20 Best Summer Programs In Columbia, SC (2022 Updated)

CIU is a con. You realize it after a year or two as a student there. CIU is an embarrassment to higher education. The degrees and programs offered provide little to no value in the actual world. You may think you will go into full-time Christian ministry, but most graduates of CIU do not. As a former Student President and graduate of CIU, I am ashamed of Columbia International University and I hope prospective students and their parents think twice before making the decision to go. Fast forward 4 years, you will have collected over 100K in tuition fees, you will have two useless degrees, and those 'degrees' will be from a nonreputable, unheard of university. You won't care about any of this at 17 or 18 years old. You will think student loans are fine and a degree won't affect my life much. It took me almost 15 years to pay off my loans with family help and scholarships. My 2 degrees have not helped me since the day I graduated. I say again, CIU is a con. The institution and faculty know it. It is an illusion – what you think will be, will not be. Every year new students arrive with desire and ideas for their lives – so many leave empty-handed and jaded by the experience.Brian Wimberley

We had the most AHHHMAZING tour experience guided by the Dean of ICU, Scott R. Adams J.D. himself. I am so impressed with every aspect of this beautiful, immaculate campus. It is such a phenomenal learning environment for the students surrounded with walking trails, lakes, meditation locations, State of the Art Sports Fields, a beautiful Seminary, incredible Business School, IT School, Nursing School, etc.. Mr. Adams was so full of knowledge about everything we enquired about, so much so, he made me want to go back to school tjere!!!Karen McNally

Avoid at all costs. The spiritual damage this has caused me has taken almost 10 years to get me back to being okay with entering a church without having an anxiety attack. It takes about a semester to see this place for what it really is. Yeah, the tours are nice and it feels like a place where God is at work… But it's really just a den of Pharisees. Trust the negative reviews. Don't let your kids come here!Krista Dietrich

This was our first year in South Carolina and our first year in private school. My boys have thrived at Ben Lippen. I can't even say enough good things. The staff and teachers are all so welcoming. We love the feel of the St. Andrews Road campus. The classrooms are big and creatively decorated while the classroom sizes remain small. My children are being challenged and continue to grow daily. My favorite thing about moving to South Carolina has been Ben Lippen.Tracy Boyer

Ben Lippen on Saint Andrews Road (SAR) serves our community well. Their car pool system is efficient in the mornings, they have easy access to early and after care programs, and reliable bussing system to and from the other campus. Not to mention their curriculum is Biblically integrated! Their excellent efforts in the education of our son is very worth the tuition price. Much of who he's becoming is a direct result of his time spent at BLS on SAR.The Johnsons

Our family feels so blessed to be at the St. Andrews Road campus of Ben Lippen. The teachers are excellent and care so deeply for the students. The courtyard in the middle of the buildings makes it easy for parents to get to know one another. There is a true sense of a family atmosphere at this campus.Starr Cain

First coming to Benedict College I honestly didn't know what to expect on this journey. I was hesitant, nervous and felt like "this isn't what college's look like on TV." It also didn't help that I started second semester so as I was coming in, people already had their set of friends and I was trying to figure out where I fit in at. I then realized that I couldn't just stay to myself so I got involved with activities on campus such as BC Underground and community life becoming an RHA. As I opened up to my fellow peers, formed lifelong bonds with people, and learned how much love and support I had from my professors, I can say my experience at Benedict has been a good one. Now with graduation approaching, I'm taking all my knowledge and applying it towards my future and of course grad school. I'm proud to call this my Alma mater and be a Tiger!LaBria Grant

I had the worst experience as a parent to a child who use to go there. I was trying to get his transcript so he would be able to attend another college. The young lady at the transcript office was really polite but once I went to the financial aid office it turn to like I was dumb and didn't know the reason why I came there. I mean it don't take a scientist to realize you can't get a transcript if you owe a debt so that's why I was sent there. The guy at the front desk was rude and not professional at all, he said to much that wasn't call for and I really do advise parents to check this college out before letting your child enter there. Just remember where ever you work always be polite and represent your job or company with the up most dignity.patricia davis

As an Alumnus of Benedict College I would say Benedict is a dynamic institution and an even better choice! The reality is that its not the perfect school for everyone, but if you're looking to take advantage of a great opportunity and have some defining experiences BC is a great choice! It is not a school you should come to just because mom wants you out of the house. If that's your largest aspiration then you'll FAIL and you wont enjoy the experience very much. I've met some of the most accomplished and talented professors at this institution. Not to mention, the family felt environment nurtures you but prepares you for the world! I'm super proud of my HBCU. I cant wait to see what else is in store for BC!Benjamin

