Private research report compiled May 2026. Daughter entering Grade 3 (~age 8). Home ZIP: 94566. Within 12 miles of Pleasanton. Full-day standard hours (~9am–3pm). Budget not the binding constraint.
Executive summary
Nine private-school / specialty centers were investigated in depth (one subagent each, no shared context). Five turned out to be real, in-radius, full-day fits for a rising 3rd grader. Four had to be ruled out — wrong age band, wrong location, or the school doesn’t actually exist anymore. The “skip” findings are documented so they don’t have to be re-researched later.
Top 5 in-radius private fits (book these)
| Center | Campus / city | ~Miles from 94566 | 2026 dates | Daily hours | ~Price/wk | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarry Lane (Lower School STEM Academy) | Dublin West, 5600 Scarlett Dr | ~4–5 | Jun 15 – Aug 7 (3 + 3 + 2-wk sessions) | 9:00–3:00 | ~$648 ($1,945 / 3-wk; $1,295 / 2-wk) | Academic, STEM-forward, secular, premium |
| Stratford (Pleasanton) | 4576 Willow Rd, Pleasanton | ~3 | Jun 2 – Aug 4 (~9 weekly sessions) | 8:30–3:30 | ~$495 (Day Camp); academic/specialty higher | Structured, classroom-style; mixable Day Camp + Academic |
| Stratford (Dublin) | 6665 Amador Plaza Rd, Dublin | ~5–6 | Same as Pleasanton campus | 8:30–3:30 | ~$495 | Newer campus, more capacity, solar-covered field |
| Safari Kid (Pleasanton Gibraltar) | 5627 Gibraltar Dr, Pleasanton | ~3 | Weekly Jun–Aug | 9:00–4:00 | ~$400–$525 (call to confirm) | Themed weeks (Percy Jackson, Narnia, HP); Grades 3+ track |
| Fountainhead Montessori (Dublin Elementary) | 6670 Amador Plaza Rd, Dublin | ~3–4 | ~10 weekly weeks Jun–Aug + 4-wk Summer School sessions | 9:00–3:00 (extended to 6:30 PM) | ~$344–$430 weekly; ~$1,589 per 4-wk session | Mixed-age 5–12, language immersion (Spanish/Mandarin) weeks |
| iCode Pleasanton (specialty STEM) | 2709 Stoneridge Dr Ste D-110, Pleasanton | ~4 | Weekly Jun–Aug | 9–3 (full-day option) | ~$550–$750 (call to confirm) | Pure tech: coding, robotics, AI, game design |
| Bonus: Global Village Montessori | 4807 Hopyard Rd, Pleasanton | ~2 | Jun 1 – Aug 6 (10 themed weeks) | 9:00–6:00 | $450 (full week, full day) | K–5 themed weeks, includes extended care |
| Bonus: Hacienda School (Emerson Montessori / HeadsUp!) | 4671 Chabot Dr, Pleasanton | ~4–7 | Year-round; WriteNow! likely Jul 6–24 | 7:30–6:00 | ~$2,000–$3,500/mo (call) | Tiny ratio (7:1), Spanish + Mandarin daily, very academic |
Centers ruled out (don’t waste time)
| Center | Reason ruled out |
|---|---|
| Challenger School (San Ramon) | No San Ramon campus exists. Closest is Newark Ardenwood (~20 mi, outside radius). Program is academic summer school in disguise. |
| Carden West School (Pleasanton) | Permanently closed since March 2012. Stratford absorbed many former families. |
| “Pleasanton Christian School” | No school by that exact name. Likely Lighthouse Baptist (118 Neal St) — but no published 2026 summer camp. Closest faith-based full-day fit is Crosspoint Church Kids Camp (Jul 6 – Aug 7, 9–5:30). |
| Athenian School (Danville) | ~15 mi (over the 12-mi cap). 2026 registration is already CLOSED; waitlist only. |
| “Harvest Park Montessori” | Doesn’t exist as a private Montessori. Harvest Park is a public middle school. Likely confused with Montessori School of Pleasanton — preschool only. |
| CCLC / Bright Horizons (Pleasanton, Dublin, Bishop Ranch) | None serve school-age in summer; all top out at TK/Kinder. |
