20 Best Summer Programs In Jacksonville, FL (2022 Updated)

This University is not a safe place to send your child if you care about them and their safety. I spent two semesters living on campus, my freshman year and they were the worst months of my life; communal bathrooms are not clean, things are broken often and do not get fixed, and security cameras are few and far between. The campus itself is not in a good neighborhood, which is a common fear of most people. Administration has done nothing to make the campus safer, there are not any cameras in parking lots, the cameras in the municipal parking garage do not work, and people are able to walk on to campus even if they do not attend the school. Young children steal student's bikes in broad daylight and grown adults walk onto the campus as well. The cafeteria food is not good and the staff is 99.9% of the time very rude, and you may get a plate of food thrown at you even if you are polite. I have witnessed people be served raw chicken, romaine lettuce when there was an E. coli outbreak, and also contract E. coli. The Bursar's office constantly removed and added money to my account saying one day I owed X amount of dollars and then one day I owed Y amount of dollars, and whenever I asked why my balance fluctuated during the semester, they had no answer. Financial aid is not easy to deal with especially if your family makes a mid-range income. If you household income is low or very high, do not expect to pay a lot per year. The social environment is like high school: judgmental and everyone stays in their own "clique" The only reason I will give this "university" a 2-star review is because the professor's do care about you and your success. They will work with you, and help you when need be. Every professor I had only wanted their students to succeed, and nothing else (with the exception of a woman who just had graduated from college and did not know the subject which she was teaching).Ashlynne Donovan

This school is one of the best veteran friendly schools in the U.S. currently we are in the top 100, we even have our own USO sponsored lounge called the defenders den where we can be around fellow veterans. The classes here are incredible and the professors genuinely care and thrive off interaction. You will not become another gear in the chain at this university, also the campus even though small is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve been to other schools and I am sincerely proud to finish my degree at an institution that values their Veteran population.Kostantinos Efstathiou

The worst school ever! I did a year at JU and lived on campus! there is nothing to do! You will be bored out of your mind if you are from the north. The staff was unhelpful, and forget about getting any extra financial help. I come from a one parent house hold and my mom lost her job I went into the aid office to see if they can help me with any extra aid and all they could offer was goods from the food pantry. What a jokeAlexandria Wilson

I – an academic student- go to this fine school, so I am obligated to create a helpful and notable review on the behalf of the Bolles School. (I killed it with the seventh grade grammar)Skill Shots

The giraffes were beautiful. The tigers were beautiful when not pacing. The landscape is beautiful. Appreciate the flowers, the bamboo, can see the effort there. Otherwise, something sad, unfortunate, and dry was looming over the whole place in regards to the animals and empty exhibits. At least, we didn't see…No bald eagle, No turkeys, No wolf, No bear, No jaguar. Seems like so much was missing from past visits. No maps. In need of fresh paint & TLC in the exhibits, clean windows and doors. Saw more of what we thought were vultures than anything else and they were being sprayed to keep out of the flamingo exhibit when they were fighting as if they were waiting to scoop up the weak or dead ones. Just remember a different vibe when I was a kid here on field trips and visits with my children when they were little ones. They're adults now and they feel the difference too. Feels the animals need tire swings/toys or motivation to be happy. The animals that were there today are not giving off the vibe that they are happy.L B

I had solo blasting afternoon at the zoo to kill my time. I entered at 1.30 pm and I finished the trip at 5 pm on weekday and I covered most of it. Things to consider : —————————- – Book your tickets online in advance. They only accept cards every where no cash. – Get total experience ticket it’s worth every penny if you are visiting for the first time. It includes 1) feeding of – string rays , birds , Giraffe. 2) unlimited train rides. 3) 4D theatre experience. Along with Zoo entrance. – You are allowed get your own food ( better option I feel ) – Never miss 4D shows. Kids will love it . Go in advance if they say play is at 3 pm be there before 5 mins. —————————— I love the fact that gardens are really maintained well and with this crazy hot around I enjoyed walking in the afternoon too. I love the fact that volunteers are really very friendly. It’s above 5 star for their attitude and kind gesture. Overall it’s bit pricey but you will enjoy the trip with your total experience package.Asha Thakur