I went to midlands tech for many years. I struggled through the nursing program (and associates in arts and associated in science programs) for years as a single mother of a child with disabilities who was also exiting a decade long abusive relationship. I walked on a broken foot for four months through Clinicals in order to make it, had a foot surgery, totaled cars, and 20+ hours a week of therapies for my son with disabilities. And still I made it to my LPN semester only to end up in the hospital the last week before finals. I was told that I could not have a medical drop as I had received one for my foot surgery and was forced to take test 3,4, and the final in the week following my visit to the hospital. My grade dropped from a 90 to a 79.4 and I was told that I’d have to repeat everything all over again. The ombudsman and the VP went to Mrs. Bannister and begged her to allow an exception based off of the healthcare related nature of my situation and she refused. This place ruined my life and left me with no way to support my child and no nursing career after I already had a job waiting for me on the surgical trauma floor at Richland. After everything I lived through and survived. I am still traumatized. This place will ruin your life. DO NOT ATTEND THIS COLLEGE! Edit: In addition to my previous post this school is taking it a step further and denying me the right to participate in graduation after everything I have been through due to me being locked out of my MTC email (PS who only sends email info on a school email? nothing in the mail?) and was unable to receive the notification in time and they are now refusing my participation in graduation. I wish I could let anyone at that school know what they've done to me, my family, and my life. I HATE THIS SCHOOL and I've never hated anyone or anything!Danielle D Jacobs

I am in the Computer Technology program and am supposed to be completing my last semester, however we are at midterm and I am now finding out I have 1 more class to take . This is particularly infuriating because not only did my advisor tell me how many courses i needed to take to graduate, but Financial aid department told me that the aid for the semester was awarded based on how many credit hours i needed to graduate (I am taking the classes that I was told and showed I needed). Overall, in my 2 years as a student, my opinion has always been that's it is very much a subpar school-regarding the staff as well as education quality. My first semester (my education foundation) I had 2 that didn’t care and literally booted you out of the classroom before class was over as they had other things to do. The computer advisors are extremely ill prepared to help anyone. They continuously have no idea what each class will teach you, do not know which classes you should take for any career path, and are usually new personnel each semester. I, like many other students here, have a family outside of school and do not have the means to be a student and unemployed for another semester. Also, they don't have ANY tutors for the computer department! This makes things VERY difficult. The teachers do what they can in their office hours, and I can name 3 or 4 that are worth calling a teacher/professor and actually care about the subject and students. They claim to help you find a job after, and boast they have company’s asking them for their graduates… however this is not easily accessed, nor are there plentiful opportunities once graduated. The level of education and subjects taught seem not to be in line at all with what is desired by companies.srnclb

Horrible, Horrible, Horrible experiences! I have attended multiple semesters here and each one is more of a dumpster fire than the last. I have never had such difficulty with anything in my life or dealt with such rude, spiteful, or plan MEAN faculty members. I have been told countless times to quit my job and focus only on school, please tell me how being the sole provider for my family that would work? Followed by the staffs refusal to talk with me about options when I refuse to quit my job and have to look for odd times to attend classes. This school has been a GIGANTIC regret and I have only ever dealt with about two people that actually cared and WANTED to help like a decent educator would. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME, MONEY, ENERGY or LIFE here.Dani

As my family comes close to completing our 13th year of being a part of the Hammond family, it makes me pause and think what a wonderful gift I've given to my children. My oldest will be a rising Senior, then his two younger sisters will be rising a Sophomore and 3rd grader, respectively. Both my husband and I grew up in public schools and choosing Hammond was a big decision and investment for our family. I regularly ask my kids if they are glad to be at Hammond and the answer is always a resounding, "Yes!". In fact my husband has turned down numerous opportunities to move within his company because our children are thriving in so many ways and that is what is most important to us. Hammond provides my children with an opportunity to be challenged, to grow in their passions, to experience new opportunities, to excel in becoming a well rounded individual that has a healthy respect for academic, athletic and cultural excellence. We have seen much growth and change at Hammond in our 13 years with technology, new facilities on campus, curriculum as it is an environment that knows to excel you can never stop learning and being open to change. I am thrilled that my youngest has the opportunity to spend 3 years with our unbelievable LS Head, Helen Kiser. She joined the Hammond family this past summer and has already won the respect as well as the hearts of students, faculty and families. I know that with her passion for children and positive nature our LS will continue to amaze and engage our students to do great things and more importantly become kind and generous citizens. On the other end of my household, I'm knee deep in college preparation. Thank goodness, I am fully supported by the marvelous Upper School College Counseling Department and US teachers. I have said to many parents that ask about our US, the guidance and dedicated partnership your family receives from the College Counseling Department in 9th-12th grade is well worth the investment of tuition. The conversations that I share with my older children never cease to amaze me as they share discussions that they had in class or with a teacher. My only regret is that my husband and I aren't Hammond Alumni but we have found our place there as well both serving as volunteers in many capacities. If you are looking for a positive, challenging and well rounded environment for your children, I hope you will visit Hammond. It was the best decision our family has ever made and we have three kids that agree.Katherine Lockwood