| Helios New School | Sunnyvale, ~35 mi. Outside radius. |
| Mission San Jose Montessori cluster | ~17 mi (outside radius) and preschool-only (ages 2–6). |
| RSM, Kumon, Mathnasium, Sylvan | Tutoring centers, not full-day camps. Use as 1–2 hr supplements only. |
| AlphaBEST | No PUSD/DUSD partnership. Only SRVUSD families eligible in this area. |
| Engineering for Kids / Young Engineers | Fremont-based or no Tri-Valley franchise. Use Bricks 4 Kidz / Snapology instead. |
1. The Quarry Lane School — Lower School Summer STEM Academy
Verdict: strong fit, lock in early January 2026. Quarry Lane has two Pleasanton campuses (Pleasanton East at 3750 Boulder St, Pleasanton West at 4444B Black Ave) but neither hosts the Grades 1–3 program in 2026 — both run JK/K only. The right campus for a rising 3rd grader is Dublin West (5600 Scarlett Dr, Dublin 94568), ~4–5 miles from 94566. Some older articles (e.g., Patch) incorrectly list Pleasanton East — don’t get tripped up.
- Sessions (M–F): Session 1 Jun 15 – Jul 3 (3 wk, closed Jun 19 + Jul 3); Session 2 Jul 6 – Jul 24 (3 wk); Session 3 Jul 27 – Aug 7 (2 wk).
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Morning Care 7 or 8 AM; After Care to 5:30/6:00 PM (extra fee, ~$75–200 per session).
- Price: Session 1 $1,945; Session 2 $1,945; Session 3 $1,295. Full 8-week summer ~$5,185 before extended care. Tuition is non-refundable at registration; refunds only if Quarry Lane cancels.
- Curriculum: Hands-on STEM in a dedicated lab — physical, earth, life sciences. Project-based, peer discussion / debate / data collection. Art is woven in.
- Lunch: Pack a hearty lunch. Snacks AM + PM (milk / juice). Nut-free campus — no peanut butter or alternatives.
- Drop-off / pickup: Curbside only. Room assignments sent via Plus Portals.
- Registration: opens January 2026, online, first-come-first-served.
- Phone: Dublin West (925) 466-3100.
Perks vs. drawbacks
- + Dedicated STEM lab; access to top-tier school’s tech (3D printing, robotics).
- + Extended care window 7 AM – 6 PM if needed.
- + Three flexible session blocks; mix-and-match around vacations.
- – No swim, no field trips advertised for the 1–3 program.
- – Pricing is steep (~$648/wk equivalent).
- – Tuition non-refundable — commit before mid-Jan.
- – Pleasanton-zip campuses don’t host the 1–3 program; don’t accidentally register there.
Booking action items
- Calendar reminder for early January 2026 — Session 1 fills first.
- Call (925) 466-3100 to confirm 2026 ratio + theme weeks.
- Decide which sessions: 1, 2, 3, or all three.
- Pre-budget extended-care add-ons.
- Register at quarrylane.org/summer enrichment registration.
- Verify nut-free / lunch policy on the Summer Academy FAQs.
Sources: Summer at Quarry Lane · Lower School Summer STEM Academy · Summer Academy FAQs · Patch coverage (note: out-of-date campus list)
2. Stratford School — Pleasanton + Dublin (Summer@Stratford)
Verdict: strong, flexible fit. Two in-radius campuses serve Grades 1–5. Stratford runs a multi-track summer program (“Summer@Stratford”) with four mix-and-match weekly tracks: Roar and Explore! Day Camp, Academic camps (math, robotics, lit, writing), Specialty camps (cooking, makers, design), and Sports camps. Note: there is no Stratford-branded San Ramon campus — that was a misconception in the original brief. Pleasanton Middle and Danville Blackhawk Stratford campuses are also in radius but serve wrong age bands (6–8 and preschool respectively).