Visited on a Saturday. We love the layout of this zoo. It has been nearly 15 years since we visited JZ & G. We live near Columbus, Ohio, so we know what a top of the line metropolitan zoo looks like. We love how the parking is close to the entrance…and that there is no charge for parking. Getting tickets online before was very convenient and easy. The fact that we got to see three Sumatran Tigers made the price of admission worth it alone. The Asian section of the zoo is a definite highlight. We also like that they offer multiple viewing areas for animals. The sculpture art is top-notch, especially the dragon. A special highlight was the tree full of wood stork babies crying to be fed and their mothers all doing so. Staff was very friendly. The food was good. Only negative was that the women's restrooms need cleaned on a tighter rotation. Overall, a wonderful experience. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$21–30Joe Marcy Rinehart

It can get a bit crowded but more than worth a stop to see the views Views include. Bird watching of all types of shore birds and osprey grabbing fish from the lake right in front of you eyes Fishing. A great place to kayak but watch the tide on the lake on the left side of the spillway. If you are out there you can get stuck in the marsh starting about 3 hours before dead low tide. On the right side this is not a problem Plenty of fishing and a great place to get large blue crabs (yum) Swimming ( with something on your feet recommended) Closed after dusk automatically. You can get out after dusk but not in Bring live bait (shrimp recommend) if you fish. Fish right off the spillway Remember fishing license is needed in Florida for people over 14 up to age 65 Picnic tables available Bathrooms here alsoDug Unlisted

This is a great park with a lot of trails. The entrance has boat ramps and lots of people were fishing along the shore. It would be a great place to kayak but I would not go swimming in this area (the beach is next door anyway. The trails are great for running or biking and apparently they do have hunting (though I have no details concerning hunting). I went there specifically to check out the trails. The savannah trail was flooded in spots so I was not able to explore it all but for the most part the scenery and expanse was just what my soul needed.Jonathan Rex

This is my local hiking trail. It’s has several different length options but all are family friendly and easy terrain. Yellow is the shortest and most popular trail, its worth the short walk with gorgeous views and large pieces of drift wood on the beachside. Red is the longest and has a nice picnic bench tucked away from the more popular trails. Blue has an amazing marsh area where we have seen hawks, otters, and even an alligator. Watch out for ticks!Sandra Marie Garcia

The Florida Yacht Club is a private country and yacht club in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. It is the oldest social club in Jacksonville, and is the fourth oldest surviving yacht club in the U.S. It was founded in downtown Jacksonville in 1876 , and moved to its present location in the Ortega neighborhood in 1928. The original club burned down in the Great Fire of 1901. The current clubhouse was designed in the Mediterranean Revival style. It makes for a perfect venue no matter the event. The florals for the event below were designed by Gardners Florist, in Ortega.D Burkey

The Florida Yacht Club is one of the best private country clubs in all of Jacksonville. Not only it has a great location by the St. John's River, but the tennis courts are very clean and well-maintained. The pro shop has many different kinds of tennis gear and apparel and the staff is very friendly. I enjoyed my experience here and I definitely recommend this place not only for tennis, but also for any private event such as weddings and parties.Jamison McElfresh

Attended a State Yacht Club function as a member of a different club. This place couldn't have been more welcoming. Food and service was great, staff very friendly and helpful, and the club and facilities were simply amazing. We met several of their members while there and thoroughly enjoyed ourselvesJim Lombardo

I attended Providence for 9 years and I can say that it is a fantastic school. The teachers really care about their students. They have great academics and a good learning environment.Michael Gray

Incredible school! Teachers and faculty are wonderful and caring. Had my daughter in another private school prior to this and Providence is well worth the extra cost.Brandon Ondrey

Best school I have ever seen. Great level of scientific knowledge, music and sports are awesome. Biblical values. God bless!Media Evsyukov

My children participated in this Spanish Summer Camp last summer and I could not be happier. Every day my children came home singing a new song, impressed with the new science experiment they had done, which they had cooked. The pedagogy of FALA is innovative, the concept of teaching Spanish while learning other subjects such as math, science, general culture is what I loved the most. I am looking forward FALA teaching Spanish the next school year somewhere close by. They exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend it without a doubt. Soraya GodoySoraya Godoy

