Summer at SA

Week 1: June 10 through June 14, 2024

List of 9 frequently asked questions.

  • Art in 5 Days: Embroidery, Watercolor, Sculpture, and More

    In this relaxing and fun class, we will draw, paint, collage, create small sculptures, and embellish  clothing. We will go on a field trip to get materials to embellish clothing with iron-on patches and hand-embroidery. Using symbolism, we will create self-portraits in collage and paint. We will sculpt in clay, and paint their own interpretation of Robert Indiana’s LOVE. We’ll collaborate on a watercolor based on a master painter (think Van Gogh or Friday Kahlo). We will close the session with a party that showcases and celebrates everyone’s artwork. Every day, we will play games to create an environment where learning is fun! (This camp will have different projects from Week 2, so campers are welcome to sign up for both sessions if they like!) 

    Dates:     June 10-14, 2024 
    Time:     9:00 am to 3:00 pm 
    Ages:     Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
    Cost:     $450 

    Teacher: Catherine Daley
    Catherine is sculptor, photographer, and painter. You can find her work at sites throughout Sonoma County, including the Luther Burbank Center and Sonoma State University. She teaches a variety of art-focused Intersession and Exploratory classes at Sonoma Academy.

    Register here

  • Athletic Adventures

    Calling all athletes and those who love to play! This weeklong camp offers a smorgasbord of sports, from basketball to soccer to ultimate frisbee and more! Each day, we will learn skills and fundamentals related to a wide variety of sports, guided by Sonoma Academy coaches and athletes. We’ll also learn about injury prevention, mobility, and taking care of ourselves to perform at our best. 

    Dates: June 10-14, 2024 
    Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm 
    Ages: Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
    Cost: $450

    Teachers: Chris Ziemer and the SA Athletic Staff
    Chris Ziemer has been at Sonoma Academy for 20 years, serving as Head Coach of our high performing Varsity Girls Soccer Team and overseeing our athletic program as Athletic Director. He will be joined by other members of our coaching staff and varsity athletes to provide a fun variety of athletic activities for our campers! 

    Register Here

  • Earthology: Environmental Science

    In this camp, we will learn about what it’s like to be an environmental scientist, both outdoors and in the lab. We will learn to orient ourselves in "the field" through terrain identification, practice mapping skills with compass and GPS, collect rock, soil, and water samples, and analyze them chemically in the lab. 

    Dates:     June 10-14, 2024 
    Time:     9:00 am to 3:00 pm
    Ages:     Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders 
    Cost:     $450

    Teacher: Jim Sweeney 
    Jim is a Sonoma Academy STEM teacher who teaches classes ranging from Food Science to Chemistry to Financial Literacy. He is enthusiastic about sharing the nature of Sonoma County with young people. 

    Register Here

  • Intro to Debate 

    Do you like to argue? Come hone your skills by spending a week with Sonoma Academy's nationally competitive debate team. During this week, you will engage in a series of fun activities designed to improve your public speaking and critical thinking. You will work closely with our Sonoma Academy Varsity debaters, all leading up to a winner-takes-all tournament! (This camp is the same as the session offered in Week 2.)

    Dates:     June 10-14, 2024 
    Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm 
    Ages:     Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders 
    Cost:     $450

    Teacher: Adam Martin
    Adam is the coach of Sonoma Academy’s award winning Speech and Debate team. As a high school student, he was nationally competitive himself, and he took the helm at SA after coaching Analy High School’s debaters. 

    Register Here

  • iPhone Photography 

    If you have an iPhone, you have a state-of-the-art photo studio in your pocket! Learn what your phone can do in this fun, hands-on class, taught by a certified Apple "genius!" We will explore the capabilities of your smartphone camera, whether it’s new or an older model. We will also learn about what it means to compose shots, edit photos, and utilize video to make a short film with no words. 

    Dates: June 10-14, 2024 
    Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
    Ages: Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
    Cost: $450 

    Teacher: Danny Harold
    Danny is a key member of the IT and Facilities team at Sonoma Academy. Before coming to SA, Danny worked as a “genius” at the Apple store. He is passionate about helping others to learn about all the capabilities of their smartphones so that they can create amazing images and films. 

    Register Here

  • Jam Band

    Let’s jam! In our "Jam Band" ensemble camp, students will have the opportunity to collaborate together to learn new instruments and create spontaneous music! All instruments and skill levels are welcome. We will spend our time practicing and applying new music concepts to both improvise and write our own music!

    Dates: June 10-14, 2024
    Time:     9:00 am to 3:00 pm 
    Ages:     Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders 
    Cost:     $450

    Teacher: Daniel Reiter
    Daniel rocks out all day as a music teacher at Sonoma Academy. He teaches classes such as Advanced Musicianship, Rock Band, and Jazz Band, in addition to advising a number of other student bands. Daniel also plays with several bands and performs throughout Sonoma County. 