Pleasanton (Willow Rd) — best fit
- Address: 4576 Willow Rd, Pleasanton 94588 (~3 mi). Phone (925) 678-5395.
- Grades: School-year 2 yr – 5th grade; summer Day Camp Grades 1–5 — perfect for entering 3rd.
- Strong Mandarin Bilingual program (preschool/K only — not directly available as a summer track for 3rd graders).
- Mixed-grade (1–5) Day Camp groupings — kid may end up with much older or younger campers depending on enrollment that week.
Dublin (Amador Plaza) — strong second
- Address: 6665 Amador Plaza Rd, Dublin 94568 (~5–6 mi). Phone (925) 892-3172.
- Newer (2022) elementary campus, solar-covered athletic field, multiple playgrounds + garden.
- Tends to have more last-minute capacity than Pleasanton.
Shared program details
- Season: Jun 2 – Aug 4, 2026 (~9 weekly sessions, M–F). Closed Jun 19 + Jul 3.
- Hours: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM. School-year extended day 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM typically extends to summer for an add-on fee.
- Price: Roar and Explore Day Camp ~$495/week; academic and specialty weeks higher. Field trips, extended care, lunch all extra.
- Lunch: Bring from home. Afternoon snack provided.
- Ratio: 12:1 (school year ratio; summer consistent).
- Registration: Active.com portal. Brochure: school-age camp PDF.
Booking action items
- Register first at Pleasanton (Willow), add Dublin weeks as backup — same Active.com portal.
- Download the 2026 brochure for week-by-week themes and exact prices.
- Call to confirm extended-care hours, mixed-age grouping policy, and field-trip add-on pricing.
- Decide academic mix: 3–4 Roar and Explore weeks + 1–2 Academic weeks (e.g., robotics, creative writing) gives the Stratford rigor without burnout.
- Lock weeks before end of May 2026 — Tri-Valley demand is high.
Sources: Summer Camps overview · Pleasanton campus · Dublin campus · Registration portal · Kidsguide 2026 dates
3. Safari Kid — Tri-Valley
Verdict: yes, serves entering 3rd graders. Despite Safari Kid being preschool-anchored, the summer camp explicitly runs TK–6th grade with a separate Grades 3+ track (so an 8-year-old isn’t lumped with preschoolers). It’s enrichment-flavored childcare with literature-themed weeks rather than a specialty STEM or outdoor camp.
Address note: 1251 Hopyard Rd is NOT Safari Kid (that’s Early Years Children’s Center). Safari Kid Pleasanton is on the Hacienda Business Park side, 94588.
| Campus | Address | Miles | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasanton (Willow — flagship) | 4464 Willow Rd Ste 101, Pleasanton 94588 | ~3 | (925) 386-2485 |
| Pleasanton (Gibraltar — K–5 enrichment site) | 5627 Gibraltar Dr, Pleasanton 94588 | ~3 | (925) 264-9679 |
| Dublin (Positano) | 2500 Positano Pkwy, Dublin 94568 | ~6 | (925) 732-5654 |
| San Ramon | 500 Bollinger Canyon Way, San Ramon 94582 | ~12 | (925) 968-9721 |
| Fremont sites (3) | 43468 Ellsworth / 46292 Warm Springs / 41811 Blacow | 15–17 (out of radius) | — |
- Hours: Core 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Centers operate 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM, so extended care is built in.
- Price: Not published; 2025 anecdotal range $400–$525/week — call each campus for a 2026 quote. Sibling/multi-week/existing-family discounts common.
- 2026 themes (Grades 3+): Camp Half-Blood Adventures, Charlie’s Golden Ticket, Camping with the Wild Robot, Ocean Adventures with Odder, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Through the Wardrobe to Narnia, Traveling with Flat Stanley, Ivan and His Creative Creatures, Diary of a Summer Camp Kid, Harry Potter: Wizards & Wonders.