This is our third year at Hammond in the Lower School. My husband and I chose Hammond because of the college preparatory academics and strong community atmosphere. When we made the switch from another small private school my oldest daughter was starting second grade and my youngest in PreK. I was a little concerned about my oldest daughter's transition into a new school and making new friends. Her second grade teacher Elizabeth Webb made the transition absolutely flawless. I would receive weekly phone calls the first couple of months just letting me know how she was doing in class, and on the playground. It meant the world to me that she was so in tune with what I was concerned with and that she took notice of so many aspects of my daughters day. We truly appreciate the love we receive from the Hammond community.Mandie Ingram

As an alumni and a parent of the school I can speak completely honestly about Hammond. Looking back on my personal education, I can honestly say I didn't realize how fortunate I was that my parents sacrificed so much to send me to Hammond for so many years. As a parent, I will continue to make sacrifices to send my children to this amazing school. It is more than a school, it is a community, a family, and a breath of fresh air in the world we live in. If you want to find "the bad" or "the good" online when searching schools….you can find it anywhere, so after scrolling through all of the reviews, I challenge you to come take a look, give Hammond a call, step onto campus and experience for yourself what makes this school so SPECIAL!Liz Brewer

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden is fabulous! We absolutely love it here and have been visiting regularly for 10+ years. The animal variety is second to none. The layout of the zoo flows very nice to ensure you can enjoy each stop to see all that it offers during your visits. The staff do a great job of keeping the zoo very clean and safe. They are very, attentive, and provide excellent service every time we are there. The expansions keep coming and continue improving and evolving this Zoo into one of the best visits you and your family can make. If I was going to provide a critique, I would recommend more fans through out the park. South Carolina (especially in the midlands) can get very hot and humid during the summer months and that heat can make visiting the park a less than pleasant experience if you are not use to the heat down here (heck even if you are 😂). More fans through out the park would add to the already amazing atmosphere and help create some more much needed cool zones through out. One last add. Please visit during the Halloween and Christmas events. They are fantastic and highly recommended. For adults the Brew at the Zoo is one of the best attractions around. Enjoy! Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$21–30Jacob Gillen

Beautiful place for a family trip. You get to visit a zoo, a garden, and an aquarium just for the cost of one ticket. It's a really good deal. The zoo has a decent number of animals and birds to watch. You can pet some of them or feed animals like 🦒 giraffes. Then you have a huge botanical garden with all kinds of plants and flowers. To get the best experience, visit their website and plan the trip ahead of time. It's a big area to cover. Using the map to make your hiking plan would be the wisest decision. They have a few snacks stores inside but they are without a doubt very expensive. So bring your own food. Spend at least 3-4 hours to have a restful and pleasant trip. Remember this is a zoo with a botanical garden. So don't expect anything different from other zoo or gardens. If you have already been to big zoos or gardens, you may hardly find anything new here. However, you never know what surprises nature is hiding for you next. So please give it a shot and visit the place. I hope you won't be disappointed. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$21–30Zahiduzzaman Biswas

Boo at the Zoo – the most adorable way to show cute creatures a bunch of little monsters! (And clowns, and princesses and characters of all shapes, sizes and ages.) Yes, most of the animals have been tucked in and heard their bedtime stories by the time Boo at the Zoo begins, but it also gives us a rare opportunity to view the nocturnal and diurnal creatures in their prime! Well worth the cost (Members get a discounted rate), and the treat stations set up throughout the zoo keep everyone motivated to tour the whole space! Photo ops a-plenty (Riverbanks' inflatables collection is no joke!), kind volunteers distributing the treats, great music/dance party. (BTW, for those over 21, I HIGHLY recommend the Witch's Brew. Safari Outpost.) Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$11–15Jessica J.W. Baker