I love working at FALA. The environment is amazing. Everyone is very passionate about education at FALA. As an educator is fascinated to see how the curriculum incorporates differents subjects so kids are learning more than Spanish and their retention level is higher. Kids learn Spanish through STEM, Cooking, Art, and Sports. It is a joy seeing how our students learn Spanish in a fun way. The kids enjoy all of the hands-on learning activities and the results are great. This is an outstanding lenguage program. We are FALA!Paola Serna

We adore this group of loving teachers. We enrolled our three year old in camp for the first time and it’s been so wonderful. He just walks right in and barely says goodbye he is so excited to play! They are so creative with their presentation of the different countries. He is singing Spanish songs to himself as he plays. As a non native speaker, I am loving that my half Puerto Rican son is getting exposed to his heritage language. I trust them with my baby! Bring your kid here!bridget colleen Edkin

Code Ninjas St. John's is a wonderful environment for the students, to not only learn valuable computer programming and digital game creation skills, but I believe that it gives the students an opportunity to experience what it feels like to actually work at a software company. I've worked at a software company, and this is what it feels like! I love that the sensei's are so helpful and are mostly comprised of students and former students. I like that the students learn at their own pace, and aren't pressured into advancing through the belts as quickly as possible. I appreciate how quickly the management reacted to the pandemic to help keep the students safe. I can't tell you how happy I am that this type of learning center exists! My daughter loves it!Eric Wilson

My son loves this program. He is learning a lot to help him develop his own game. I believe this will help him in the future. The staff are all exceptional and so nice. I would recommend anyone who has a child into gaming to take the free tour to see if this would be a good investment for your family. My son loves to game and I figured why not let him learn how to create them. Gives them a better perspective and understanding as well as teaching them something they love anyway.Tabitha Longfellow

My son is always excited to go and learn and even when he's home he's still wanting to code and make his own games. Thanks for making this a reality! Also, for you homeschooling mom's out there, please like or post your own review stating if you'd like a "homeschool day" where they're open during the day on one weekday/week! I'd love that!Josie Rodriguez

I am an employee here at AQUAFIN swim school and I have to say that this is the best company I have worked for. The staff is always so friendly and the kids bring a smile to my face every day. As someone who is going to school to become a teacher, I take pride in knowing that I am making a difference in these children’s life. I am always so proud of every one of my students accomplishments, and seeing my students grow as swimmers and as people is an experience that I would not trade for the world. I always leave work in a better mood than when I arrived, and sharing my love of swimming with others is the best feeling in the world. Employees here truly love their job and that is what makes the environment so positive and uplifting.Natalie Hert

When we started at Aquafin my daughter was apprehensive about getting in the pool however she was excited about learning to swim. From the first class she took every skill head on. Her confidence has increased with each class and you can see her growth. Each coach has been amazing with her. The patience and attention is encouraging. Pushing her beyond her comfort to help her reach that next level. We love it here and look forward to each class.Tammie Gates

I consider myself a pretty strong swimmer but had a lot of difficulty getting my three year old son to relax enough to truly practice swimming on his own. But within the very first class, their instructors had him relaxed, listening, and having fun. He absolutely loves everyone of the instructors he's worked with and looks forward to every class! Definitely worth giving a try, if you are looking to help your little one learn to swim.Nathan Wiirre

First let's get this out of the way…I AM NOT CRAFTY! Ok now the positive. I ordered a Take & Make from Kristy, one of the owners. She was very nice, professional and patient with all my questions. I chose a couple of Christmas pieces and had them in hand the next day. The bag came with everything I needed: I was shocked. Step by step instructions, paints, sponges, brushes…even butcher paper to keep my table clean as I worked. Nice touch! I had a blast doing the project and the pieces added the right touches to my Christmas decor!!! I can't wait to Take & Make my next piece!Leslie Coffield

A few friends and I had a blast making projects together before Christmas! I had never been to Nailed It before and one of the owners called me personally to explain how everything would work so I could pass the info along. Each of us was able to choose our projects online ahead of time. Cynthia was also a great leader at our session. We were all newbies to power tools, etc, but she helped make it so easy and everyone's projects look so professional! I look forward to returning again soon!Denese Fields

