20 Best Summer Programs In Mesa, AZ (2022 Updated)

Mesa has a lot of great classes and opportunities but there are major issues. The sign up process for classes is confusing, many of the pathways online that are supposed to show you the courses you need for degrees are incorrect. Of course you should contact advisors to figure out which classes you need, but it is nearly impossible. There are so few advisors and very little availability. As of right now it asks you to make in person appointments with them and yet there are never any slots open. You can email advising which takes 2-3 days to get a response. You can try and call their office and wait on hold for an hour just to eventually get hung up on. It is in no way the advisors faults, anyone I have actually been able to contact has been as helpful as possible, but it is so hard to get a response or any help. I signed up for courses that the online pathway said I needed only to find out that they weren't actually necessary for my degree and others were. When I went to drop the courses and add the new ones it wouldn't let me because I owe money for the courses I am still enrolled in that haven't even started yet. So, I cannot sign up for the correct courses, have no clue which classes I actually need and cannot find advisors to help. I understand during the pandemic it is difficult for universities to find staff and help, but even before COVID Mesa was still just as inefficient. Mesa just needs to improve their communication and assistance with students, it would solve so many issues.Taylor Pouncey

MCC has a fantastic non-credit program for older adults: NFLL, or New Frontiers for Lifelong Learners. For an extremely reasonable fee, I sign up for as many of the program's classes as I please. They're online, in-person, or a mix of the two. There are also some field trips; we've just gone to a free day at the Desert Botanical Gardens, and next week there will be a trip to the new one in Queen Creek for a fee. A class on WW2 planes had a trip to Falcon Field, etc. Over the last few years I've taken classes in history, tech, health, music, and much more! There are also groups for discussion, playing games, hiking for 3 different levels, etc., as well as social and service activities. In-person classes are at MCC Mesa and Red Mtn campuses usually. Some classes have been through Great Courses, and many lecturers are former teachers/professors or experts in their field. Check it out–great program at low price! Update: on-campus classes are so easy to get to: it's a small campus (either Dobson or Red Mountain), and the free parking is ample and easily accessible.Natalie Satterthwaite

So I just signed up today.. I think which is the problem. There’s like 5 people sitting at a desk “helping” people get set up but they did absolutely nothing to help me get signed up they didn’t tell me I couldn’t sign up for my class the same day as I walked in and told them exactly what class I wanted and that I never attended college before. They don’t tell me it’s some weird 24 hour wait for the account to start working and they also did not at all clarify to make sure to take the student photo because now that I chose to skip that because NOBODY helped me I’m unable to finish my application lol hice apparently if I don’t finish in 48 hours will be deleted? They also didn’t tell me that. So this has been an absolutely awful experience thus far and I haven’t even been able to join a class yet.Ryan Jorgensen

First regarding special ed, I have a scholar with a previous IEP that transition to a 504 plan. There have been issues with teachers recognizing a 504 plan and providing the appropriate accommodations. If I reach out as a parent to to the teacher, I have been told the special ed team needs to let them know what accommodations are on the plan. But then when I include the administration and special ed on the email, miraculously the teacher is familiar with the plan. Luckily the supports needed are fairly simple for my scholar to advocate on his own, but it would be very nice if the teachers were provided more guidance in these areas. It's been almost 2 years since I had a meeting regarding this plan, and the last one was over the phone, just me and the special ed teacher. Some teachers are VERY difficult to contact. They barely respond to email, are not as available as they claim to be for makeup work or assistance with assignments. Other teachers are WONDERFUL, and really inspire a love for learning. I have a scholar who have purposely NOT selected dual enrollment or honors classes only to find out that the ONLY class available is an honors class. This wouldn't be a problem if students & parents were told that prior to registering for classes, but alas, they are not. If you are looking for a college prep school with a strong conservative bias, this could be a great school for you. There have been several inconsistencies with Heritage COVID policies. Prior to a theater performance, I had inquired about COVID safety precautions and was told via an email to all parents "As soon as the performers leave the stage they will be expected to put their masks on" and "Audience members will be required to wear masks to attend this optional event." However at intermission, half the attendees had removed their masks. Following the show most of the students were outside in the courtyard mask-less. There was no enforcement. We have also kept our students home while they are "sick" per the COVID guidelines the school set in place for in person learning. However, my student received a notice that they were at risk of losing credit due to so many absences. This was finally resolved, but only after causing stress to an already stressed out scholar. While I was dealing with the "loss of credit crisis" the issue of mask enforcement policies came up. I questioned why some teachers were not being disciplined for not enforcing the schools mask policy, and I was told "good teachers are hard to find." This was incredibly disappointing. Heritage advertises "The purpose of education is to build strong character." To me, strong character starts with INTEGRITY, if you say you have a policy, you enforce it. Recently we experienced some troubling behavior at the end of a sports season. At a baseball game, we witnessed a simple error by one of the team members, the SHAMING from the coach to that player was extremely inappropriate. The coach was also yelling at the umpire during the game (more than a typical "I'm not happy with the call"). Later in the season at the semi-final games, there were fights between the umpires and coaches, and the game ended with a student cussing out the umpire, and the coaches fighting with each other and the umpires. There was a definite lack of sportsmanship, which is disappointing. One scholar was completely left out of the yearbook. The solution "I'll refund your purchase or give you a free one next year." Apparently there were several kids left out. I also had a straight A student who was not acknowledged at the awards assembly.Nicole Lovell