Absolutely the best science camp for gifted kids in South Carolina. My daughter loves science and attended the GoSciTech chemistry camp last summer. She was so inspired, she wants to start an after school STEM program at her middle school like GSSM. The camp is an intense learning experience with intense fun. The presentations at the end of the week were very impressive. My very shy daughter made good friends that have kept in touch. She is excited about camp again this summer and it was her top choice. If your looking for a science camp that will challenge a bright child, join GSSM. The toughest things are choosing from so many fascinating courses and leaving at the end of the week.Saving Hooves

Love the school…. It is so beautiful and well maintained.. IT Director is working towards making the school as # 1 Magnet school in the entire South Carolina state. Have posted few photos ….If you are not able to see , it is worth visiting- World should know the good culture, smart- they have super nice canteen… Well maintained as wellSridhar called Sri aka Dr.JustKidding Rangaswamy

The leadership here doesn't have any business shaping our young people. I think they have academic excellence right but, like too many in academia and government, they lack understanding and wisdom. If you are practically going to give up 2 years with your child for scholarship money, I would reconsider. The experience was negative for us.Shawn Kelley

We made a weekend trip to go to Edventure. Our toddler loves Blippi & there's an episode that Blippi visits Edventure. Our toddler is always fascinated with that episode. So we drove from Athens GA & had a great time. Only complaint I would have is parents aren't considerate that another child might want a turn to play. The 3 & under area was perfect for a bit! Until parents with their 7-12 year old children came in & took over. This area needs to be reinforced bc apparently visitors cannot read the 3 & under sign right on the door. It's frustrating bc our son is 18 months old. The older kids do not care if they knock him over or take what he was playing with. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
$1–5Jennifer Atkinson

A great experience. My son loved it he went wild from the fire fighter truck, to the publix marketplace, to upstairs in the aircraft & spaceship! Not bad in price & the wait was kinda not bad too I really didn't think it was gonna be alot of people/kids, went on a Saturday so it was kids all ages everywhere lol Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
Up to 10 min

Reservation recommended
Not sure

Price for adult entry
$1–5Chelsea Bowman (Ms Summer)

Wonderful experience! Parking was easy and no line to get in. Exhibits were fantastic and interactive. Lots to do for kids and adults can certainly join in on the amusements. Highly recommend anyone with a few hours of spare time to give this a try. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
$11–15Jas D

putting my formality aside, it's honestly just a bunch of spoiled cliques of wannabe hipster try hards, and most of the students are extremely two faced. there are a few good teachers, but you would have to actually attend HHES to see the real them. on school tours, they pretend to be welcoming. same experience happened to me and five other students I talked to. graduation rate is a 100% only cause they kick you out or hold you back if you don't graduate. One guy was also supposed to be expelled for sexual harassment but HHES let his parents continuously pay fees to keep his spot. Not a school worth your money.Ally Alana K.

Heathwood is as fabulous a school as I could hope for with my kids. The administration and staff are devoted to educating the whole child. Heathwood is a nurturing, supportive, and respectful environment – kids are encouraged to push themselves, try new experiences. Heathwood has been in transition since my kids started there about 5-6 years ago, and in the past two years – just keeps getting BETTER AND BETTER.V

This has been a challenging and accepting school for our children. The academics are top notch and the care and concern of faculty and staff normally exceed expectations. The concept of focusing on the whole child really makes Heathwood stand out in the Columbia region. As parents we are very involved and get an inside view which continues to validate our choice.TWG

My son has been going to legacy for almost a year so I decided to write a review to share the pros and cons of our experience being a lil champ. Pros The lil champs classes are for kids ages 4-6. All of the coaches are very patient but they do not baby the kids. Belt tips aren’t just handed out, the kids have to earn them. They are held at the same standard as the older kids meaning they are expected to count, say yes sir or ma’am, and participate. You can set up private lessons, the coaches are very helpful, they have fun events often, the class sizes aren’t big or expensive and they belt test at least 2-3 times a year. Cons The only “con” is that the evening classes are a little larger than the classes in the day time. This may be a problem if your little one is easily distracted or gets over stimulated because it’s so loud. Overall, we love it here and I would recommend it to anyone.Khameiko Ojo

The coaches here are encouraging, patient and attentive. The environment they’ve created is very welcoming to the children and parents alike. The class schedule is SUPER flexible. Which, if I’m honest, has come in handy a couple times so far. Parents are free to spectate or simply drop off their child. After each class, they give announcements on upcoming important dates, deadlines and developments to keep you in the loop. Periodically, events are hosted outside of normal classes like “parent’s night out” or “Mom/Dad and Me” classes. It’s a wonderful way of building community amongst the kids, coaches and parents. We enrolled our daughter a couple months back to add something different into her routine. She enjoys it wholeheartedly. We couldn’t be happier with the positive experience she’s had so far in Taekwondo at Legacy Northeast.B. Roman