- Activities: Arts & crafts, STEM workshops, sports, music & dance, drama, creative writing, Lego robotics (Gibraltar), public-speaking projects, outdoor games.
- Lunch: Parent-packed.
- Vibe: Indoor-heavy with structured activity blocks. Themed weeks pull from popular kids’ literature.
Booking action items
- Call all four in-radius campuses to confirm 2026 weekly availability and pricing for the Grades 3+ track.
- Critical question: “Will the Grades 3+ track actually run at this campus this summer?” Some campuses skip it if enrollment is light.
- Prioritize Pleasanton Gibraltar (5627 Gibraltar Dr) — K–5 enrichment-focused site, closest to home, most likely to have a substantive older cohort.
- Backup: Dublin Positano (~6 mi, brand-new, well-reviewed).
- Tour at least one campus — Tri-Valley sites vary noticeably in size and how robust the school-age program is.
Sources: Summer Camp overview · 2026 weekly themes · All locations · Patch (Gibraltar K–5 program)
4. Fountainhead Montessori School (Dublin Elementary)
Verdict: solid in-radius Montessori option for a rising 3rd grader. Of FMS’s four Tri-Valley campuses (Dublin, Danville, Livermore, Pleasant Hill), only Dublin Elementary serves elementary-age summer (5–12). The other three top out at 6 with preschool-style “Discovery Camps.” Dublin is ~3–4 mi from 94566.
- Address: 6670 Amador Plaza Rd, Dublin 94568 (main office Suite 225 at 6690). Phone (925) 820-1343.
- Two tracks (mixable):
- Discovery Camp — week-by-week themed: Cupcake Wars, Capture the Flag, Movement (dance/MMA/Zumba), Kids Olympics, full-immersion Spanish and Mandarin weeks where counselors speak only the target language, plus tech-leaning weeks (coding, graphic design, game design, stop-motion).
- Summer School — two 4-week academic-plus-enrichment sessions (mornings academic, afternoons themed). Closer to a classical Montessori “Lower Elementary 6–9” work-cycle experience.
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM core; before-care 7–9 AM, after-care 3–6:30 PM (optional, hourly billing).
- Price: Discovery Camp ~$344–$430/week (theme-dependent); Summer School ~$1,589 per 4-week session. No public sibling/multi-week discount advertised — ask.
- Mixed ages: 5–12 split into K–2 and 3rd–6th cohorts for activities. A 3rd grader is at the bottom of the older cohort — good developmental fit.
- Lunch: Pack OR order via Food For Thought catering. Healthy snacks + water provided.
- Open to non-FMS families. Priority enrollment opens in February — by May, language immersion and tech weeks commonly fill.
Booking action items
- Call (925) 820-1343 to confirm 2026 dates, current per-week pricing, and Lower Elementary work-cycle availability.
- Request 2026 brochure / themes calendar by email; ask about sibling / multi-week discounts.
- Confirm group size + ratio for the 8–12 cohort.
- Decide: Summer School (classical Montessori, 4-wk commitment) vs. Discovery Camp (flexible, theme-driven) — or stack both.
- Register at fms.org/summer-camps.
Sources: FMS Summer Camps · Discovery Camp · Dublin campus · Tuition · ActivityHero listing
5. Hacienda School (Emerson Montessori / HeadsUp!)
Verdict: niche fit — calm, academic, very small, very long hours. Hacienda School (operated under HeadsUp! / Emerson Montessori, same campus / same ownership since 1987) runs a year-round full-day modified-Montessori elementary program that continues through summer, plus an intensive WriteNow!® writing camp.
- Address: 4671 Chabot Drive, Pleasanton 94588 (~4–7 mi from 94566). Phone (925) 463-2885 (HeadsUp!) or (925) 485-5750 (Emerson).
- Two programs:
- HeadsUp! / Emerson Montessori Summer Program — year-round full-day Montessori continuation through June, July, August (closes ~10 days/yr).
