Happy Campers Preschool

Three of my kids have attended Happy Campers, with two still enrolled. Audra and her team are fantastic, and my kids get dropped off happy each day, running into their teachers' arms or right into playing with friends, and they come home daily with smiles on their faces and fun stories to tell about their day. Happy Campers has not only cared for them with love and care like they were one of their own, but they have learned far beyond what they will be learning once they attend their next school. This isn't just a "watch my kid for me program" They have a well-outlined curriculum for each kid's stage and super fun additional activities such as the TumbleBuss, Water Play on hot days, Bounce Houses, and more. Additionally, they communicate continuously thought the day with notes, updates, photos, and videos.

5-Stars aren't enough!! Keep up the fantastic work, team!!

Oh my goodness -- how blessed I am to have found this preschool! Two of my three children have attended, and my third will be starting in the Fall of 2021, so I will have at least 8 years of evidence to back up my claim that this is seriously one of the kindest, well-planned (their preschool curriculum is amazing -- my THREE year old is already reading because of, well a combo of genetics and their curriculum), and extremely WELL PREPARED FOR COVID.

For those of you who are concerned about Covid -- my three year old (then two) was at Happy Campers after it was allowed to reopen. I never, for one second, worried that Happy Campers was cutting corners. They were honest, provided frequent communication, installed countless safety measures that still are in place, and have been forward thinking throughout all of this. If you need a place to send your child -- even in a post-pandemic world -- this is the place you want your child to be...SAFE.

Highly recommend. If I was having more kids, I'd buy stock!

Best child care center with a fabulous, loving and caring group of teachers. Both of our kids are at Happy Campers and we couldn't be more happier!

This review is for the Happy Campers toddler center. My daughter went to the Caterpillar class and she loved going to school everyday! The teachers in the class are patience and caring. My daughter would talk about her teachers and friends at home all the time. During the summer time, Audra and the staff arranged a really fun program that there is a new activity every single day for an entire month (water play, tumble bus, bike day, bounce house and themed day). My daughter woke up each morning and asked me happily "Mom, what day is today?" I think she is learning about the day of the week and the same time curious about what activity it would be. I sincerely wanted to thank Audra and all the staff at HC for leaving her such a happy memory!

My 3yo son has been coming to happy campers since he was 9m old. He started in the infant center on El Camino and then moved to the preschool on Laurel Street.

He has 3 teachers in his classroom and he adores them! He usually names one of his teachers when I ask him what the favorite part of his day was.

They use the Funshine Express curriculum and I am constantly impressed with how much he learns at school. At 3 he already knows the full alphabet, including recognizing all the letters and he can count to 20 independently. Part of the curriculum was learning about the solar system and he can name every planet, in order from the sun. He also knows what color they are and what makes them unique from the other planets. They use the brightwheel app, and as a mom in tech, I love their investment in technology to better communicate with parents.

Audra, the owner, is a mom herself. She is always at the school and available to answer questions or have a quick chat. She invests heavily in the program and their teachers, including a few days throughout the year where they close so the teachers can familiarize themselves with the new curriculum. Audra is also involved in the local community and advocates for more child care options since there is a shortage in our area.

I was a few minutes late one evening during a rain storm, and apologized profusely when I arrived. Audra told me that she didn't mind me being late, so long as I was safe. It's this type of service and care that compelled me to write this review.

As a full time working mom, it's so comforting to know my son is well taken care of in a caring and educating environment. Thank you Happy Campers!

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It's true... if your child is wild, free spirited, high energy, with a loud and bold personality, otherwise known as a typical and completely normal child on the higher end of the energy spectrum- they'll call your child difficult and unfit for their school. Otherwise, lazy teachers who have NO idea how to re-direct high energy children. Teachers who have no idea that making a huge scene, fuss, screaming, chasing your wild child makes your wild child laugh at them! And makes the situation worse, because of course- is your child going to listen to crazy screaming adults who don't know how to take proper control of a situation?

