We are taking a pause from running this program due to the Covid pandemic. Consider our youth leadership program in Tilden as an alternate.
If you are new to camp, please add yourself to our mailing list to be notified of upcoming camp programs.
We are including information about our camp, pre-Covid, below.
For the camper who may feel they have outgrown other camps! Adventures about town on foot, train, bus, and ferry. Being part of a positive, cooperative, welcoming community. Park games, food treats, kayaking, ice-skating, swimming seeing movies, art workshops and more.
DATES AND HOURS
One week sessions: usually mid-June through mid-August
3 Day Week Option- Limited spaces available each week, and must include Monday, when group meets one another.
Youth Leader Sessions run for either one or two weeks, depending on time of summer.
Basic Hours: 8:30-3:30
Drop off flexible until 9:00 except for Wednesdays, when 8:30am sharp.
“Our daughter had such a wonderful time this summer for her 7 weeks of camp, in which she could not stop talking about where she went, what she did, and how many friends she made. Many thanks to the camp counselors and staff!”
AVAILABILITY (we update weekly-online registration has most up to date info) *
LOCATION
Base Camp: King School Park, 1700 Hopkins Street, Berkeley. Basic Day drop-off and pick up there (except Wednesday morning drop-off, which is at North Berkeley BART). Afternoon camper pick-up is different-see below. A large climbing structure, field, and picnic tables await us!
The site is an easy stop on way or from our Boys on the Go Berkeley, Tilden, and Pre-K camps if your child has siblings.
Afternoon Extended Care campers are transported via RideZum to join the incredible Monkey Business Camp Tilden Park program, led by Dara Ackerman. Parents pick up there by 6pm.
“Thank you for delivering a power punch of creative projects, free play, local adventures and community building into each rich and colorful day of camp.”
AGES AND WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Campers are ages 9-13
Junior Counselor Youth Leaders 14-17
Schedule includes trips to local destinations by foot and public transit, including doing things like kayaking, swimming, art, playing lots of games-running around kind and board games too, rock climbing, getting snacks about town, ice-skating, bowling, trampolining. Lunch provided on Tuesdays. Longer trip day on Wednesdays, otherwise, trips usually have less travel.
A Look at Camp In Photos and Words
Camp Schedule – usually posted in March
“Lola really enjoyed the camp and the organization and activities were really great.”
FEES (No Fee Payment Plans Available), SPECIALS & FINANCIAL AID
*camps are priced at 3rd (Buckeye), 2nd (Redwood) and 1st (Oak) tiers- sliding scale
Able to Share (it takes a village!)? Consider a higher tier.
Need Financial Aid, or know someone who might. We offer up to half tuition cost, as well as payment plan options for up to 6 months, and full tuition work exchange. Read more on our financial aid page.
“When other camps started to feel too confining for my new middle school girl, GOTG was the perfect place to meet new friends and have fun, safe, independent adventures out and about.”
LOGISTICS, FAQs AND POLICIES
Click on FAQs and Policies links above for more details: the camp daily schedule, age groupings and sizes, food program and allergies, the staff:camper ratio, carpools, etc.
Campers bring their own lunch and morning snack, except Tuesdays, when we provide lunch. We provide an organic, vegetarian, Kosher afternoon snack for extended care PM campers once they arrive in Tilden Park. We are a nut and nut butter free camp, to help keep our campers safe.
We require campers to be able to operate within our ratio of 1:9, so if your child has medical, behavioral or emotional needs that will need additional coaching or support, we welcome your aide/coach.
“Our family has grown up with Monkey Business Camp. Both children started in kindergarten or first grade, romping through the woods and at the lake in Tilden Park, and going to camp over winter break. When the older child reached 3rd grade, she moved on to Girls on the Go. She is now considering the CIT program, and the younger one has Girls at the top of her list of summer camps this year.”
STAFF
Our staff from diverse backgrounds are nurturing, creative and enthusiastic. They are hired to guide and enrich our programs and foster friendship among campers. All children, returning and new campers alike, are actively welcomed, and staff seek ways for all campers to understand themselves and their communities just a little bit more, to make this world a more positive place. We will post details as confirmed. Click here to see bios and photos of some regular staff.
JUNIOR COUNSELORS (WE’RE ENROLLING YOUTH LEADERS, AGES 14-17)
We are looking for youth who want to help make camp even more fun and welcoming. Find out more general information about our youth leadership program to see if it is a good fit.
“I just want to say how much I really enjoyed teaching these two classes, and how rewarding it was to share my herbal knowledge with those wonderful girls. You have a great camp program I can tell—because everyone seemed to be so happy to be at Girls On The Go—even the camp counselors! I hope next year you include me in on the fun once again!”