Ever since enrolling my brother into Taekwondo, we've seen improvement everywhere. In school, at home, at the park, everywhere. He gets excited every time i tell him to get ready for class. And in class he's always eager to listen and learn. The growth we've seen with him going from not being able to balance on one leg to now being able to do perfect kicks. He went from doubting himself on all the challenges thrown to him to having the most confidence and strength to go and win against the challenges. We found his niche. Will 100% recommend Legacy for any child, the staff cares a lot for the children and put in so much effort into all of their events and its community.Naynett Hubble

Sylvan Learning Center has been more than wonderful for our two girls. We are seeing vast improvement with reading and math as well as boosting their confidence. Both girls love attending Sylvan, they say the sessions help them to learn better and be better. The instructors break down the information and process so they are able to grasp and understand the material. The staff is knowledgeable, dedicated and kind. The manager, Cindy is wonderful and easy to deal with, very professional. All COVID safety protocols are in place and appreciate that the staff use clear face shields so the children are able to see the whole face. We will continue to use Sylvan for reinforcement once our girls have met their goals. I would recommend Sylvan to anyone because we have had a positive experience and continue to see academic growth in our girls.Kayla Koon

My family are happy and satisfied with Sylvan Learning Center. As a parent, I felt like my son was not getting the support he needed from his school. After meeting with a Sylvan representative and discussing results from the assessment, they created a cost effective plan that would best fit my son's needs. My son has been with Sylvan for the past two years. As a parent, I was elated to see my son excel academically as result of the Sylvan learning center program, but I was extremely happy that Sylvan has changed his outlook on learning and school. If you are looking for a place to provide not just quality instruction and experiences, but a place that is truly invested in your child then Sylvan Learning Center is the place for you!Amanda Bradley

My son has started Sylvan a few months now. I wanted to find something for my son that was face to face. Online learning had set my son back in his learning. I called Sylvan Learning center and they really helped. With in a week they had my son touring the build, meeting teachers. I really feel that they work hard for the kids needs. I love how kind and encouraging the teachers are to the kids and the parents. They are very professional. I would recommend the Sylvan Learning Center for anyone's child they really meet the need of my son. I am truly grateful.Drew Shivler

If I could give this school 10 stars I would!! This is my kid's FIRST preschool and they are very happy at Upward Learning Center. I love that they feel as though it is their home away from home. Amazing teacher with so much heart and caring mindset. It’s wonderful seeing our daughter get excited about learning science and space and our son ecstatic about going to preschool here. They really make an effort to engage the kids and develop them in a very individualized way. The management is really committed to providing a safe, fun, and loving environment and we’re very thankful to Upward Learning Center.Sunil Kumar

Our son started attending here in August of this year. This was his first time being away from home since birth, his first preschool. Within a month time we started seeing a big difference in him. He’s became way more independent, uses his words instead of pointing, knows his colors, numbers, shapes, ABCs, and etc. He warmed up with them in no time and no he loves going to school. They’re very patient with the kids and also very helpful and dependable. We highly recommend Upward Learning Center, we love it and so does our son!Derriyona Taylor

I absolutely love ULC. My sons 1st preschool experience and he absolutely loves it! Staff are very attentive, friendly and caring. I was so happy to find a place where I didn't have to go through hoops to enhance my son's education in preparation for kindergarten. Process was simple and rates are reasonable. ULC follows all Safety precautions to ensure our children are safe. My son has learned so much in such a short period of time. I couldn't be more thankful. I highly recommend ULC.Georgette Bartley

To be honest, I wasn't sure how a virtual camp was going to go, but we really need some summer activity for my 9-year-old son. He LOVED the Minecraft sustainable building virtual camp! It was well-run, age-appropriate and FUN. By day two, he was calling the instructor "Mr. G" and excited to log on and build with his new friends. What a great alternative to an in-person camp and a nice surprise for me too. We would definitely consider virtual camps in the future (too far away for in-person). Four thumbs up (mine and my son's). Thank you!Shelley Jones

Fantastic learning experience. My child has attended the Robotics and Minecraft camps this year. The amount my child has learned within a few days involving coding, mechanics, and engineering has blown me away. The instructors are very engaging, hands on, and scaffold instruction to fit the needs of the students. I appreciate the updates and photos that are posted on their social media. I will definitely be signing my child up for more camps next summer!Sara Miskin

A great program! My son is having fun and learning. Mr. G and his coaches truly care that each student participates. My son can be quiet and shy at times and I appreciate the coaches being patient and persistent with him. I love knowing he’s being introduced to important and complex ideas in a fun and engaging way. Mr. G is very responsive to all my questions! A great after-school club.JZ M.