- WriteNow!® Summer Writing Camp — three one-week intensives in Expository Writing, Creative Writing, and “Posters & PowerPoints” presentation skills. Open to outside students. Palo Alto sister-site is confirmed Jul 6–24, 2026; Pleasanton dates not yet posted — confirm by phone.
- Hours: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM, M–F. Built-in extended care, no add-on fee.
- Price: Not published. Montessori day programs in Pleasanton typically run $2,000–$3,500/month. Hacienda Business Park employees and residents of listed nearby apartments get 10% tuition discount + 10% sibling discount + waived application fee.
- Curriculum: Modified Montessori (practical life, sensorial, language, math, science, cultural studies) + art, music, daily PE, daily Chinese AND Spanish. WriteNow! adds intensive writing scaffolding (sentence → paragraph → essay).
- Ratio: 7:1 overall (preschool 10:1, toddlers 4:1, infants 3:1). Average class ~20; total K–8 enrollment only ~41 students — summer groups are intimate.
- Lunch: Pack lunch; snacks provided. Catered lunch available for an extra fee.
- Open to non-students. Rolling admissions.
Perks vs. drawbacks
- + Tiny ratio. Long 7:30–6 hours absorb any work schedule. Year-round = no gaps.
- + Bilingual (Mandarin + Spanish daily). Hacienda-resident discount worth checking.
- – Total K–8 enrollment ~41 means the summer peer pool is thin.
- – No big outdoor / sports / swim programming. Quiet, work-focused environment — wrong fit for a kid wanting big-camp energy.
- – Pricing opaque online; WriteNow! Pleasanton dates not yet posted.
Booking action items
- Call (925) 463-2885 or (925) 485-5750 to confirm 2026 Pleasanton WriteNow! weeks and full-summer day-program rates.
- Email mdage@headsup.org to request a summer 2026 enrollment packet for an entering 3rd grader.
- Ask about the 10% Hacienda-resident/employee discount.
- Tour the 4671 Chabot Drive campus — small enrollment is the biggest variable for summer peer fit.
Sources: WriteNow! Summer Writing Camp · Emerson Montessori — PSR profile · Hacienda affiliate offer
6. iCode Pleasanton (specialty STEM full-day)
Verdict: the only true 9–3 specialty STEM camp in zip.
- Address: 2709 Stoneridge Dr Ste D-110, Pleasanton 94588 (~4 mi). Phone (925) 247-8725 · pleasanton@icodeschool.com.
- Ages: ~6–14 (3rd grader fits squarely).
- Format: Weekly themed camps M–F; full-day option ~9 AM–3 PM (extended care available).
- Price: Not published; typical iCode full-day ~$550–$750/week, half-day ~$350–$450/week.
- Curriculum: Coding (Scratch / Python by age), robotics, Roblox/Minecraft modding, AI, game design, digital citizenship. Daily 1-hr Personal Project Lab.
- Group size: Small (~1:8 to 1:10).
- Lunch: Bring your own.
- Drawbacks: Heavy screen time. Thin on outdoor / movement.
Source: iCode Pleasanton Camps
7. Bonus picks (worth considering alongside the above)
Global Village Montessori — Pleasanton
- Address: 4807 Hopyard Rd, Pleasanton 94588 (~2 mi). Phone (925) 425-7455 · director.pleasanton@gvmontessori.com.
- Hours: Full Day 9 AM – 6 PM (covers extended care). AM 9–1; PM 1–5.
- Price: 5-day full $450/wk; 5-day half $390; 4-day full $420. Add-ons: hot lunch $30/wk, field trips $25/wk.
- 2026 weeks: Jun 1–5 Art Around the World; Jun 8–12 STEM Simple Machines; Jun 15–18 Dance (4-day); Jun 22–26 STEM & Slime; Jun 29–Jul 2 Red White & Blue (4-day); Jul 6–10 Galactic Adventures; Jul 13–17 Little Chefs; Jul 20–24 Tinker Lab; Jul 27–31 Crazy Chemistry & Water Wonders; Aug 3–6 Carnival & Games (4-day).
