For children from preschool through high school, our 2025 Summer Camps include imagination-filled Story Tables games, preschool camp, outdoor adventures, arts & crafts, music, sports, and more! Click on the register button below each offering to sign up for one or multiple camps.
For questions, please contact
Cassidy Linder
Summer Program Director
camps@oakgroveschool.org
Get ready for an action-packed week of creativity and hands-on artistry! In this electrifying workshop, we’ll dive into an incredible array of handcrafting techniques, from the timeless art of leather tooling to the mesmerizing magic of metal etching, vibrant enameling, intricate embroidery, and the cozy charm of needle felting! Each day, you’ll unlock new skills and bring your artistic visions to life as we craft stunning, one-of-a-kind wearable and functional masterpieces. Think dazzling jewelry charms, eye-catching iron-on patches, and beautifully crafted leather coasters—all made by YOU! Let’s unleash our creativity and make some unforgettable art!
Calling all aspiring pastry chefs! Our kitchen is where the magic happens, and we’re diving headfirst into the world of pastry arts! All items made get to go home with the students!
To keep things safe and professional, all participants must wear:
Each day will be a 100% hands-on, immersive experience in the world of pastry arts! We’re talking precision, decoration, and creativity at the highest level!
You’ll master:
Every day, you’ll witness and practice classic baking techniques, including:
This camp is all about focus, precision, and standing on your feet for long stretches while crafting detailed edible masterpieces. We’ll take breaks for a provided morning snack and a bring-your-own lunch each day.
This is the ultimate baking bootcamp for passionate young chefs – are you ready to level up your pastry game?!
Important Note:
We are unable to accommodate gluten-free or vegan modifications for this class. Please submit all allergies or food restrictions at time of registration.
With over 25 years of kitchen experience, specifically as a Pastry Chef, Julia San Bartolome is Head Chef at Oak Grove School. When not preparing vegetarian food for students, she enjoys everything from working in her garden to walks on the beach, creative digital formatting of her recipes, and of course arts and crafts. Julia brings a unique food-focused perspective in all she does.
Barb Sanchez, a local Ventura County resident since the late 70’s, recently retired after 40+ years in office management. Over the decades, she built a family with two daughters and a son. She happily dedicates her free time to going on walks, working in the garden, making freelance fondant decorations as well as visiting with her five grandchildren and 91-year-old mom.
Together this Mother-Daughter team brings hundreds of hours of hand crafting using many different fiber arts, as well as thousands of hours of kitchen experience.
Get ready for an electrifying chess experience led by Ben Gerstein, a master educator with 20+ years of chess teaching expertise! Whether you’re just starting out or a rising champion, this camp is your chance to dive deep into the thrilling world of chess in an exciting, supportive, and strategy-packed environment.
Bring your own board and pieces and prepare for an unforgettable journey across 64 squares of endless possibilities! Whether you dream of becoming a grandmaster or just love a good challenge, this summer at Oak Grove is your chance to level up, make bold moves, and have an absolute blast with chess!
An artist, musician, and long-time chess player, Ben has been teaching music privately in town and as Music Specialist at the Montessori School of Ojai since 2023, as well as at other schools in and around Ventura County. (Read more about Ben below under his Music Exploration Camp).
Get ready for an action-packed, two-week coding adventure where YOU become the creator of your very own web game! No experience? No problem! With just your curiosity and creativity, you’ll dive into the exciting world of web development, mastering HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to bring your ideas to life.
Through hands-on projects, you’ll learn how to structure webpages, style them with flair, and add mind-blowing interactivity with JavaScript! By the end of the course, you’ll have built a fully functional, totally awesome web game—designed and coded by YOU!
Don’t just play games—create them! Are you ready to code, innovate, and have a blast? Let’s do this!
Chris is an Oak Grove parent, and a self-taught computer programmer. He has worked at a number of creative and advertising agencies before co-creating Google Earth Studio. He’s excited to share his knowledge and passion for web development with the next generation of coders!
Join high school counselor Britt Holden, Emma Larkan, and Tessa Magill for a week of high Sierra adventure, cold water plunges, growing confidence, and relationship-building. There are endless lakes, streams, gorges, canyons, rock formations, and meadows to explore. Nightly soaks in the surrounding hot springs will be the perfect way to end each day and prepare for the next.
Brittany Holden is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in Ojai, CA and holds a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. Her work is dedicated to honoring changes, transitions, and milestones that challenge us, provoke reflection, and sometimes stop us in our tracks. Finding inspiration in the outdoors, Brittany loves using nature as an environment to encounter obstacles, seek connection, and foster strength. Whether it’s in the backcountry or on our local trails, Brittany believes there is always something you can learn about yourself by getting outside.