I switched into this school my junior year from Westwood high and I honestly feel like those who choose for themselves to attend heritage will find more enjoyment and satisfaction than those who may be pushed into heritage by parents or the likes of. I went in knowing the uniform policy, it’s strict rules, and the environment of the school. Upon arriving I’d say my expectations were met. Pros: The scheduling format is great, I prefer to take a class 2 times a week over 5 times a week. It makes it feel very refreshing and you do feel like you have more time to work and learn. It is also conveniently located right next to the light rail station, which was very helpful for me while I attended EVIT. It is also located by a good bunch of restaurants and fast food for lunch. The teaching staff is great and I felt like I had a positive experience with almost all of my teachers at this school. Some negatives: The school does not have an on-site nurse which to me is scary. I once had an allergic reaction to a spider bit while I was in class and felt my throat swell up, I needed to call my mom and ask her to bring me benedryl. To coincide with this, the school doesn’t have a counselor other than one for college guidance. I think these two things would definitely give the school another star on my rating. I also felt at times that certain classes, particularly history oriented classes, felt like they had a strong right-wing bias towards them. When I was choosing to go to this school, I was expecting this given the schools demographic and dedication to a very constitution-based curriculum, so to me it didn’t matter to much. I did feel that I had opportunities to speak my own opinion’s in these classes and had open debates about them. It helped strengthen my views, but if you are uncomfortable with your child not going the typical public school history route, then this school might not be your place. My last con is that the school tends to plan really important meetings for senior’s at the worst times for kids in EVIT which was during lunch. I ended up missing out on the “senior assassins” game because I had to take the lightrail to evit or else I would be tardy. Even when I got a car to drive to EVIT, I only had enough time to eat and drive there, when I got there it was usually 5 minutes before the bell rang. To people with AM EVIT, this probably wasn’t a problem but it didn’t benefit me at all with afternoon EVIT. That concludes my very detailed review. I hope that this reaches someone at the school. I overall did enjoy my time there, but I did only spend 2 years there compared to the usual 6 others spend.Kylan Dubiel

If you want an in-depth review of Heritage Academy, here you go: Some of the teachers were awesome and incredibly understanding. Having Friday’s off were nice. Other than that, that’s all the good I can give. During my six years at Heritage, the school indoctrinated Republican and Conservative ideas into everyone’s brain. If a comment isn’t conservative, it’s frowned upon. Teachers have talked about their religion openly in class which was uncomfortable when I was leaving the religion that a majority of the Heritage population practiced. When I did leave, mostly everyone in my class shunned me for not believing in Mormonism. Every Government and History conversation was incredibly biased and they worship the Founding Fathers constantly and it’s very concerning. Schools shouldn’t be influenced by politics, but somehow Heritage has managed to do so. They show Prager University clips in their history classes which is an extremely republican and conservative biased YouTube Channel. Basically, if you want a politically neutral and inviting place to send your kids, Heritage is NOT the answer. Edit: If you could remove my personal information and your comments on my religious experiences from your comment, that would be fantastic. I don’t want to report you guys for doxxing me. Extremely unprofessional.Hannah Allred

Mesa Arts Center is a gem of a venue with so many features – architecture, water fountains, plants, studio spaces, and more. In 2016 the center put on Spark! Festival of Creativity and it was such a good time. Thought of sharing these photos from the installation Sensebellum hosted called, "The Sensatorium". Here's to hope for another event like this at that location in the future! Thank you again to the whole team at the Mesa Arts Center 🙏Sensebellum

