, violin, cello, guitar, voice, and music theory. Group classes for young children start from age 3 with My Little Mozarts and Music for Young Children programs.

Located at Fort Mason Center, SFCAC offers art classes for children ages 22 months to 10 years in collage, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, clay, and photography. A nurturing creative space for little artists.

IB Mandarin immersion preschool and elementary school in Berkeley. Pre-K is 100% Mandarin immersion, transitioning to 80% in Kindergarten. An inquiry-based approach through the International Baccalaureate framework.

Silicon Valley's top kids coding program with personalized coaching and small teacher-to-student ratios. For ages 7-18 at all skill levels. Bay Area locations in Berkeley, Cupertino, Fremont, Palo Alto, San Jose, San Mateo, and more.

A nonprofit industrial arts education center offering youth classes in glass blowing, blacksmithing, welding, ceramics, neon, and woodworking for ages 8-18. Serves 3,000+ youth annually with weekend, after-school, and camp programs.

The Bay Area's leading chess organization offering in-person clubs, classes, camps, and tournaments for kids. Locations in Palo Alto, San Jose, Fremont, Cupertino, and Santa Clara. Building social and academic skills through chess.

Enriching the lives of thousands of Bay Area children since 1982 with chess instruction. Offers after-school classes, camps, and programs throughout the Bay Area. One of the most established youth chess organizations in Northern California.

A nonprofit music school at Fort Mason Center since 1971 offering guitar, piano, voice, ukulele, bass, drums, and more for all ages. The Little Bears program welcomes children from 4 months to 5 years with songs, stories, and instruments.

The largest children's museum west of the Mississippi with a purple building you can't miss. Features water play, a real fire truck to climb, bubbles exhibit, and a mammoth discovery area. The outdoor play area has a real rescue helicopter.

The Bay Area's #1 after-school coding enrichment program designed by teachers and software engineers. Bringing TK through 8th graders education in STEM, coding, and computer science since 2015. Programs at partner schools.

Kids cooking classes and camps at Ghirardelli Square with vibrant monthly themes making healthy cooking fun. Weeklong and single-day camps for ages 4-10, after-school classes, and field trips throughout the Bay Area.

Silicon Valley's largest dance studio offering 220+ classes for ages 2-18 in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, breakdancing, contemporary, lyrical, musical theater, and more. Located in Cupertino with classes running six days a week.

The world-famous hands-on science museum on Pier 15 with over 650 interactive exhibits. Kids can play with light, sound, living things, and weather. The Tactile Dome (total darkness experience) is unforgettable for older kids.

Founded in 1942, the oldest fencing club in San Francisco. Children's programs in foil, sabre, and epee for all experience levels. SF Youth Fencing sabre program for young children operates here. Located in the Mission District.

The premier cooking school for kids and teens on the Peninsula. Camps, after-school classes, parties, and private sessions at multiple Peninsula locations. Teaching foundational culinary skills in a fun, encouraging environment.

Spanish immersion preschool for ages 2-6 with campuses in Walnut Creek, Berkeley, Lincoln Highlands, and Montclair. Full Spanish immersion environment with play-based curriculum nurturing bilingual development.

A K-5 Chinese immersion school in Silicon Valley serving communities across the Peninsula, South Bay, and East Bay. Full Mandarin immersion curriculum developing bilingual and biliterate students in an engaging academic environment.

A beloved North Bay dance school with a Young Dancer Division for ages 18 months to 9+ years. Nurturing faculty specialize in early childhood education, fostering a love for ballet in a supportive environment.

San Francisco's premier rock climbing gym offering youth camps, after-school clubs, and competitive Team Touchstone training. Kids learn belaying, knot craft, climbing technique, and bouldering in a safe indoor environment.

Oakland's premier music school with eleven fully equipped teaching studios. One-on-one training in piano, guitar, ukulele, violin, cello, bass guitar, drums, and voice with credentialed university-level instructors.

Gold award-winning martial arts school teaching Kenpo Karate for kids ages 3 and up. Locations in San Francisco and Millbrae with professional instructors focused on discipline, confidence, and physical fitness.

This long-running, beloved community theater serves 57,000+ annually with productions and arts education for ages 3 through high school. Classes in music, dance, and theater plus outreach programs in all Palo Alto elementary schools.

Performing arts classes, camps, and performance opportunities for ages 4-18. Traditional acting and singing classes, intensive camps, and full productions. A nurturing environment for young performers in Mountain View.

Professional music lessons in piano, guitar, violin, viola, voice, cello, flute, saxophone, trumpet, and drums. A well-established East Bay music school serving Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley area with experienced instructors.

