Steve & Kate's Camp
Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, 450 San Antonio Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306
About
Steve & Kate's Camp gives campers the chance to choose their own activities and plan their own days. The program includes tasty meals and snacks in the camp fee, with no additional or surprise fees charged. All-inclusive rates cover all camp hours from 8am–6pm, snacks and lunch, and any activities that interest the child.
• Ages: 4–13 years old
• Schedule: Palo Alto Summer Camp runs Jun 15–Aug 14, with long camp hours from 8am–6pm, all included in the camp fee.
Steve & Kate’s Camp was created in 1980 and now has more than 90 locations. The camp generally accepts children aged 4 to 13 years old, and all campers must be fully toilet trained, able to speak up for their needs, and get through the camp day without a nap. If a camper turns 14 while attending summer camp, they may finish out the summer, and Steve & Kate's Camp offers mentorship programs for children aged 14 and 15, with availability varying by location. Summer day camps and holiday camps are for kids ages 4–12, and no paperwork is required for age verification during registration.
Parents can buy any number of days to use whenever and wherever they’d like throughout the summer, or they can buy a Summer Pass for unlimited use. Drop-off and pick-up can occur whenever parents want within camp hours. Parents get automatic full refunds for unused purchased Day Passes at summer’s end, without processing fees, and if a Summer Pass is underused, the difference between the pass cost and the daily rate equivalent is automatically refunded. Virtual Orientation is provided before camp to prepare families.
The camp’s mission states that when kids are empowered to make their own choices and be their own bosses, they discover new reserves of confidence, resiliency, and creativity. Steve & Kate’s leadership team includes VPs Kevin and Mike, who have a combined 55 years of Steve & Kate’s work experience, 47 of those alongside the founders Steve and Kate. Mike started as a counselor at Steve & Kate’s in 1998 and now leads the team, and Kevin is a former Steve & Kate’s camper turned operations staff member.
Testimonials describe the camp in various ways. Andrew Stanton, Director of WALL-E, Finding Nemo, and Finding Dory, says that children at Steve & Kate's “blossom and discover a freedom of identity” and that “kids find their thumbprint at Steve & Kate's.” Apple’s Hot News states, “If kids ruled the world, it might look something like Steve and Kate’s Camp.” Variety magazine notes that Steve and Kate’s Camp “didn’t set out to cater to the children of folks at Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic and the like, but given their philosophy, it’s no surprise so many attend.” The Washington Post describes Steve and Kate’s Camp as “a blend of that traditional camp experience combined with a modern, tech-savvy touch” with “a laid-back aura true to its California roots” and “Silicon Valley-inspired innovative approaches to everything from programming to payment.” The Chicago Tribune states, “Working parents’ worries dissipate as they contemplate Steve & Kate’s model.”
Last updated April 30, 2026.
• Ages: 4–13 years old
• Schedule: Palo Alto Summer Camp runs Jun 15–Aug 14, with long camp hours from 8am–6pm, all included in the camp fee.
Steve & Kate’s Camp was created in 1980 and now has more than 90 locations. The camp generally accepts children aged 4 to 13 years old, and all campers must be fully toilet trained, able to speak up for their needs, and get through the camp day without a nap. If a camper turns 14 while attending summer camp, they may finish out the summer, and Steve & Kate's Camp offers mentorship programs for children aged 14 and 15, with availability varying by location. Summer day camps and holiday camps are for kids ages 4–12, and no paperwork is required for age verification during registration.
Parents can buy any number of days to use whenever and wherever they’d like throughout the summer, or they can buy a Summer Pass for unlimited use. Drop-off and pick-up can occur whenever parents want within camp hours. Parents get automatic full refunds for unused purchased Day Passes at summer’s end, without processing fees, and if a Summer Pass is underused, the difference between the pass cost and the daily rate equivalent is automatically refunded. Virtual Orientation is provided before camp to prepare families.
The camp’s mission states that when kids are empowered to make their own choices and be their own bosses, they discover new reserves of confidence, resiliency, and creativity. Steve & Kate’s leadership team includes VPs Kevin and Mike, who have a combined 55 years of Steve & Kate’s work experience, 47 of those alongside the founders Steve and Kate. Mike started as a counselor at Steve & Kate’s in 1998 and now leads the team, and Kevin is a former Steve & Kate’s camper turned operations staff member.
Testimonials describe the camp in various ways. Andrew Stanton, Director of WALL-E, Finding Nemo, and Finding Dory, says that children at Steve & Kate's “blossom and discover a freedom of identity” and that “kids find their thumbprint at Steve & Kate's.” Apple’s Hot News states, “If kids ruled the world, it might look something like Steve and Kate’s Camp.” Variety magazine notes that Steve and Kate’s Camp “didn’t set out to cater to the children of folks at Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic and the like, but given their philosophy, it’s no surprise so many attend.” The Washington Post describes Steve and Kate’s Camp as “a blend of that traditional camp experience combined with a modern, tech-savvy touch” with “a laid-back aura true to its California roots” and “Silicon Valley-inspired innovative approaches to everything from programming to payment.” The Chicago Tribune states, “Working parents’ worries dissipate as they contemplate Steve & Kate’s model.”
Last updated April 30, 2026.