A Parent's Guide To After-School Activities In San Anselmo

SAN ANSELMO, CA — Once the school year gets underway, many families start looking for the same thing: a reliable, realistic plan for the hours between dismissal and dinner.

In San Anselmo, parents have a mix of options to consider, from school-based programs and town recreation to dance, martial arts, sports and library activities. Availability, ages and registration deadlines can change, so families should always check directly with each program before making plans.

Start With School-Based Programs

For many San Anselmo families, the most convenient place to begin is through the Ross Valley School District, which serves San Anselmo and neighboring Fairfax across four elementary schools and one middle school.

RVSD performs in the top 5% of California's public school systems and emphasizes arts and music integrated across the curriculum, alongside strong offerings in poetry, drama and digital arts. Graduates move on to Archie Williams High School, located right in San Anselmo as part of the Tamalpais Union High School District, which offers its own full slate of clubs and athletics.

Check Town Recreation Options

The San Anselmo Recreation Department is another useful starting point, especially for families looking for seasonal activities, sports or school-break programming.

The department's Robson After Care program follows the Ross Valley School District calendar and operates out of the historic Robson-Harrington House near Wade Thomas Elementary, and its own in-house Tumbling & Gymnastics program has run for years under longtime instructor Juan Olsen-Sanchez. Families can browse the full activity catalog and register through the department's online portal.

Look Into Sports Leagues

For kids who want to burn off energy after school, San Anselmo has several sports-related options worth checking.

Ross Valley Little League offers baseball and softball for local kids, while the Ross Valley Soccer Club runs both recreational play and a more competitive track through its association with the MarinFC Alliance. The town's Recreation Department also runs its own Rookie and Farm Club soccer leagues for younger players, along with a traveling softball team known as the San Anselmo Storm.

Try Creative And Movement-Based Classes

Families looking for activities beyond traditional sports may want to explore local studios and fitness-based programs.

The San Anselmo Recreation Department's Tumbling & Gymnastics program, held at 35 Sunny Hills Drive, offers classes for ages 3-8 along with open gym time and trampoline classes. Bianca's Urban Dance Academy, which holds classes at the Knights of Columbus Hall in San Anselmo, offers another local option for dance instruction.

Don't Skip The Library

The San Anselmo Public Library, an original Andrew Carnegie library dating back to 1915, is a helpful stop for families looking for low-cost or no-cost activities.

The library's Storytime and Movement programs run several mornings a week on the Town Plaza or Library Lawn, and the library has offered dedicated children's programming since just months after it first opened. Families can check the library's events calendar for what's coming up, and should note that some programs have temporarily relocated to the Town Council Chambers during an ongoing remodel.

Consider Nearby Options, Too

Depending on a family's schedule, nearby programs in Fairfax, San Rafael or Corte Madera may also be worth considering.

GymWorld, located in San Rafael, offers gymnastics classes, open gym and camps for kids ages 0-14, and families interested in a more boutique setting can also check out TumbleSpot in nearby Mill Valley.

Questions To Ask Before Signing Up

Before committing to an after-school program, parents may want to ask:

• What ages or grades does the program serve?
• What time does the program end?
• Is transportation available?
• Are snacks, homework time or outdoor play included?
• Can children attend part time?
• What happens on early dismissal days?
• Are there registration deadlines, waitlists or cancellation policies?

After-school plans can take some trial and error, but San Anselmo families have a range of places to start. Whether a child needs care, a creative outlet, homework support or a new sport, checking early can make the school-year routine much easier to manage.

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