A nonprofit martial arts school in SF's Mission District offering Tae Kwon Do-influenced classes. Pre-K classes for ages 4-5 and kids classes for ages 6-9, three times a week. Affordable community-focused martial arts training.

After-school drama classes, musical theater camps, specialized workshops, and full-scale productions for young performers. A nurturing community theater environment voted Best Theater Class in the Bay Area.

The San Jose Library system offers free weekly story time sessions at multiple branches in English and Chinese. Features songs, fingerplays, and early literacy activities. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library is the flagship location.

The Fisher Children's Center on the 2nd floor of SF's Main Library offers baby rhyme time, toddler tales, family story times, and a play-to-learn interactive space with children's literature, DVDs, and computers.

Family and kids cooking classes where young and old cook together with professional chefs. Caregiver & Cooking Classes for ages 2-8, plus summer camps for ages 4-17. A fun bonding experience for the whole family.

Award-winning dance academy with multiple Bay Area locations offering ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, and lyrical. The Twinkle Star Dance curriculum for ages 2-6 is engaging and fun. Two free trial classes available.

A 740-acre nature preserve with naturalist-guided programs, Story Stroll hikes, Little Farm visits, apple cider pressing, and hands-on nature activities. A beloved outdoor learning destination for Bay Area families.

Award-winning outdoor adventure camps for grades K-12 where kids connect with nature, make friends, and learn from expert guides. Programs include wilderness skills, nature exploration, archery, and survival techniques.

Teaching over 8,000 students since 2008 in music and dance. Piano lessons from age 3.5, plus guitar, violin, voice, drums, ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop. Small classes with max 12 students. Locations in Sunnyvale and Milpitas.

Kids yoga in Berkeley introducing children to yoga through games, stories, dancing, and music. Classes encourage movement, breathing, and mindfulness in a playful and non-competitive environment for all ages and abilities.

One of the few theaters in the country offering acting classes for children as young as 3. Located at Fort Mason, YPT teaches story structure, character development, and improvisation through after-school classes, camps, and productions.

AcroSports is a nonprofit gymnastics and circus-arts center in San Francisco's Inner Sunset neighborhood, offering classes in aerial arts, breakdancing, and parkour for children from 18 months through adult. Structured programs build physical confidence and creativity at every age.

A 25,000 sq ft gymnastics facility serving Santa Clara since 1994. Classes from crawlers to 17-year-olds including recreational gymnastics, tumbling, trampoline, and parkour for ages 2.5 and up.

Teaching the Bay Area to swim since 1973 with five indoor facilities in Fremont, Newark, Livermore, Dublin, and Walnut Creek. AQUAbabies classes from 6 months promoting water safety, comfort, and stroke technique for all ages.

A nonprofit offering free chess classes and tournaments for youth in the SF Bay Area since 2003. Partnering with public libraries, school districts, and nonprofits to make chess accessible for all children regardless of background.

Serving the Bay Area for over 15 years with private music lessons in guitar, piano, violin, and voice. Locations in Sunnyvale, Redwood City, and Fremont with lessons for students as young as 4 years old. Free introductory lesson available.

The largest gymnastics program in the South Bay, with locations in San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Morgan Hill. Preschool, recreational, and competitive classes for all ages plus specialty tumbling and trampoline programs.

Mandarin Chinese after-school programs, weekend enrichment, and summer camps for elementary through high school students. Serving Berkeley, Albany, and surrounding East Bay communities with quality Chinese language education.

Marina District martial arts school teaching children, teenagers, and adults the fundamentals of martial arts. Programs for all ages and levels of experience in a welcoming neighborhood studio setting.

The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco offers swim lessons for all abilities, from first-timers to proficient swimmers. Group swim lessons with certified instructors in a welcoming, community-oriented environment.

Located on the shores of Lake Merritt, JCAS offers hands-on after-school and weekend classes for young artists, makers, and inventors aged 6-13. Drop-in hours Tuesday-Saturday with art and science exploration activities.

A nonprofit connecting students with nature through environmental education programs in collaboration with teachers. Inspires environmental action, builds science skills, and creates lasting connection with the natural world.

Popular Bay Area swim school with indoor pools heated to 90 degrees. Infants 2-5 months swim free as a trial. Locations in San Bruno, San Francisco (Presidio), Half Moon Bay, and Atherton. Expert instruction for all ages.

UC Berkeley's public science center perched in the hills with panoramic Bay views. Hands-on exhibits, planetarium shows, outdoor science park, and a giant DNA model. The Forces That Shape the Bay exhibit is spectacular.

Youth tennis lessons for ages 4-16 in San Francisco parks with scholarships available for low-income families. Uses USTA QuickStart program with child-appropriate equipment. Free and discounted lessons for SF residents.