Awesome, Awesome and Awesome again. I posted 2 years ago and I had to jump back on here and do an update because the progress that my son has accomplished, is one of a kind. My son went from struggling to make C's to pretty much almost achieving the A/ B honor roll his first nine weeks. I'm so grateful for them and every penny of my money was worth it. Plus he loves the staff, environment, and the learning material that is being used. One of the best choices I have ever made for my son educational needs.latoya Canzater

Sylvan has been wonderful. My daughter started right after she graduated Pre-K. When I enrolled her we decided to go with the Reading & Comprehension program. Sylvan is motivating my daughter to do well and fill in the gap from where he was. She’s finishing up Kindergarten and now we’re ramping up to have that support throughout the summer as we go into first grade. I’m super proud of her & so glad we chose Sylvan Learning center.Deja Goggins

My son has been going to Sylvan for more than a year now he likes it. Northeast Sylvan.. He is 6 pretty advanced in math. Teachers are really great and good with kids .. the maths content is well laid out covering different aspects of math. The program is adaptive to as the kid progress. We really like the fact that the program matches to our child's interest.. We like it!sahana hvs

I grew up spending 2 or 3 weeks each year traveling with people who have ended up becoming my best friends through Kids Sea Camp. I started my KSC journey when I was 5 years old, learning how to snorkel and how to care for and treat the ocean with love and respect. I am now 20, an advanced open water diver with a love for sea life and diving which wouldn’t have been possible without Kids Sea Camp. Over the years my fondest memories have included KSC and members of the KSC family. The truth is, we are a family. Margo and Tom are like a second pair of parents to me, Jen and Robby feel like siblings. I love Kids Sea Camp with my entire heart. I have met the best people, and have essentially grown up experiencing the underwater world with my own eyes through adventures with my favorite people. I would and have recommend Kids Sea Camp to everyone I meet. I have so much love for my KSC family, thank you guys for everything throughout the years.Sydney Severo

We have traveled all over the world with Kids Sea Camp over the past years, and this holiday leveraged Family Divers to book our family dive trip to Bonaire/Buddy Dive. Family Divers made all our above and below water accommodations, and everything was flawless. Communication of what was required at each phase of the trip regarding Covid made the trip easy and without issue. Arrangements with Buddy Dive were also perfect, and allowed us to get 35 dives (each) in as a family, and have a great New Years Eve and Christmas on property. During our stay they checked in with us numerous times to make sure all was well, and are currently assisting us in some dive equipment upgrades. Margo, Tom and Olivia made our trip extra special in every way for my wife and I and 2 teenage kids. I would recommend Family Divers to any family looking to get away to any destination, near or far! End to end white glove service!Paul Zanelli

Excellent dive operators that are specialists in certifying children and family diving. We had them certify our son when he was 10 yrs old. He is now 16 and a Jr Dive Master. They are extremely safety focused and their dive master to child diver ratio is 1:2, the best in the industry. From a vacation standpoint, they focus on delighting us each and every trip. We have been diving with Kids Sea Camp and Family Dive Adventures for 7 years now and can’t imagine diving with anyone else. They even helped us renew our vows in an underwater surprise ceremony! Best part of diving and vacationing with KSC is that we have met so many wonderful families that dive together. We all travel together and our kids dive together year round now. We love our Kids Sea Camp family!Lisa Hunsicker

Would not recommend this company. I was scheduled for delivery on Friday from 10-5. I called the week prior to check and make sure everything was okay with the order (I paid upfront at the time of booking). I received a confirmation text two days before my delivery window to confirm. At 4:30 on the day of delivery, since I had not seen or heard from anyone, I checked my email. This company had cancelled my order with an email only, no phone call on the day of and just minutes prior to my delivery window closing. I immediately panicked and called the company. I didn’t get an answer the first call so I called back from another phone and got a man on the line. He didn’t so much as apologize and then said “you are out of our service area. I’m not even sure how this order went through.” I firmly told him he needed to figure something out because our party was the next afternoon. He put me on a 35 minute hold and came back on the line and said “actually, we did not deliver because our delivery guy has Covid” – I told him I would come pick the unit up myself and he said they couldn’t do that. This man was incredibly unprofessional. How do you cancel during the delivery window without even calling the person and think that is okay – I had already paid this company in full. Luckily, I called another company who immediately provided me with units similar to the ones I ordered from Kitty’s Bounce Houses and they dropped off within an hour. If you are looking for a reputable company to do business with, take your business to Kitty’s Bounce Houses – they deliver all over SC.Bill McAllister