Get ready to unleash your creativity and dive headfirst into the mesmerizing world of classic fiber arts! This hands-on, immersive class will introduce you to FOUR timeless and magical fiber art techniques! All items created get to go home with the students!
Embroidery Magic
Learn essential stitches and discover how to personalize your favorite items with stunning, handcrafted details!
Crochet Adventure
Start with the basics, master the art of granny squares, and transform them into your very own stylish handmade bag!
Felt Creations
Design, cut, and hand-sew your own adorable felt ornaments—perfect for gifts or decorations!
Textile Painting Fun
Explore the bold and beautiful world of canvas and denim painting, bringing your artistic vision to life on fabric!
This class is perfect for those who love getting lost in creative projects and enjoy the satisfaction of working with their hands. Expect hours of engaging, detailed handwork, with plenty of inspiration along the way!
We’ll take a break to recharge with a provided morning snack and a lunch break (please bring your own).
Join us for an unforgettable fiber arts adventure—let’s stitch, paint, and create together!
Get ready for an unforgettable creative adventure with renowned fiber artist Sally England! Dive into the mesmerizing world of knotting, weaving, and twining as you unleash your imagination and craft your very own stunning large-scale wall hanging or sculpture!
Feel the magic of fiber art come to life in your hands as you explore a variety of materials and techniques—no experience needed, just a passion for creativity! Let the meditative rhythm of your hands guide you as you build muscle memory and bring your vision to life.
But that’s not all! You’ll also uncover the rich history of fiber art and knotting while getting an exclusive look into what it’s like to be a full-time working artist.
Whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned maker, this is your chance to immerse yourself in a hands-on, inspiring, and deeply rewarding experience! Don’t miss out—let’s create something incredible together!
Get ready for an unforgettable week of movement, music, and deep connection with nature! Led by the incredible Seshen—a dynamic movement teacher, mesmerizing vocalist, soulful dancer, and skilled somatic therapist originally from Japan—this one-of-a-kind workshop invites you to unleash your creativity through dance like never before!
No dance experience? No problem! This workshop is for everyone—from seasoned movers to total beginners—ready to dive into expressive, boundary-free movement! You’ll dance to an eclectic mix of music, explore somatic practices, engage in drawing and journaling, and soak in the beauty of the great outdoors. Through every step, sway, and breath, you’ll tune into your body’s wisdom and nature’s endless inspiration.
And the grand finale? A magical, site-specific performance in a lush garden setting! This collaborative piece will be filmed and shared on the final day, followed by a reflection circle where we’ll celebrate our journey together.
Join us for a transformative week of authentic movement, deep connection, creative exploration, and pure joy!
Seshen: Yuri Murayama MA, RCST is a movement teacher, vocalist, dancer, and somatic therapist from Japan. Her practice is deeply rooted in the art of listening and embodying the interconnectedness of nature through both performance and healing. With a master’s degree in vocal improvisation and over 15 years of experience teaching Soul Motion™—a conscious dance practice—internationally, Seshen has cultivated a rich, diverse approach to movement. She has also served as a guest faculty member at Rudolf Steiner University College in Norway. Inspired by the natural world, she offers a unique and creative approach to guiding students in exploring movement and self-expression.
Get ready for the most exciting summer adventure on our Preschool playground! Join the amazing Preschool Teacher Brent Friedlander and the fantastic Aftercare Teacher Jennifer Wing for endless fun in the sun!
Every morning will be a whirlwind of exploration, creativity, and hands-on discovery as we dive into the wonders of our campus! From imaginative play to nature-filled adventures, each day will be packed with engaging activities that spark curiosity, laughter, and lasting friendships.
And let’s talk about the coolest part—water play galore! With the summer heat, we’ll splash, play, and make delicious homemade popsicles to refresh things!
This is the ultimate opportunity to continue old friendships and create new ones, all while being guided by our nurturing, experienced teachers. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable summer filled with sunshine, smiles, and pure preschool magic!
Get ready for the ULTIMATE sports adventure!
Heidi, our incredible Sports teacher, is leading an action-packed SPORTS CAMP you won’t want to miss!
Come have a BLAST learning awesome games and skills—soccer, basketball, frisbee, gaga ball, and SO MUCH MORE!
Get ready to run, jump, play, and make unforgettable memories! LET’S GO!
My name is Heidi, I am in my second year teaching and coaching at Oak Grove. I work with students first through twelfth grade. I have years of experience coaching kids, one of my passions! I look forward to another round of fun summer sports camps!