    Register Here

  • Mangia, Mangia! Italian Cooking and Baking

    Do you love Italian and Italian American food? Who doesn't?! This week you will learn to make some of the favorite dishes that you will want to make over and over again for your friends and family. Homemade pastas, simple salads, pizza with our outdoor brick oven, and desserts like tiramisu and gelato will be fun to make and delicious to eat! No prior cooking experience necessary. Come ready to get your hands dirty in all parts of the process, from prepping and assisting, to cooking and clean-up. (This camp will be whipping up the same tasty recipes during the Week 2 session.)

    Dates:     June 10-14, 2024 
    Time:     9:00 am to 3:00 pm
    Ages:     Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
    Cost:     $450

    Teacher: Alissa Coenen
    Alissa teaches Spanish at Sonoma Academy, along with many fun Exploratories and Intersession courses in a wide range of topics. She loves to cook, surf, knit, play ukulele, and play with her dog, Panda! 

    Register Here

  • Outdoor Adventures: Coastal Camping 

    Explore our beautiful natural surroundings in this weeklong camp! On Monday and Tuesday of this five-day camp we will spend time on and around Sonoma Academy's campus doing group bonding activities, hiking on Taylor Mountain, and other outdoor-related activities.

    On Wednesday, we will head off campus for two nights for a camping trip to Pt. Reyes National Seashore! We will hike, camp, backpack, cook, and enjoy each other's company, immersed in the beauty of this unique coastal ecosystem. Although a willingness to sleep outside and push yourself physically while hiking are required, all levels of experience and fitness levels are welcome! 

    Dates: June 10-14, 2024
    Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday and Tuesday; overnight backpacking trip Wednesday and Thursday (returning Friday)
    Ages: Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
    Cost: $750

    Teacher: Dan Karbousky
    Dan teaches math at Sonoma Academy, along with serving as the Assistant Coach for the Cross Country and Track and Field teams. He is also a certified personal trainer, and he leads an after school fitness and conditioning program for SA students.

    Register Here

  • Spooky Story Podcasting

    It was a dark and stormy night…How do you tell a great spooky story? In this camp, we will use our imaginations together, using the latest audio technology to write, record, produce, and edit original scary stories, turning them into podcasts to share with family and friends. We will work individually and/or in teams to record voices, create sound effects, and compose background music. We will then edit all the parts together to create one or more episodes of an original podcast. We'll end the week with a listening party for campers and their families!

    Dates: June 10-14, 2024 
    Time:     9:00 am to 3:00 pm
    Ages: Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
    Cost: $450

    Teacher: Spencer Nilsen 
    Spencer is SA’s Media Specialist/Media Educator, with a long and illustrious background in music composition, music production, and digital arts. He co-teaches a Podcasting course each year, in addition to leading many fun Exploratory and Intersession courses.

    Register Here

Week 2: June 17 through June 21, 2024

List of 9 frequently asked questions.

  • Art in 5 Days: Sketching, Drawing, Mask Making, and More

    In this relaxing and fun second session, students will sketch, draw, watercolor, make wire masks and small sculptures, and take fashion portraits of each other. Students will get lots of support and direction, along with skill-building instruction for each project. This second session will have different projects from Week 1, so artists can enroll in both! 

    Dates: June 17-21, 2024 
    Time:     9:00 am to 3:00 pm 
    Ages:     Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
    Cost:     $450 

    Teacher:     Catherine Daley
    Catherine is sculptor, photographer, and painter. You can find her work at sites throughout Sonoma County, including the Luther Burbank Center and Sonoma State University. She teaches a variety of art-focused Intersession and Exploratory classes at Sonoma Academy.

    Register Here

  • Basketball Bonanza

    Basketball Camp will provide an enjoyable and rewarding experience for players of all ability levels. Campers will learn how to become well-rounded basketball players through instruction and competition, which will include Basketball Fundamentals: shooting, ball handling, passing, footwork, rebounding, and defensive principles. Campers will participate in 1-on-1, 3-on-3, and 5-on-5 competitions designed to allow each player the opportunity to apply the skills they will be learning. Campers will enjoy free throw, three-point, and one-on-one contests, as well as various shooting and dribbling games, all in a fun, positive, and challenging environment.

    Dates: June 17-21, 2024 
    Time:     9:00 am to 3:00 pm
    Ages:     Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
    Cost:     $450

    Teacher: Kevin Christensen
    Kevin is a long term member of the Sonoma Academy team, serving as Associate Director of Athletics and Head Coach of the Varsity Girls Basketball Team. He has coached Basketball every year that we have held a summer camp and can’t wait to get back on the court this year! 