Leading science enrichment provider delivering hands-on STEM experiences for ages 4-12. After-school programs, birthday parties, workshops, special events, and summer camps across San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Alameda counties.

The #1 STEM program for kids offering coding, robotics, and maker activities. Mini Makers for grades 1-2 introduces coding and robotics through designing video games and creating robotic inventions. Project-based learning approach.

Top-rated K-12 math tutoring center using the Mathnasium Method to make math make sense. Personalized learning plans, homework help, and test prep. Also locations in Fremont, Milpitas, and multiple San Jose centers.

Oakland Public Library offers excellent children's programs across multiple branches including storytimes, science experiments, magic shows, cooking classes, crafting, and gardening activities for all ages.

Academic and special interest enrichment at Ohlone College for grades 1-12. Courses include LEGO Robotics, electronics, engineering, science, arts, language arts, math, and SAT prep. Affordable college-campus learning experience.

Professional gymnastics training center in San Mateo with preschool, recreational, and competitive programs for ages 2 and up. Also offers camps with gymnastics, acrobatics, tumbling, circus acts, and arts & crafts.

Serving 100+ Bay Area school locations across all 9 counties with after-school chess programs. Covering public, private, and charter schools, making chess education widely accessible throughout the San Jose metro area.

Kids chess classes and fun social chess club nights throughout the South Bay. Weekend group classes in Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, and Santa Clara for all skill levels, from beginners to competitive players.

Best-in-class youth soccer program for ages 2-8 with expert coaching, communication, and curriculum. Non-competitive intro to soccer focusing on character development, teamwork, and fun through the beautiful game.

Bollywood dance, hip hop, Kathak, fitness, chess, and LEGO classes. Kids as young as 4 enjoy vibrant Bollywood dance classes. Locations in Newark, Fremont, and Hayward with online options available.

LEGO robotics, coding, and Minecraft camps and classes for ages 5-12 across the Bay Area. Kids build and program LEGO EV3 robots for battlebots, soccer, and missions. Locations in Palo Alto, San Mateo, San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley, and SF.

Parent-child gymnastics classes starting at 4 months with structured programs growing with your child through pre-K and grade school. Multiple San Jose locations offering gymnastics, dance, sports skills, and birthday parties.

A Silicon Valley STEM museum where kids design roller coasters, code robots, and explore biotech. Features an IMAX theater and rotating exhibits focused on innovation, engineering, and solving real-world problems.

Quality indoor gymnastics and sports instruction for ages 15 months to 18 years. Recreational and competitive gymnastics with the Little Twisters Program starting at 18 months. Also offering ninja and tumbling classes.

Survival-based swim program teaching children as young as 3 months. Multiple Bay Area locations in heated pools at partner facilities including 24 Hour Fitness and hotels. Focus on water safety first, then stroke development.

An interactive space and science museum in the Oakland Hills with planetarium shows, real telescopes for stargazing, and hands-on space exhibits. Friday and Saturday night telescope viewings are magical for school-age kids.

The largest Indian American community center in North America with a 38,000 sq ft facility. Kids programs include Bollywood dance, yoga, table tennis, language classes, music, toddler programs, and summer camps.

The nation's first wildlife rehabilitation hospital where kids can see rescued animals up close - hawks, owls, snakes, and turtles. Educational exhibits teach about local wildlife and conservation. Great summer camps available.

Hands-on art museum in Old Oakland offering interactive exhibits, open studios, art camps, and Saturday drop-in sessions. Also hosts library drop-in art classes across Oakland and Berkeley branches.

STEM camps and school programs for ages 6-17 where students build and program robots, design and code computer games, and construct engineering models. Locations in San Jose, Fremont, Cupertino with summer and after-school options.

YMCA swim lessons for ages 6 months through adults at multiple SF locations including Chinatown and Embarcadero. Certified YMCA-trained instructors offer group, private, and semi-private lessons with financial assistance available.

A coding center where kids learn to code by building video games. The curriculum progresses from Scratch to JavaScript. Monthly membership includes unlimited sessions and summer coding camps are available.

World's largest after-school math and reading program helping children become self-learners. Daily worksheets build mastery through repetition and incremental advancement. Multiple Bay Area locations in San Jose, Cupertino, and beyond.

A free family museum in Corona Heights with live animals, art studios, a woodworking shop, and science exhibits. The rooftop terrace has stunning city views. One of SF's best-kept secrets for families on a budget.

LEGO-based STEM education center where kids learn engineering principles by building motorized LEGO models. After-school programs, birthday parties, and summer camps. Kids build real working machines with gears and motors.

One of the oldest Chinese schools in the Bay Area offering weekend Chinese language classes in both Mandarin and Cantonese. Cultural activities include calligraphy, painting, and dance. Also offers math enrichment programs.