Get ready to unleash your imagination and dive into an unforgettable journey with Story Tables! Led by the incredible Ashton MacSaylor, former Oak Grove HS English teacher, this experience is more than just a game—it’s a thrilling adventure into the mystical world of Isles of Mist!
No screens. No limits. Just pure creativity!
Together, we’ll craft bold heroes, daring quests, and epic battles using only our words and ideas! Isles of Mist is a one-of-a-kind tabletop roleplaying game—similar to Dungeons & Dragons, but designed especially for younger players while still offering endless excitement for adventurers of all ages.
And the best part? You control the story! Will you face off against a mighty dragon? Unravel an ancient mystery? Save a kingdom from darkness? The possibilities are endless!
Ashton MacSaylor, once the high school English teacher at Oak Grove School, now runs Story Tables full time with the mission of bringing the powerful benefits of tabletop roleplaying games to as many kids as possible. He has been a nerd for both literature and games since a young age, and currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife and young son, as well as one very pampered cat.
Get ready for an absolutely thrilling workshop where our favorite books leap off the pages and into our hands! We’ll bring beloved characters to life through the magic of needle felting, then mix in found objects to create one-of-a-kind sculptural masterpieces! Let your imagination run wild as we transform stories into stunning, tangible works of art—this is creativity at its most exciting!
Michelle is an artist and teacher living and working in Ventura, CA. She specializes in jewelry & metalsmithing and fiber arts and enjoys sharing her passion for creating through classes and workshops she offers in the community. Her biggest inspiration is her love of nature and and all of its beauty, as she incorporates its lines, patterns and colors into the work she creates.
Get ready for an action-packed, laugh-out-loud adventure in Finding the Words! This summer, step into the spotlight and join us for a week of creativity, fun, and show-stopping drama!
The stage is set at a small regional theater, and disaster is looming—the FINAL REHEARSAL is here, but the lead actor STILL can’t remember his lines! Can the director’s hilariously klutzy assistant swoop in and save the show? Or will chaos take center stage?
Join us for an unforgettable week of acting, teamwork, and theater magic! Spots are LIMITED—don’t miss your chance to be part of the show on the last day of camp!
Step into a world where music, nature, and art collide in the most electrifying way! This immersive workshop is your chance to dive headfirst into global soundscapes, unlock new creative pathways, and expand your artistic vision like never before!
Mornings?
They’re packed with deep explorations of music history, sound appreciation, and artistic discovery!
Engage in thought-provoking discussions, instrumental warm-ups, and sonic investigations that will awaken your creative instincts.
Afternoons?
That’s where the magic intensifies! We’ll embark on extended instrumental journeys, hands-on practice sessions, and fieldwork that will unleash your primal musical instincts—free, raw, and uninhibited!
Leading this extraordinary experience is the brilliant Ben Gerstein—a musician, educator, and multimedia artist whose unparalleled 25+ year archive of sound recordings and artistic treasures will take our exploration to the next level! From ancient indigenous traditions to celestial soundscapes and Western classical masterpieces, you’ll experience music in ways you never imagined!
We’ll be playing with an array of media tools—turntables, projectors, portable speakers, cassette and CD players—creating a multi-dimensional, full-spectrum listening experience! Think deep-sea soundscapes, cosmic harmonies, and everything in between!
By the end of this thrilling week, you’ll craft your very own personalized CD—a sonic time capsule of your greatest discoveries and inspirations! No matter your skill level, this dynamic, inclusive environment is for YOU!
Are you ready to transform the way you hear, feel, and create music? Join us and let’s embark on this unforgettable journey into sound!
Ben Gerstein is a trombonist, improviser, composer, artist and educator living in Ojai, California. A Santa Barbara native, he was based in New York City from 1995-2020, a jazz graduate from the Manhattan School of Music in 1999. For over 25 years, he has been collaborating with many different groups and individuals in the U.S. and abroad, committed to the practices of improvised music, composition, studio and nature field recording. His music explores the intersections between free improvisation, composition and visual art through audio and video documentation, drawing inspiration from nature and landscapes, found events, and many different musics, musicians, artists, cultures, athletes, authors, spiritual practices and histories. As a teacher and mentor, Ben motivates and supports his students to realize and cultivate inspired practice for themselves, getting new perspectives on creative life and their unique musical journeys, discover new resources and worlds of music, sound and expressive/artistic possibility. Ben has been teaching music privately in town and as Music Specialist at the Montessori School of Ojai since 2023, as well as at other schools in and around Ventura County.
