Patch Picks: 5 Union City Summer Day Camps

Union City youth need not spend the summer moping around the house, repeating the familiar mantra: “I’m bored.” Union City Leisure Services (UCLS) offers more than 10 different summer camps to keep your kids intrigued, no matter what their ages or interests.

Here's a sample of five of them: 

1. Preschoolers (ages 3 to 5) can enjoy a traditional day camp experience with Camp Polliwog. They will enjoy an introduction to typical camp activities in a safe and secure environment. Each day (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; extended care hours, 7 a.m. to  6 p.m.) will be filled with crafts, cooking, games and sports, as well as numerous fun field trips. Camp Polliwog is held at , 31600 Alvarado Blvd. Camp Polliwog Parent Information Night is on June 9, 7 p.m. at the day camp site. Each camper will receive a Day Camp t-shirt. For more information, visit the Camp Polliwog website or call the Holly Community Center at 510-675-5488.
2. There are a few sports-related camps available, such as the Summer Sports Camp for ages 8 through 12. This camp (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; extended care hours are 7 a.m. to  6 p.m.) combines field trips, special sports events and instruction in both traditional and non­-traditional sports. Activities such as bowling, recreational swimming, sports and sportsmanship instruction will be offered each week. Summer Sports Camp field trips are usually on Fridays and recreational swimming on Wednesdays. Summer Sports Camp is located outdoors at , 1333 Decoto Rd. Summer Sports Day Camp Parent Information Night is June 16 at 7 p.m. at the Kennedy Community Center. For more information, visit the camp’s website or call the Holly Center, 510-675-5488, or Kennedy Community Center, 510-675-5329.
3. Still in the active vein is the Summer Skate Program for ages 6 to 14. Each weekly session will provide instruction at the , 34009 Alvarado Niles Rd., trips to various Bay Area skate parks, and swimming one day a week at the Dan Oden Swim Complex, located less than two blocks from the skate park. Field trip costs are included in the program fee. This program runs Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 510-675-5487.
4. Shifting gears from the physical to the intellectual, UCLS is also offering a number of education-based day camps, including its Mad Science Summer Camps series,  operated by Mad Science of the Bay Area. Monday through Friday, kids ages 5 through 12 can participate in a number of classes, including the earth-based “Nature’s Anatomy Academy,” the intriguing “Spy Academy,” and the aerodynamics focus of “Jet Cadets.”  For further information, visit the camp website or call the Holly Community Center at 510-675-5488. 
5. Kids wanting a summer camp that combines activities for body and mind should check out Discover Camp, for ages 7 to 12. This balanced program will use weekly themes and field trips to encourage learning through art, music, performing arts and science. Discover Camp field trips are usually on Wednesdays and recreational swimming is on Fridays. Discover Camp is located at Holly Community Center, 31600 Alvarado Blvd. Discover Camp Parent Information Night is June 9 at 6:30 pm at the camp site. For more information, visit the camp website or call the Holly Community Center at 510-675-5488.