Went to Nailed It during a recent visit to Jacksonville to see family!~ We went to Nailed it and had a great time! I made 2 signs that were altered. They did a great job helping us to design from combining colors, which yes believe it or not is the hardest part of the project! to adding a hook to hand my project! It was a great experience!Barbara Eretto

Highly recommend Thompson Surf School. My wife and I did a private lesson…first off, $55 per person is a tremendous value…second the team on site was super friendly, helpful and made first timers feel very comfortable. Lastly, we had SO MUCH FUN! Special shout-out to Ben, our instructor, thank you for putting up with all our crazy questions and for making our time out on the water a blast. We cannot express how great this experience was for us and we very much look forward to doing it again 🙂Steve Giangiulio

I highly recommend anyone interested in surf lessons or camp to book with Thompson Surf School. They are very professional and knowledgeable. My 13 year old daughter had never been on a surf board before and they gave her such confidence. She loved every minute of it and I felt safe with her in the ocean with the instructors. So much so that I booked a private lesson the week after camp and now I have a surf board on the way for my daughter. ❤️ Thank you Thompson Surf School !!!Julie Holt-Edwards

I highly recommend Thompson Surf School for 1:1 lessons, and have even bought lessons as a gift. I love how professional they are, how easy it is to book online, and how proactive they are about communication. I’ve had lessons with Tristan twice and had amazing days, catching lots of waves, refining technique, and enjoying being on the water. I’ll definitely book with them again, and would definitely recommend them as the best surf school in our area.Erica Morrison

Our family was interested in trying martial arts so I looked around Jax for a place that offered Brazilian jiu jitsu for adults and children and found Gracie Barra. They have a big new facility on the Southside and the instructors are great, which we appreciate since we are beginners. Me and my wife and kids have been attending for almost a year and we all love it. They also have personal training that I’ve been doing with Juan, which has helped me both learn jiu jitsu skills and get in shape. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a BJJ gym in Jacksonville, FL!Eric Eng

Love this Brazilian Jujitsu gym! My daughter and I have both trained here and it has been a huge wake-up call to how out of shape I am lol. The owners and instructors are all very kind, patient, and motivational: They take their time to demonstrate techniques and I never feel put on the spot or uncomfortable practicing even with the higher-level trainees. It’s a fun class with high energy, passionate teachers and students and I felt at home the moment I walked in. Best bjj gym in Jax!Susie O'Brien

My Wife and my two daughters have trained with this professional team for over a 10 year period.. I can’t thank the staff enough for instilling confidence in my two daughters. They adore the staff and the whole Gracie family. I HIGHLY recommend to send your daughters or spouse to this location as it has LITERALLY changed their lives. Thank you Coach Cory, Coach Juan and Professor Roberto for what you do yoh truly makes a difference in people’s lives 🙌👏👏👏👏💯💯💯💯Eric Stevens

BEAUTIFUL school and campus! The artwork of the students that lines the hallways is AMAZING!!!! VERY lovely creative atmosphere here.D Nicole Williams

Deaf Community, CIL Jacksonville Deaf Service, My feedback Monique make me feel better because me feel like her, she is thoughtful my counselor for good advices and feedback. She doing good job help me about paperwork for covid19 solved problem. She doing good job keep up her job Wells. She really hard work me. Thanks! 👏Cassy Kinney

Wonderful smiling faces & warm sincere greetings. Went out of way to be helpful. To bad couldn't give a 10 star rating. I know now where to go or call if I find myself in like situation. Thank you staff for your help.Patricia Boatwright

Very nice services please be patient with some of the employees they may work at the agency so they may asks questions over and over and you may have to assist them. So please be kind.Priscilla Roberts

Master Bill and Miss Clarissa facilitate an enriched program that focuses on the foundational life skills that builds true leaders. Their programs instill compassion, character, discipline, and perseverance in a safety first environment. Because all kids learn differently Master Bill and Miss Clarissa are agile in how they connect with each individual to learn how they are motivated. This allows them to maximize the individuals fullest potential. The best part is they teach these skills in a way in which the kids find it FUN and want to keep going back, which is the truest testament to their craft! PVMAA is the real deal and best in class!Rebecca Bolte