    Register Here

  • DIY Beauty Brand: Make and Market Your Own Beauty Products

    Create, market and sell your own beauty products in this fun entrepreneurial camp! Over the course of the week, campers will learn how to create soap, bath bombs, or candles. From there they will choose one item to focus on and create a brand for, on their own or collaborating with a partner. Students will design labels, create websites, and formulate a sales pitch. We will work on presentation skills so that they are prepared for the final day, where they will present their product to the class, shark tank style! 

    Dates: June 17-21, 2024 
    Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm 
    Ages: Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
    Cost: $450

    Teacher: Amaya Quintana ‘23
    Amaya is currently a student at Columbia University. She plans to become a teacher because she loves helping kids to discover their passions and their potential. 

    Register Here

  • Intro to Debate

    Do you like to argue? Come hone your skills by spending a week with Sonoma Academy's nationally competitive debate team. During this week, you will engage in a series of fun activities designed to improve your public speaking and critical thinking. You will work closely with our Sonoma Academy Varsity debaters, all leading up to a winner-takes-all tournament! (This camp is the same as the session offered in Week 1.)

    Dates:     June 17-21, 2024 
    Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm 
    Ages:     Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders 
    Cost:     $450

    Teacher:     Adam Martin
    Adam is the coach of Sonoma Academy’s award winning Speech and Debate team. As a high school student, he was nationally competitive himself, and he took the helm at SA after coaching Analy High School’s debaters. 

    Register Here

  • Jam Band

    Let’s jam! In our "Jam Band" ensemble camp, students will have the opportunity to collaborate together to learn new instruments and create spontaneous music! All instruments and skill levels are welcome. We will spend our time practicing and applying new music concepts to both improvise and write our own music!

    Dates: June 17-21, 2024
    Time:     9:00 am to 3:00 pm 
    Ages:     Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders 
    Cost:     $450

    Teacher:     Daniel Reiter
    Daniel rocks out all day as a music teacher at Sonoma Academy. He teaches classes such as Advanced Musicianship, Rock Band, and Jazz Band, in addition to advising a number of other student bands. Daniel also plays with several bands and performs throughout Sonoma County.

    Register Here

  • Lights! Camera! Action! Intro to Filmmaking

    Have you ever dreamed of becoming the next Spielberg or Gerwig? Develop your filmmaking skills over the course of a week with award-winning filmmakers (and Sonoma Academy alumni) Chris Kam and Miles Levin. Campers will learn the basics of visual storytelling and will have fun telling stories, making new friends, and learning from the pros!

    Dates:     June 17-21, 2024 
    Time:     9:00 am to 3:00 pm
    Ages:     Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
    Cost: $450

    Teachers: Chris Kam ‘21 and Miles Levin ‘13
    Chris and Miles first met when Chris was a sophomore at Sonoma Academy, in an Intersession course on Documentary Filmmaking. Miles is the award-winning director of the short film “Under the Lights,” which is currently being developed into a feature length movie. Chris is a working filmmaker and a student in the film program at Chapman University. 

    Register Here

  • Mangia, Mangia! Italian Cooking and Baking

    Do you love Italian and Italian American food? Who doesn't?! This week you will learn to make some of the favorite dishes that you will want to make over and over again for your friends and family. Homemade pastas, simple salads, pizza with our outdoor brick oven, and desserts like tiramisu and gelato will be fun to make and delicious to eat! No prior cooking experience necessary. Come ready to get your hands dirty in all parts of the process, from prepping and assisting, to cooking and clean-up. (This camp will be whipping up the same tasty recipes during the Week 1 session.)

    Dates:     June 17-21, 2024 
    Time:     9:00 am to 3:00 pm
    Ages:     Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
    Cost:     $450

    Teacher:     Alissa Coenen
    Alissa teaches Spanish at Sonoma Academy, along with many fun Exploratories and Intersession courses in a wide range of topics. She loves to cook, surf, knit, play ukulele, and play with her dog, Panda! 

    Register Here

  • Outdoor Adventures: Stargazing at Sugarloaf

    Explore our beautiful natural surroundings in this weeklong camp! On Monday and Tuesday of this five-day camp we will spend time on and around Sonoma Academy's campus doing group bonding activities, hiking on Taylor Mountain, and other outdoor-related activities.

    On Wednesday, we will head off campus for two nights for a campout at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park! We will hike, camp, backpack, cook, and enjoy each other's company. We'll also have the opportunity to learn about the stars, planets, and galaxies at the Robert Ferguson Observatory! Although a willingness to sleep outside and push yourself physically while hiking are required, all levels of experience and fitness levels are welcome! 