My son just turned 3 and had started Happy Campers in the Fall. Since his first day, he was unfit in their eyes. They don't know how to calmly re-direct a child to quiet play. What do they do all day then? They prefer children who passively and quietly play. After day 3, he was officially out of their program. Their director, Audra (who has no professional degree) was quick to analyze and label my child, saying he needs behavioral modification therapy, etc, etc.

Anyway, he's in a much better, amazing Montesorri school with experienced teachers!

We absolutely loved our experience at Happy Campers. My child was there for 2 years (ages 3 - 5), and her teachers were consistently warm, welcoming, and supportive. We were sad to leave when she graduated! The Director was always very clear, open, and responsive in her communication, and she also knows the names and parents of all the children at the school. Now that we are in regular school, we truly appreciate how well Happy Campers prepares children academically and socially as well.

My son went to a couple of different preschools, before I found HC in 2010. Thank God we found this school! We were immediately welcomed in and all of the teachers were so helpful and caring. I felt my son was in great hands, and by the time he graduated, I knew he was more than prepared for Kindergarten.

Fast forward to 2017, when it was time for my daughter to go to preschool, I knew exactly where I wanted her to go. My daughter has been at HC for over a year and it has been a wonderful experience. My daughter had a hard time from being at home with family, no schedule, and marching to the beat of her own drum, to adjusting to a schedule, new teachers, new friends, and a new curriculum. The teachers and Audra were a huge help with this transition! I would get updates when I picked her up, the teachers all reassured me that she was in good hands and made my daughter feel so comfortable. I immediately noticed that she was more social, and learning so much.

Recently when my daughter moved into a new class with new teachers at HC, she again had a very hard time adjusting to the change (I'm talking screaming, crying, hanging on to me). It was a nightmare! Again, the teachers, Audra and Jill worked with my daughter and I during this difficult transition. I got updates and, by the end of the week, my daughter was back to normal enjoying school again.

I can't say enough good things about HC. I'm sad this is our last year before Kindergarten. Sending your child to daycare/preschool is a big deal and I am thankful that I found HC back in 2010 and even more thankful that it is the same amazing daycare today! I highly recommend Happy Campers!

I wish it was possible to give no stars.

This business is not good with young babies. They say they help them transition, but they do not. It is like boot camp for infants. They need to get with the program quick or be kicked out. After one week, my 6 month old was kicked out because she was reluctant to eat there. They simply said it was "not a good fit" and sent me home one morning.

They also lied about how I talked to staff, when I had told them calmly that I did not like to see my baby lying face down by herself screaming her head off when I arrived, with a care giver nearby doing nothing. They scorched a whole bottle of breast milk one day, and the next day did not offer the bottle at all, instead leaving it on the counter all day to spoil. They said I yelled at them, but I most certainly did not. I did tell them about the issue, as nicely as I could.

They demanded I sign a contract that was not correct. They also did not like that I told them that the agreed upon hours must be correct before I sign.

I saw them line up four babies and prop up all the bottles. They don't even have a rocking chair in an infant care center. Or actually, they did have one, a dangerously broken one, then they took that away eventually and had none. Frequently when I arrived they had four or more screaming babies.

And here is the kicker.....they are still sending me messages on the app they use to communicate with parents, including telling me that my daughter's diaper was wet. They are obviously not paying attention to the babies, and their parents. They treat them like a herd of babies, not as individual precious little humans.

We moved to San Carlos and needed to find daycare quickly. Luckily, we were able to secure a spot for our older son, who was just over 1 at the time. He's now almost 4 and our younger son started there when he was 5 months old (he's almost 2 now).

I can't think of a better place for our kids to spend their days. The staff is incredibly caring, makes time when we have questions or want to check in on how our kids are doing, is sometimes available when we need babysitters and, most importantly, give our kids the love and support they need as they develop.

Feel very fortunate to have found this place and I would recommend it to any parent.