I booked 2 bounce houses, several tables and chairs, and a snow cone machine for a birthday party on 11/21/2018 for my 6 year old grandson. There were about 25 people, half which were children. Laugh n Leap was scheduled to come at 9 am but arrived at 8:40 am. Wow was that nice! These guys were very professional, cleaned the tables and chairs in front of me – nice to know they were cleaned, they went over the instructions to the snow cone machine and the Bounce Houses which was nice as I never rented these before. Everything was great. Party was a hit especially the snow cone machine because it was 85 degrees that day. These guys returned after the party, about 4:30 pm as they said they would. They cleaned the bounce houses before taking them down so the next customer would have clean bounce houses. Kudos to Laugh n Leap for such a great job and the high degree of professionalism.Allen Mclaughlin

We rented out a nearby Airbnb for my sons 2nd birthday party and the service from this company was amazing. Due to it being on a busy holiday weekend the unit was delivered earlier than expected but free of charge so was given some extra play time which was amazing with two toddlers and kept them occupied. They were great with touching base in regards of drop off and picking up unit and I would definitely use this company again if we are in the area. Thank you for making this weekend one to remember.Kera Greene

I joined Dynamic, West Cola, in early April, and so far have loved my experience. There was no hassle or pressure to sign up for anything (much less the stuff I don't need). What I pay for my Dynamic membership is comparable to the other gyms near me (Planet Fitness and MUV), BUT I have had NO issues with machine availability or parking. Janell gave me a fitness assessment and one-on-one instruction when I started and continues to follow up with me to make sure my workouts are the best they can be for the results I'm seeking! I love that she is so personable, knowledgeable, and attentive! The rest of the staff and members have been friendly and respectful as well. The facility is clean and has met my every need. I'm very excited about the move to 24/7 hours in May. It's been so nice to have a safe space to workout in.Caroline C.

I love training with Diane! However, the gym recently changed to "24-hour access". The change requires existing members to pay an additional $10/month to access the gym before 8:00 am. This change has made it impossible for me to continue training with Diane at the same time without having to accept the increase. This gym is great if you are looking for a personal trainer and enjoy group classes. But given how they structure their contracts (2 years minimum), their arduous contract termination process, and recent experience with the price change, I cannot recommend becoming a member.Aleesha Clark

I love this place! It never full when I go and it's small enough of a gym that I know exactly where everything is at and can move quickly between sets. Despite its smallness compares to other major gyms, they have everything a person could need. They do require 1 year-3 year contracts though which is almost a deal breaker for me. They also provide childcare from 8-12 and 4-8 M-F. And even 8-12 on Saturdays. That made up for the contract to me.Danielle Fulk

**UPDATE: Our daughter has been with this location since she was 6 weeks old, and she is now getting ready to enter kindergarten. It is especially bittersweet for me because of the relationships I have developed with the staff and especially Mrs. Alexis Jenkins and Ms. Evelyn Hart. They have gone above and beyond for our daughter, and I can't begin to thank them enough. When you find an amazing place to provide care for your child, you really have found a goldmine. I'll be the first to tell you that I'm extremely cautious when researching places for childcare…our daughter could not have been in better hands. THANK YOU so much for everything you have done for us. I will miss them dearly as I know she will. ___________________________________________________________ As a parent, it's very hard to find a place that you can trust to care for your child – so when you do find a place and the Director, Asst. Director and staff are like family – it speaks volumes. I don't trust just anyone with my child, I'm sure, like other parents. Alexis and Evelyn have always gone above and beyond for my daughter's needs – they foster an environment of learning, fun and security. My daughter will be 3 soon and has been going to this location since she was 2 months old. I don't think I could leave her under anyone else's care and supervision. Alexis and Evelyn are truly one in a million and I appreciate everything they do!Carmen Rhone

My nephew attends this location. The staff shortage is very real at this location. In his room if you don't get their early enough they will turn you away…. and yes you will still have a bill. They closed last week because of a DSS issue. Everyone had to pick up their children on the Monday, this was before lunch. Not due to reopen until this Monday. Monday a message was sent saying they were again not open and to monitor communications. Nothing in Tuesday. Nothing today. Well my sister happened to call a fellow parent because she received a BILL for the week, to find out they were in fact open yesterday. Not only did she recieve a late fee because payment is due Tuesday and because she never recieve correspondence that they were open, she had to hope they could even take him because at this location, if you don't get their early they will turn you away because they don't have enough staff. We is currently seeking assistance with this issue from corperate, some how this location doesn't have that number available upon request. This is by far the worst childcare facility I've ever experienced when it comes to office issues. If I could give this place a 0 start I would.erika evans