Our son has been attending Ponte Vedra Martial Arts Academy for a little over 2 months. He will be 7 years old in July. He attends the White Tigers classes 2 days a week. He loves coming to class. We love the professionalism from the owner and all the instructors. All of them are dedicated to teaching values that we align with. This isn’t a drop off and play place. Our son learns and comes away with confidence, pride, and dedication. I highly recommend this facility if you are looking for martial arts for your children, they will come away with even more.James Chipman

My daughter began taking classes at PVMAA when she was 7 years old. She is now 11 and a Black Belt. I can't say enough good things about this school and its instructors, Master Bill and Miss Clarissa. In addition to excellent martial arts training, she is learning valuable lessons about character development, leadership, and discipline. PVMAA offers programs for all ages and abilities, from preschoolers to adults (my husband is a student as well). They also have an excellent summer camp program, which my daughter attends and looks forward to every year.Sharon W

WOW!!!! I have never been to such a stunning animal shelter, ever! This is filled with tons of happy wagging tails and sweet meows flowing through the facility!!! The staff are absolutely delightful and can tell that they honestly love and care for these animals like they are their own. One downside, they get rather busy and can be short staffed with volunteers and full time/ part time employees. Definitely be patient and maybe bring a snack when you’re looking for your next furrrever pet! GO AND ADOPT ONE OF THESE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS!!! The facility is extremely accommodating if you want to bring your pet(s) for a meet and greet; they will also allow for a 72 hour overnight stay to ensure that you are getting a furrrrrrry friend that is compatible in your house! *** One piece of additional information: if you bring your pet with you and you do end up adopting another pet, the facility will now allow both dogs to leave in the same car. This is to eliminate the possibility of the a dog fight in your vehicle on the way home. Not sure what protocol would be if you brought 2 crates with you ***Scott Williams

Can't speak for adoption practices, but if you're looking for training classes I'd sign up somewhere else. I was overlooked completely during the first meeting — the trainer skipped over me while scheduling sessions, and some other nice dog owners had to spell out it out for them. It's super difficult to get in touch with anyone on the phone or through email. They've cancelled training sessions twice now at the last minute, with one time being lack of communication between their departments. Why would you schedule training at the same time as a major facility-wide event? The trainers themselves are nice enough, but they seem super detached from their work — not a fun time for anyone involved. I wish the fee was refundable because I'd rather shell out a bit more elsewhere to work with people who respect my dog, my time and my money.Leo Nguyen

I now get why there are so many *former* kitten fosters at JHS. The staff has poor attitudes and are very unhelpful. You’re treated like they’re doing you a favor. They really take the hands off approach with their fosters. Our foster kittens were sick, with worms literally crawling out of their bottoms, and we were told to come back later in the week. What about the poor kittens’ health? We’re supposed to take these dehydrated, worm invested kittens home without them getting help? Ridiculous Only go to JHS if you’re looking for a free animal. If you’re looking to foster, need some help, or want to be treated with respect this isn’t the placeAaron Kelly

Multiple classrooms shut down for 14 days due to a teacher being exposed. (okay fine there is a pandemic out there I got you) Here is the problem, I pay almost 1300 a month for my child to attend here, and i'm suddenly told, " no refunds" and " you signed a waiver." (which by the way says " if your child has symptoms" not " If one of our employees get sick we can charge you money and provide no service with impunity") Now I have to figure out what to do with my child, not to mention HALF of what I paid to a MULTI MILLION dollar corporation (NYSE: BFAM) is gone, simply because they can get away with ripping off its customers. I can not speak to other class rooms ( I think 4 are shut down right now)but I can speak for PT1. We have had 3 different teachers in the last 4 months. Stay away, hide your wallet.dustin castlen

This place deserves a 5-star or higher rating. My 2 years old started going there early this year. This was the first daycare I applied to, and I got the spot. I loved the place. Her teachers were amazing, everything was clean, and the space was spacious. My daughter stopped going here because we thought she is little yet and we will put her back once she turns 3. But after some time I needed to help my husband with his business and we wanted to put her back. I contacted Bright Horizon and they told me that there is no spot for the next 2 months. I went applying to other daycares. When I went to another daycare with even 4.6-star reviews, they were horrible, I did not want my daughter to go there. That was the time when I realized more that, Bright Horizon is the best.Sadaf Nouman

