About
Steve & Kate's Camp gives campers the chance to choose their own activities and plan their own days. Throughout the day, campers spend time designing, building, creating, playing, eating, and clowning on their own schedule. All campers must be fully toilet trained, able to speak up for their needs, and able to get through the camp day without a nap.
• Ages: 4–13 years old
• Schedule: Long camp hours, 8am–6pm, all included in the camp fee
Way back in 1980 in Mill Valley, California, Steve and Kate started the camp after seeing kids’ independence slipping away, and the camp has followed the same self-directed model since 1980. The camp was created to address flaws in traditional camps where kids participated in activities based on age instead of interests, and parents had to pay non-refundable fees. Parents can buy any number of day passes, attend camp any time, and receive automatic full refunds for any unused purchased Day Passes at the end of summer, or buy a Summer Pass for unlimited use with an automatic refund if it is underused compared to the daily rate. Parents can buy any number of days to use whenever and wherever they would like throughout the summer, with drop-off and pick-up allowed at any time within camp hours. The program uses all-inclusive rates with no additional fees, covering all camp hours from 8am to 6pm, snacks, lunch, and any activities that interest the child, and tasty meals and snacks are included in the camp fee. Summer day camps and holiday camps are offered for kids ages 4–12, and Steve & Kate's Camp also offers mentorship programs for children aged 14 and 15, with availability that may vary by location; the camp age limit is 13, but if a camper turns 14 while attending summer camp, they may finish out the summer. No paperwork is required for age verification during registration, and all campers must be fully toilet trained, able to speak up for their needs, and able to get through the camp day without a nap. The camp focuses on belonging by celebrating the individual and enabling campers to express themselves freely while staff cheer them on, and it operates at more than 70–90 locations from Manhattan to Manhattan Beach, depending on the source page.
The organization is staffed top to bottom with people who share a talent for connecting with kids, and the original vision of Steve and Kate is carried out through the current VPs, Kevin and Mike. According to the camp’s mission statement, campers choose their own activities and plan their own days, and the camp states that empowering kids to make their own choices and be their own bosses helps them discover new reserves of confidence, resiliency, and creativity. Testimonials describe the camp as a place where children “blossom and discover a freedom of identity” and “find their thumbprint,” and note that “if kids ruled the world, it might look something like Steve and Kate’s Camp.” Media quotes mention that many children of people working at Pixar and Industrial Light & Magic attend, describe the camp as blending a traditional camp experience with a modern, tech-savvy touch, and say that working parents’ worries “dissipate” as they consider Steve & Kate’s model.
Last updated April 30, 2026.
• Ages: 4–13 years old
• Schedule: Long camp hours, 8am–6pm, all included in the camp fee
Way back in 1980 in Mill Valley, California, Steve and Kate started the camp after seeing kids’ independence slipping away, and the camp has followed the same self-directed model since 1980. The camp was created to address flaws in traditional camps where kids participated in activities based on age instead of interests, and parents had to pay non-refundable fees. Parents can buy any number of day passes, attend camp any time, and receive automatic full refunds for any unused purchased Day Passes at the end of summer, or buy a Summer Pass for unlimited use with an automatic refund if it is underused compared to the daily rate. Parents can buy any number of days to use whenever and wherever they would like throughout the summer, with drop-off and pick-up allowed at any time within camp hours. The program uses all-inclusive rates with no additional fees, covering all camp hours from 8am to 6pm, snacks, lunch, and any activities that interest the child, and tasty meals and snacks are included in the camp fee. Summer day camps and holiday camps are offered for kids ages 4–12, and Steve & Kate's Camp also offers mentorship programs for children aged 14 and 15, with availability that may vary by location; the camp age limit is 13, but if a camper turns 14 while attending summer camp, they may finish out the summer. No paperwork is required for age verification during registration, and all campers must be fully toilet trained, able to speak up for their needs, and able to get through the camp day without a nap. The camp focuses on belonging by celebrating the individual and enabling campers to express themselves freely while staff cheer them on, and it operates at more than 70–90 locations from Manhattan to Manhattan Beach, depending on the source page.
The organization is staffed top to bottom with people who share a talent for connecting with kids, and the original vision of Steve and Kate is carried out through the current VPs, Kevin and Mike. According to the camp’s mission statement, campers choose their own activities and plan their own days, and the camp states that empowering kids to make their own choices and be their own bosses helps them discover new reserves of confidence, resiliency, and creativity. Testimonials describe the camp as a place where children “blossom and discover a freedom of identity” and “find their thumbprint,” and note that “if kids ruled the world, it might look something like Steve and Kate’s Camp.” Media quotes mention that many children of people working at Pixar and Industrial Light & Magic attend, describe the camp as blending a traditional camp experience with a modern, tech-savvy touch, and say that working parents’ worries “dissipate” as they consider Steve & Kate’s model.
Last updated April 30, 2026.