My kids went there a few years back before and during Coivd. The staff was amazing and experienced. Staff understands that not all children are alike and they have different needs. My middle child at times could be very difficult to handle, but not once have I ever had a complaint from any of the staff. Only issue I had with this organization, was how they received funds. More then one occasion, I was over charged. Last, they increase the weekly rate to the point we had to remove our kids from the daycare. Lucky, we found a daycare down the street that was $60 (a week) less then what we were paying. Overall my experience wasn't bad, I wish I still could have kept them in there.Bryan Knotts

So happy to have found this daycare! My kids are enrolled in their Afterschool program and are allowed to join in the taekwondo classes for their age group, no extra charge. Homework is made a priority. I am pleased that the Coaches and Masters are teaching the kids to have respect for each other as well as adults, to be good losers AND winners, encouraging them to try something again if they fail and cheering each other on. It is hard to find good child care and I feel fortunate to have my kids with this great group of people.Meagan Villalobos

My son has been going there for a few months now. He has suffered from bullying and ADHD. He has soared with loving martial arts. Master Sim makes the classes fun, energetic, yet teaches discipline. I've never been disappointed. His confidence has grown and this year he says he is making friends. Priceless. In fact, we knew we would not have time to do soccer and and karate this year. Ethan chose karate. He loved knowing he is getting better and being able to see it every week. Thank you Legacy. ❤Michelle C.

My daughters have learned so much in the few months we’ve been going to Legacy! They also love coming here and strive to do their best, they’ve even learned how to count in Korean! The coaches are so helpful, and really instill the best in their classes. The energy levels never ceases to disappoint and class options are great and accommodating, always fun activities going on for the kids (&parents!) We absolutely love Legacy and are so grateful for the whole team over here.Barbee Smith

LJJ has the 4 things you need for a great jiu-jitsu school – a technical program, great instructors, great students, and regular sparring. They have a great set of lesson plans with a focus on attack and defense from specific positions. For example, one week will focus on attacking and defending in the mount. Focusing on one position for the week allows you to see and practice the a solid package for that position. The positional sparring at the end of class allows you to immediately put what you've learned into practice to really solidify the concepts in your mind. The instructors do a great job of teaching the technical aspects of each move and answering any questions you have. The demonstrations of the techniques are slow, smooth, and detailed to make sure you know what's required to make the move work. You truly couldn't ask for a better group of students. Everyone is there to be the best they can be and help the students around them be the best they can be. Everyone strives to be technical and the bigger guys never get lazy and just smash the snot out of their smaller opponents or just muscle their way through moves. Some of the guys in the class are literally more than twice my size but they never crush me. I have great sparring matches Every. Single. Time. Once you get your first stripe, you can participate in open sparring after class. Sparring is essential to becoming a great practitioner of the art. Drills alone will never give you the timing and critical thinking skills you need to truly master the art.J C

I came from out of town on an extended work project, and I was wanting to find something healthy to do with my evenings. I had trained BJJ before for a short period of time, so I thought I'd look for a class close to my hotel and start training again. When you visit a new martial arts class for the first time, you never really know what you're going to find. I'll tell you what I found at Lexington Jiu-Jitsu: I found a great class full of great people to train with, led by great instructors who walk through class during drills and give individual instruction to help you learn technique properly. What I didn't find at Lexington Jiu-Jitsu: Egos. From advanced brown belts down to white belts, the attitude and mentality is to learn, not just to dominate. I am a 41 year old guy who always has to go to work the next day. The great attitude of everyone I've trained with so far makes me confident that I'm training in a safe learning environment, and I'm having a lot of fun doing it. -RyanRyan Ricker

The learning atmosphere at Lexington Jiu Jitsu is phenomenal! I’ve tried other martial arts and even other jiu jitsu places and felt like the karate kid walking into the Cobra Kai dojo! But everyone here is so friendly and helpful, from day 1, I felt like Norm walking into Cheers! I train dogs for a living, so I do a lot of instruction and I’m super impressed with skills and training techniques of the instructors here! I’ve even picked up some great ideas to make me a better dog trainer! If you’re on the fence about jiu jitsu, come here and give it a try, but beware you’ll probably become addicted like me!sck9academy