Young campers on stand-up paddle boards in the protected water at Crane Cove Park, with Building 49 and the Pier 70 gantry behind them

It’s always sunny in Dogpatch

2027 youth camps

A week on the Bay. Active adventures, lifelong connections, awesome counsellors, and frozen treats in the shop to cool off.

Ages7 to 16

Per week$799-999

Hours9am–3pm

Extended careAvailable

Forget June gloom and no-sky July. While Karl the Fog lingers over Twin Peaks, blue skies open along the waterfront. Summer in Dogpatch is legit, and what better way to soak it up than adventuring all day on the beach and the Bay. Every session runs Monday to Friday.

We built our summer programs from our own best camp memories: active adventures, lifelong connections, awesome counsellors, and yes, frozen treats in the shop to cool off.

The camps

Three camps in 2027. What separates them is age and how much water time your camper already has.

Ages 7 to 11, no experience

Beginner paddle board

$799/week

All 14 sessions · 9am to 3pm

Perfect for newcomers eager to learn the basics of paddle boarding. Campers build balance, paddling and safety in the protected water at Crane Cove, in a supportive and fun environment. No experience necessary, which is what makes it the ideal starting point.

Ages 9 to 14, some experience

Intermediate SUP or kayak

$799/week

All 14 sessions · 9am to 3pm

For paddlers who already have experience and want to have fun with it. Campers refine their technique on both board and kayak, go farther from base than the beginners do, and reconnect with old friends on and off the water.

Ages 13 to 16, two sessions only

Teen Explorer’s travel camp

$999/week

21 Jun and 2 Aug · small group

We take the show on the road to the best paddle spots in the Bay Area: Marin, the East Bay, Half Moon Bay and the Peninsula, plus a push for the Bay Bridge. A smaller group built for teens, who bond hard over a week of exploring by paddle board. Two weeks all summer, so it fills.

Prices are per camper, per week. Extended care is added at registration: before care 8 to 9am is $50 a week, after care 3 to 6pm is $100, and both together are $120.

2027 sessions

San Francisco schools don’t all break at the same time, so we run three spring sessions and eleven summer weeks. Each one lists the camps running that week.

Spring break 1Beginner · IntermediateMar 29 to Apr 2

Spring break 2Beginner · IntermediateApr 5 to 9

Spring break 3Beginner · IntermediateApr 12 to 16

Summer 1Beginner · IntermediateJun 7 to 11

Summer 2Beginner · IntermediateJun 14 to 18

Summer 3Beginner · Intermediate · Teen Explorer’sJun 21 to 25

Summer 4Beginner · IntermediateJun 28 to Jul 2

Summer 5Beginner · IntermediateJul 5 to 9

Summer 6Beginner · IntermediateJul 12 to 16

Summer 7Beginner · IntermediateJul 19 to 23

Summer 8Beginner · IntermediateJul 26 to 30

Summer 9Beginner · Intermediate · Teen Explorer’sAug 2 to 6

Summer 10Beginner · IntermediateAug 9 to 13

Summer 11Beginner · IntermediateAug 16 to 20

Spring break 1 is the SFUSD week and spring break 2 is the private-school week, because the two do not overlap. Summer 1 starts the Monday after SFUSD lets out. Registration carries live availability.

A day at camp

Camps are affected by weather, so we stay flexible. We try to spend as much time on the water as possible, though land-based games have proved popular with the kids. Either way we adapt the programme to suit the group.

8:00amBefore care, at additional cost

9:00amArrival and drop off at Crane Cove Park. Circle time, stretching, pod games.

9:45amGear up. Campers grab PFDs, wetsuits, paddles, boards and leashes.

10:00amMorning paddle. Out onto the Bay, weather permitting. Beginners stay close to base and learn; intermediate paddlers venture farther.

11:30amReturn to Crane Cove. Gear is stored for mid-day. Some days the intermediate campers stay out on their adventure.

12:00pmLunch and land-based game time. Campers pack their own lunch.

1:00pmAfternoon paddle. Sometimes we play games on our paddle platforms in the cove.

2:30pmReturn to Crane Cove and free time. Gear is cleaned and stored for the day.

3:00pmPick up

3:00pmAfter care until 6pm, at additional cost

Good to know

Can my camper swim well enough?All campers must be solid swimmers. Camps are physically demanding, so campers should be in good shape and ready for a challenge. If you’re unsure which camp suits your child, ask us and we’ll help you pick.

SafetyEvery camp opens with a full safety briefing: emergency protocols, paddling technique, and how to read tides and currents. If conditions change we have alternative activities ready, and Crane Cove Park has beach games, wading areas and open fields for days we stay ashore.

Who is with themOur counsellors are more than great instructors. They’re fun, energetic and expert in water safety, each CPR and first-aid certified with a strong swimming background.

What we provideEverything your camper paddles with: board or kayak, paddle, life vest and leash. A wetsuit is optional, and they’re welcome to bring their own or buy one in the shop. Full packing list in Camper information.

Everyone is welcomeWe welcome all children and hold an absolute policy of inclusion. Our counsellors are trained to facilitate inclusion for all genders, identities, ethnicities and learning differences.

CancellationFull refund up to 60 days before camp begins. Between 30 and 60 days, credit toward any Dogpatch Paddle service or retail purchase. Within 30 days, non-refundable unless a replacement camper is found.

For the parents Learning to paddle isn't just for kids. Lessons and guided tours at Crane Cove, most weekends, in small groups. Start where your camper started. Book a session → Once you are enrolled Everything a camp family needs. Drop-off and pick-up, the packing list, what we provide, and what a day on the water actually looks like. Read camper info →

Sauna + cold plunge Drop off at nine and be in the sauna by quarter past from $25 Rentals Take a boat out while they are on the water from $40/hr Private events Birthdays and school groups on the same beach Get a quote