Since 1998, Monkey Business Camp has been weaving together play, nature, and community—guided by caring, experienced staff—into unforgettable summer and school-break adventures.
This page covers the core details that apply to all Monkey Business camps, including both summer camp and school break programs. For dates, fees, and availability, visit the specific camp pages below.
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Break Camps | Summer Camps | Core Camp Details | Fees & Financial Aid | Youth Leadership
🌟 What All Monkey Business Camps Share
• A safe, creative space with games, art, cooking, and community building
• Lots of outdoor time, with room for movement, exploration, and play
• Deeply rooted staff: over 80% of our counselors grew up at Monkey Business Camp themselves
• Locally founded, woman & LGBTQIA+ owned family business, serving Bay Area families since 1998
🏆 Gold Winner: Bay Area Parent–East Bay Summer Camp & Parent’s Press Best of Camps
“Monkey Business is a rare find… relaxed and fun, creative and innovative while still harkening back to simpler times.” —Parent
School Break Camps
📍 Berkwood Hedge School, Berkeley
🍂 Autumn (Thanksgiving week), Winter, February, and Spring sessions
School Break Camps take place at Berkwood Hedge School and offer a balanced mix of indoor and outdoor time. Campers spend their days moving between the schoolyard and classrooms for games, crafts, creative projects, and active play. The familiar school setting provides structure, comfort, and flexibility during school vacation weeks.
👉 View School Break Camp dates, fees, and availability
(You’re currently viewing Camp Basics, which apply to all Monkey Business camps.)
👉 Register for School Break Camps
Summer Camps
📍 Tilden Park, Berkeley
☀️ June–August
Summer Camps are based in Tilden Park and center on outdoor play, exploration, and connection to nature. Each day includes time at a consistent picnic-area home base for both active games and table activities, art, and community-building, along with time spent exploring nearby park areas. Camp days balance creative projects with active outdoor play in open and wooded spaces.
👉 View Summer Camp dates, fees, and availability
(You’re currently viewing Camp Basics, which apply to all Monkey Business camps.)
“Our son came home each day happy and full of exciting stories. The connections brought out the best in him.” —Parent
Core Camp Details (Applies to All Monkey Business Camps)
🕒 Daily Schedule
Campers (ages 5–10)
- Hours: 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
- Drop-off: 8:30–9:00 | Pick-up: 4:10–4:30
- Additional set times: 10:15, 1:30, 3:30 (ideally sticking to one of our 5 total times, some flexibility, but keeping staff focused on campers)
Youth Leaders (ages 11–17)
- Hours: 8:25 AM–4:35 PM
- Required full-day attendance (with 30-min break)
- Learn more: [Youth Leadership Overview]
“We carpooled with another family to make it easier to get to and from camp and share the drop off and pick up. Thank you for helping coordinate with the carpool lists.” —Parent
👥 Ages & Groups
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Campers: 5–10 years old; If your child is ages 5-5.25, read this camp fit letter [PDF] before registering
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Youth Leaders: 11–17 years old; if your Child is 11, and wants to remain a camper, read more [PDF] bout that process
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Group size: max ~25 (campers + youth leaders + staff), but in summer, two groups share one site, at least for half of the day.
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2–4 groups split by age; ~1:9 staff-to-camper ratio
- Groups arranged by age, friendships, and sibling requests
🌱 Youth Leadership Program (Ages 11–17)
Monkey Business Camp offers a Youth Leadership Program for older kids and teens who want to stay connected to camp while building responsibility, confidence, and leadership skills. Youth Leaders support campers, assist staff, and grow into role models—many of our counselors began in this program themselves.
👉 Learn more about Youth Leadership
“Being a youth leader helped me grow so much—and I loved staying part of camp.” —Youth Leader
🎨 Activities & A Few Logistics
- Monkey Business Camp days include a mix of outdoor play, creative projects, community-building, and nature exploration. Campers spend time moving, imagining, collaborating, and connecting—guided by staff who value both fun and care.
- Specific activities vary by season and location.
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Campers bring: lunch, 2 snacks, water bottle.
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Nuts and nut butters are generally allowed. Based on our experience, most children with allergies at these ages can safely be around others eating nuts.
In cases of a more severe allergy, we may designate a site as nut-free and will inform families in advance.
“Social interaction, and warm, loving fun.” —Parent
🤝 Special Needs & Behavioral Policy
We aim to welcome a wide range of children, but at times additional support needs may exceed what our staff can provide safely. Please read our [Special Needs & Behavioral Policy] before registering.
💲 Fees (Sliding Scale), Payment Plans, Financial Aid
The following fee structure applies to both Summer Camp and School Break Camps.
Our basic camp day is 8 hours.
To support inclusivity, we offer three fee tiers. All tiers support camp operations; choosing a higher tier helps fund diverse programming, our incredible staff, and our scholarship program, which distributed $50,000 in aid over the past year.
Families choose their tier at registration. We do not track tier choices — please select the option that feels right for your family. Sibling registrations can choose lower-tier pricing.
Financial Aid and Payment Options-Options include no fee payment plans, partial financial aid, and gift certificates. Learn More →
Early Registration Rate Deadlines: Fees increase by about $20 per full week (less for shorter sessions) after dates to help with planning.
- Summer Camps: Register by April 30th for early bird special. For example, for 3 week sessions, the prices will rise $60.
- School Break Camps: Register by the 1st of the month before camp for early bird special (e.g., Feb 1 for February Camp, March 1 for Spring Camp).
“Thank you for offering such a high-quality camp and for the very personal feeling of Monkey Business.” —Parent
🌟 Our Staff: The Heart of Monkey Business Camp
Our staff are warm, attentive, and genuinely enjoy being with kids. They guide play, support friendships, and help campers navigate both big and small moments—so children feel safe, known, and excited to participate.
• Over 85% of our staff grew up at Monkey Business Camp themselves
• Many began as Youth Leaders, creating a deeply rooted, intergenerational community
• Staff bring creativity, calm presence, and a love of simple, joyful play
“The staff were all so great—warm, energetic, and enthusiastic but not overwhelming, meeting each kid where they were.” —Parent