    Dates: June 17-21, 2024
    Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday and Tuesday; overnight backpacking trip Wednesday and Thursday (returning Friday)
    Ages: Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
    Cost: $750

    Teacher:     Dan Karbousky
    Dan teaches math at Sonoma Academy, along with serving as the Assistant Coach for the Cross Country and Track and Field teams. He is also a certified personal trainer, and he leads an after school fitness and conditioning program for SA students.

    Register Here

  • Stories! Stories! Stories!

    In this camp we will listen to, tell, read, and write stories. The first half of the day will be spent with professional storyteller Brandon Spars listening to and telling our own stories, including true personal tales, fairy tales, folktales, and even some scary campfire stories. At the end of the week we will have a small performance  to which we will invite other campers. 

    The second half of the day will be spent with professional writer and editor Martha Krausz '10, reading and writing stories. We will do informal journaling as well as more formal vignettes and short stories. A day of narration can be quite taxing, we know, which is why we will often include some rejuvenating stretching, yoga, and possibly some quiet meditation. We may even take a walk or two in the beautiful hills surrounding us. 

    Dates: June 17-21, 2024 
    Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
    Ages: Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
    Cost: $450 

    Teachers:     Brandon Spars and Martha Krausz ‘10
    Brandon has been a teacher in the Humanities department Sonoma Academy for over 20 years. In addition to teaching classes in Freshman Humanities, Comparative Religions, African Studies, and more, he’s an acclaimed storyteller and Moth StorySLAM and GrandSLAM winner many times over. 

    Martha was one of Brandon’s students, and his classes inspired her to pursue a career in the literary arts. She is a Marin-based writer, writing coach, and editor, and she also leads Embodiment workshops that combine movement, meditation, writing, and reflection. 

    Register Here

Summer @ SA is Back!

Our fun and educational week-long camps for rising 6th-8th graders, taught by Sonoma Academy staffulty and alumni, explore a huge range of topics to suit all sorts of interests. Each camp includes a full day of fun and learning, plus a healthy and freshly cooked hot lunch! 

The price for each one-week camp is $450, with the exception of Outdoor Adventures ($750, which includes a two night overnight camping trip). 

We would love to have you join us for a fun Summer @ SA!

Frequently Asked Questions

List of 8 frequently asked questions.

  • What is included in the camp fee?

    • All supplies and materials
    • Transportation for field trips off campus (when applicable)
    • Freshly cooked, nutritious hot lunch in the Commons
    • Snacks throughout the day
    • Tee shirt and bag  
    • Lots of learning and fun!

  • What is a typical day at camp like?

    Camp runs Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. After drop off, campers will spend the morning learning with their teacher and student TA’s. There will be a mid-morning snack and stretch break with time to get some fresh air on our beautiful campus at the base of Taylor Mountain. All campers will eat a provided hot lunch together in the Commons, then return to their camp groups for the rest of the day. 

  • How many campers are in each camp?

    Most camps will have a maximum of 16 campers (register early!) 

    Athletic Adventures and Basketball Bonanza camps will be open to a maximum of 30 campers.

  • What should I wear? What should I bring?

    Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that allow for movement and are suitable for the weather (all camps go outside during breaks and lunch!)

    Please bring a water bottle (labeled with your name) and sunscreen and/or hat for outdoor time.

  • Who staffs the camps?

    All of our camps are taught by fun and engaging Sonoma Academy teachers, staff, and alumni. Campers will also spend time throughout the day with Teaching Assistants, current Sonoma Academy students who have been selected for their leadership and responsibility. 

  • My favorite camp is sold out! Is there a wait list?

    We hope you will consider another one of our awesome camps! But if you would like to be added to a wait list for a sold-out camp, please email us.

  • What is the refund policy?

    Families who decide to cancel their Summer Camp registration will receive a full refund if done 14 days prior to the start of camp. No refund will be granted if withdrawn after that period, however, you may receive a camp credit (in the amount of your camp registration fee) towards any of our 2024 Summer Camps.

Summer Camps

2500 Farmers Lane 
Santa Rosa, CA 95404 
(707) 545-1770 
inbox@sonomaacademy.org
 

Sonoma Academy Is...

...the only private, independent, college preparatory high school in Sonoma County. On our beautiful campus nestled at the base of Taylor Mountain in Southeastern Santa Rosa, our students are able to explore their interests and passions in a rigorous and inspiring environment that develops a lifelong love of learning and prepares them for college and beyond.
Sonoma Academy admits students of any race, color, religion, ethnicity or national origin, citizenship, gender or gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity or national origin, citizenship, gender or gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and tuition assistance programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.