Camp Doodles, Mill Valley

Camp Doodles cares deeply about kids both here and abroad. To help kids abroad, it donates a portion of its annual sales to The Simama Project, which provides housing, food, and education to homeless and at-risk kids in Nanyuki, Kenya.

For kids closer to home, it offers summer-camp day programs with a variety of age-appropriate activities focused on learning and play. Kids might build and launch a real rocket during Space week, don a self-made mask and cape and fight villains during Superhero week, or go on a hunt for buried treasure or Bluebeard's bottle of beard dye during Pirate week.

With its low staff-to-child ratio—about eight campers for every one counselor—Camp Doodles ensures children build meaningful relationships with the counselors, who are often elementary school teachers, early-childhood educators, or students pursuing education degrees. The small groups also encourage friendship between campers.