- Source: GVM K–5 Summer 2026
Snapology of the Tri-Valley (LEGO/STEAM)
- Service area: Includes Pleasanton. Phone (925) 452-6180.
- Half-day from $250/wk; full-day at comparable franchises typically $450–$550/wk.
- 2026 Tri-Valley calendar not yet posted — call to confirm dates and Pleasanton venues.
- Source: Snapology Tri-Valley camps
Bricks 4 Kidz at LARPD (Livermore Rec Center)
- Confirmed 2026: “Game On Camp” at Robert Livermore Community Center (4444 East Ave), Jun 15–19, 9 AM–12 PM, ages 6–12, $323/week.
- Half-day — pair with a PM camp at the same Rec Center for full coverage.
- Source: ActiveKids listing
Crosspoint Church Kids Summer Camp (faith-based, full-day)
- Dates: Jul 6 – Aug 7, 2026, 9 AM–5:30 PM. K–5th grade. Faith-based.
- Closest full-day faith-based fit in 94566 (mentioned because the parent originally asked about “Pleasanton Christian School,” which doesn’t exist).
- Source: Crosspoint Kids Camp
Valley Montessori — Livermore
- Address: 1273 N Livermore Ave, Livermore 94551 (~6–8 mi). Phone (925) 455-8021 ext. 100.
- Confirmed to run camp; 2026 brochure not yet publicly posted — call/email to request.
- Signature offering: Edible Schoolyard (Chez Panisse-affiliated garden-to-table program) — unique in Tri-Valley. Plus Tech & Innovation Lab.
- Largest triple-accredited (AMS / CAIS / WASC) nonprofit Montessori in California.
- Source: VMS Programs · Edible Schoolyard at VMS
Detailed write-ups: ruled-out centers
Challenger School — does not work for this family
Two reasons: (1) No San Ramon campus exists. All 10 California campuses are in South Bay / Silicon Valley. Closest is Ardenwood (35487 Dumbarton Ct, Newark) at ~20 mi via I-680 + Hwy 84 — outside the radius. Newark Cedar Blvd is preschool/K only. (2) Even setting distance aside, Challenger’s “summer program” is essentially academic summer school: ~3 hours of phonics / reading / spelling / writing / Saxon math drills in the morning, then arts/music/sports/discovery in the afternoon. No swim, no field trips, no themed weeks at the elementary level. It’s “summer school in a polo shirt.” If the family wants a Challenger-flavored academic-morning/enrichment-afternoon structure closer to home, Quarry Lane Summer Program or Stratford Pleasanton academic weeks are structurally similar in-radius substitutes.
Sources: Challenger Summer School · Ardenwood campus
Carden West School — permanently closed since March 2012
Closed after the non-profit declared bankruptcy. Stratford School took over the building (4576 Willow Rd) and absorbed many former Carden West families. There is no working website, phone line, or registration portal under the Carden West name. If the family specifically wants the Carden Method (phonics-first, classical literature, Palmer penmanship, traditional arithmetic), the nearest active Carden-affiliated school is in Newbury Park (Ventura County) — out of range. Stratford Pleasanton and Quarry Lane are the closest in-radius classical-leaning substitutes.
Sources: CDE record (Closed, March 2, 2012) · Pleasanton Weekly 2012
Athenian School — over the radius and registration closed
2100 Mt Diablo Scenic Blvd, Danville 94506. ~15 mi via I-680 + Diablo Rd, with a winding climb up Mt. Diablo Scenic. Outside the 12-mi cap. Even if distance were OK, 2026 registration is currently CLOSED across all sessions — returning “Summer Owls” registered Feb 2025 and capacity filled. Waitlist only via 925-837-5375. For reference: 2026 sessions were Jun 22–26, Jul 6–17, Jul 20–31, full-day 9–3:30 with free AM care from 8 + lunch included free. Pricing was ~$495/week (Sports Camp / Summit Seekers) up to ~$1,000/wk (specialty Superheroes & Sidekicks).