Bright Horizons at the Avenues is amazing. My child has been going to the school since they were 3 months old. Every single teacher and administrator truly loves working with children and it shows. They make sure to put the children and family first. When COVID occurred, I knew that I never needed to worry about the safety of my child. They were already doing the necessary steps to keep the children safe. The teachers are also amazing with introducing concepts and lessons to the children. My two year old can count to 20 and can recognize the alphabet. Not to mention all the sweet children songs. I absolutely love this school and highly recommend it to anyone that is looking for childcare.Christina Howard

We couldn't have made a better decision for our son's education. We have been homeschooling our son for a few years now and since he was in Kindergarten he has struggled with reading. We tried all kinds of methods at home to help him crack the code for reading and we just kept spinning in circles it seemed until we took him to Sylvan Learning of North Jacksonville. He is NOW reading and everyday improving his reading and communication skills. We have loved everyone at Sylvan. They provide a safe and encouraging space for our son to learn and are so positive. He loves going and he told me the other day it's his favorite part of they day. We are so thankful we made the decision and investment in his education to help him get on the proper path to reading and enjoying it.Emily Burton

Sylvan was the best investment I made in 2020. My six grade student was struggling in mathematics. At the closing of the fifth grade 2020 school year she walked through the doors of Sylvan. In less than six months she is a confident A-B student in mathematics! I was so impressed with the outcome I invested another six months with Sylvan. The Staff’s commitment, learning plans, and structure is worth every dollar. I promise you will not regret such a valuable and lasting investment in your student.J Carrol

We brought my child here for some help during the summer to help her catch up for the upcoming grade. Not only have they reinforced early skills, they have taught her new ways to read and enjoy it. They have built her confidence which is huge because she is extremely shy. She reads random things now that she never did before and attempts to read others. They do a wonderful job and you can tell they love and care for the youth that they work with.amanda depratter

Shiva Robotics camp is the best camp that my son has attended for several years. Kalai is very passionate about Robotics and children so she is the perfect person to teach these youth. She keeps you very informed about each day at the camp and what your camper is doing and how they are doing including taking many many photos and videos of each day. She also motivates the children with positive feedback and encouragement making them feel so proud of themselves and wanting to achieve more and more. I am so glad that I stumbled upon Shiva Robotics camp. I couldn't ask for a better experience for my son.nannette thomas

I've been a volunteer for 3 years at Shiva Robotics Academy and I've seen it grow into an amazing camp for young minds to come engage in STEM activities and grow as people. This organization has definitely done the best job in educating young people and giving an opportunity to have fun while engaging in STEM!SoloDesi

Shiva robotics academy is an educational institut​ion that teaches students in Grades Pre-K through 8 about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics through various LEGO Robotics model designing, building and programming activities.Shiva Robotics Academy

A great place for musicians of all ages to foster their love of music. My six year old is currently enjoying the kids n' keys class while my ten year old daughter is taking voice, ukulele and piano. The girls are excited that they get to learn songs all of us know and so they are eager to show off (ie "practice) what they have learned at home. My daughter was close to quitting piano altogether because she was getting bored with traditional piano lessons. She started at Bach to Rock and now has picked up an additional instrument. Her music lessons are her favorite part of her week.Karen Naudascher

I like that there is something for everyone, regardless of the age of the child. I like that many different kinds of instruments are offered, that way a child can choose his/her instrument. As a child the only option I had was piano, but I wanted to do the drums. I like that the lessons in the Rock City class teach different musical concepts using different instruments and incorporates various genres of music. My daughter has learned quite a bit of music vocabulary and she loves the classes.Eva Dennis

My daughter attended a week long camp at Bach to Rock this summer and had an absolute blast! She came home excited to tell me about new instruments and what she learned after each day of camp. On the final day of camp, the kids did a performance with their instructor which was so cute and an awesome experience for campers. I'm going to sign up my daughter for regular classes there so she can continue to learn. Thanks Bach to Rock Jax Beach!Megan Del Pizzo