Sources: Athenian Summer Program · Summer Camp Basics
“Pleasanton Christian School” — does not exist as a named institution
Searched by name, by Black Ave / 94566 area, by domain (pleasantonchristian.com / .org), and in the CDE School Directory — no match. The plausible candidates the family may have in mind:
- Lighthouse Baptist School (118 Neal St, 94566, ~1–2 mi) — small K–10 Christian school, 22 students, 11:1. No 2026 summer camp listed on their site (lighthousebaptistschool.org). Phone (925) 413-5440 to verify.
- Centerpointe Christian Preschool (3410 Cornerstone Ct, 94566) — preschool only (ages 2–6), doesn’t fit a 3rd grader.
- Crosspoint Church Kids Summer Camp (Pleasanton, K–5th, Jul 6 – Aug 7, 9 AM–5:30 PM) — full-day faith-based, this is the closest fit if “Christian + full-day + 94566” is the goal.
Sources: Lighthouse Baptist School · Crosspoint Kids Camp 2026
“Harvest Park Montessori” — does not exist
“Harvest Park” in Pleasanton is Harvest Park Middle School, a public PUSD middle school (grades 6–8). No private Montessori uses that name. The actual private Montessori options near 94566 are:
- Montessori School of Pleasanton (3410 Cornerstone Ct, ~1.8 mi) — preschool/K only (18 mo – 6 yr). Doesn’t fit.
- Learn And Play Montessori — Pleasanton (4671 Chabot Dr, ~3 mi) — primarily infant/preschool through school-age aftercare, not a 3rd-grader-aimed camp.
- Use Fountainhead Montessori (Dublin), Hacienda School (Emerson), Global Village Montessori (Pleasanton), or Valley Montessori (Livermore) as the in-radius private Montessori summer options for an entering 3rd grader.
CCLC / Bright Horizons (Pleasanton/Dublin)
CCLC was acquired by Bright Horizons. None of the Tri-Valley centers serve school-age (Grade 1+) summer:
- Bright Horizons at Dublin (7035 Dublin Blvd) — ages 2 mo – Pre-K only.
- Bright Horizons at Bishop Ranch (2603 Camino Ramon, San Ramon) — infants through Kinder; “Summer Program” tops at TK/Kinder.
- No Bright Horizons center exists in Pleasanton itself.
- Bright Horizons “Summer Explorations” school-age (6–12) brand camp does run nationally, but not at any Tri-Valley center.
Helios New School (Sunnyvale)
597 Central Ave, Sunnyvale 94086. ~35 mi / 45–70 min via 680/237/101. Outside 12-mi cap. Eligible academically (K+) and registration opens Mar 23, 2026 noon via CampSite — but the daily commute is the dealbreaker unless a parent already commutes to Sunnyvale/Mountain View. Source: heliosschool.org/summercamps.
Mission San Jose Montessori cluster (Fremont)
Two entities use the “Mission San Jose” name; both are preschool-only (ages 2–6) and ~17 mi (outside the 12-mi cap). MSF Mission San Jose campus is also closing December 31, 2026. Adjacent Mission Valley Montessori (39600 Mission Blvd, Fremont) is also preschool-only.
RSM, Kumon, Mathnasium, Sylvan
Tutoring centers, not full-day camps:
- RSM Dublin (6799 Dublin Blvd) — 1.5–2 hr classes, twice weekly. Rigorous Soviet-style math; ~$600–$900 for 6-week summer track. Use as supplement, not camp. RSM Dublin
- Kumon Pleasanton — 2x/week worksheet center, ~30 min sessions. Not a camp.
- Mathnasium of Pleasanton (915 Main St #D) — operates M–F 2–6 PM in summer; tutoring center, not 9–3 camp. Mathnasium Pleasanton
- Sylvan Pleasanton (5688 Stoneridge Dr) — Sylvan Edge robotics/coding camps run as half-day (~$300–$500/wk) at participating franchises; this center hasn’t published a 2026 camp calendar — call 1-877-390-4796.
AlphaBEST
School-district partnership program. CA partners include San Ramon Valley USD but NOT Pleasanton USD or Dublin USD. Even SRVUSD’s Summer Excursions are restricted to enrolled SRVUSD students. Not an option.
Engineering for Kids / Young Engineers
EFK Bay Area is Fremont-based (~22 mi). Young Engineers has no Tri-Valley franchise. Use Bricks 4 Kidz / Snapology instead for the LEGO/engineering niche.
Two sample 8-week plans (private-school focus)
Plan A — “Private-school sampler”
| Week | Dates | Camp | ~Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 8–12 | Stratford Pleasanton — Roar and Explore | $495 |
| 2 | Jun 15–19 | Quarry Lane Summer STEM Academy (Session 1, week 1) | $648 (allocation) |
| 3 | Jun 22–26 | Quarry Lane (Session 1, week 2) | $648 |
| 4 | Jun 29–Jul 3 | Quarry Lane (Session 1, week 3 — 4-day) | $648 |
| 5 | Jul 6–10 | Fountainhead Montessori — Spanish or Mandarin Immersion | $430 |
| 6 | Jul 13–17 | Safari Kid Gibraltar — themed (e.g., HP: Wizards & Wonders) | $475 |
| 7 | Jul 20–24 | iCode Pleasanton — coding/robotics full-day | $650 |
| 8 | Jul 27–31 | Stratford Dublin — Academic Camp (Robotics or Creative Writing) | $595 |
| ~Total (before extended care) | ~$4,589 | ||
Plan B — “Academic depth + tight commute”
| Week | Dates | Camp | ~Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Jun 15 – Jul 3 | Quarry Lane Session 1 (3 weeks, STEM Lab) | $1,945 |
| 4–6 | Jul 6 – Jul 24 | Quarry Lane Session 2 (3 weeks, STEM Lab) | $1,945 |
| 7 | Jul 27–31 | Hacienda School — WriteNow! Expository Writing intensive | ~$650 (call to confirm) |
| 8 | Aug 3–7 | Quarry Lane Session 3 (week 1, STEM Lab) | $648 (allocation) |
| ~Total (before extended care) | ~$5,188 | ||
Plan A trades depth for variety — 5 different schools, lots of social mixing, language immersion, theme weeks. Plan B is heavy academic continuity at one campus (Quarry Lane Dublin West) with a one-week writing intensive plug-in. Both fit the 9–3 window with most camps; iCode and Safari Kid run to 4 PM but allow earlier pickup.
This-week action sheet
It’s already May. Most of these book up fast — here’s the call list, in priority order:
- Quarry Lane Dublin West (925) 466-3100 — confirm Session 1/2/3 availability for Grades 1–3.
- Stratford Pleasanton (925) 678-5395 / Dublin (925) 892-3172 — register at Active.com portal.
- Fountainhead Montessori Dublin (925) 820-1343 — request 2026 brochure; book Spanish/Mandarin weeks before they fill.
- Safari Kid Gibraltar (925) 264-9679, then Pleasanton Willow (925) 386-2485 — confirm Grades 3+ track is running this summer.
- iCode Pleasanton (925) 247-8725 — get 2026 weekly calendar + pricing.
- Hacienda School (925) 463-2885 — confirm Pleasanton WriteNow! 2026 dates; ask about Hacienda-resident discount.
- Global Village Montessori Pleasanton (925) 425-7455 — book any of the 10 themed weeks (Jun 1 – Aug 6).
- Valley Montessori Livermore (925) 455-8021 ext. 100 — request the 2026 brochure (not yet posted online).
- Athenian (925) 837-5375 — get on the 2026 waitlist (low odds, but free option).
Report compiled by 9 parallel research subagents. Each center investigated independently. Last updated: May 2026.