Went there for an event We All Are The Cure, Ben Fuller incredible Cristian singer, he gave his testimony,WOW, the new 988 crises help line. The venue very nice easy going in. I parked outside in the back free parking, not far at all. Very nice place. People very nice, they do have snacks and soda vender, clean bathrooms, accomodations for wheelchairs chairs. 100% recommend.AnaNicole Hausherr

Great arts center with a wonderful museum/exhibit hall, 4 theatres with some amazing touring shows and impressive local productions, and an absolutely lovely arts store stocked with a nice variety of local art including ceramics, paintings, photography, jewelry, including holiday art – whimsical, serene, and thought-provoking. Highly recommend this for local gifts!Nancy Ordonez

This was my first visit and I have to say they beat all of my expectations! I only spoke to a couple of employees and I found them to be gracious. The museum exhibits are set up so well, you want to read all of the information on the walls. It was so much fun to watch the children's expressions around the really big dinosaurs. The room with the movie memorabilia was incredible and informative. It looked like the kids were having so much panning for gold! I saw two exhibits that weren't working but there is so much to see that it didn't detract from the museum. The entrance fees are very reasonable and I purchased items from the gift shop. The entire museum was very clean including the restroom. I have older grandkids but I think I'm going to get them to come with me next time. Visited on
Public holiday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Not sure

Price for adult entry
$11–15Vanessa Glady

Great place! Albeit this was my most memorable visit and I need to say they satisfied my assumptions as a whole! The gallery shows are set up so indeed, you need to peruse all of the data on the walls. Watching the youngsters' demeanors around the huge dinosaurs was such a lot of tomfoolery. The room with the film memorabilia was mind blowing and useful. It seemed as though the children were having so much prospecting! I saw two displays that weren't working however there is such a great amount to see that it didn't diminish the gallery. The extra charges are truly sensible and I bought things from the present shop. The whole exhibition hall was exceptionally perfect including the bathroom. Energetically suggest. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$21–30Amy Butler

This museum is now one of our favorites to go to! They have several different rooms and a few interactive things for kids to touch and play with. We brought my nephew who is 2 -1/2 and he loved all the dinosaurs. He played a puzzle game with other kids and was so in awe to see the Dinosaurs up close. We went on a field trip day a few other schools were there. We hope to take him back on a day it's a little calmer. Everything is well laid out, easy access to all the floors. Pricing was very reasonable. This is a great way to get the kids out of the house for a bit and enjoy the day. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
$11–15Kay Harper

I am the owner of this location and only bought it because of the results of my children that were enrolled 1-2 years prior to purchase. My youngest son needed help, while my oldest was advanced and we wanted to keep him there. We joined Mathnasium in 2012 and had immediate results. After 6 months my youngest was caught up, and after another 6 months he was a straight A student. Because of the value to us of this program, we decided to purchase it and still have our kids enrolled ands both have maintained thier A+ status. It works, which is why we own it!!!!Brad Jackson

Mathnasium has help my 7th grade daughter tremendously!!! She went from a low F to a C quickly and ended up rounding out the semester with a B!! The teachers are all very kind and there are plenty to help each kid or teen out with all their questions. My daughter did absolutely hate the first day but was actually happy to go back the second because even she realized how much they helped her and now she even asks for me to take her here after school. Thank you!dawn pratt

The team at the North Mesa Mathnasium have been fantastic. We enrolled both our boys (4th and 6th grade) last year and immediately saw improvement in their math results. They've been able to help with my older son's advanced math program and also my younger son's math facts speed. They've got great tricks and tools they teach and are always kind and patient. They also offer incentives for milestones, which our boys love. Highly recommend!Luc Marceau

I truly do not know what I would do without Lady Savage Daycare. I originally enrolled my daughter in this daycare in December due to neglect that occurred in her previous daycare and I had to remove my daughter immediately. I was so happy to have found this daycare I was nervous because I didn’t want my daughter hurt again and I wanted her to be safe. Miss Q was so nice & caring from the first day. Unfortunately because have a unforeseen life event I had to remove my daughter but Miss Q told me that when I am in a better position my daughter is always welcome back. My daughter has been back Enrolled full-time since February and We couldn’t be happier. My daughter is thriving and learning so much do to Miss Q and Miss Dasia. They have great open communication, they let me know what is going on and I am so grateful for that especially coming from a place that lacked communication. Every morning my daughter is so excited to go to Lady Savage Daycare and even some days when I pick her up she doesn’t want to leave. That just shows me how happy she is and they are doing a great job.This is a daycare I plan to keep her in for as long as I can. Miss Q and Dasia are so loving, caring and patient. They love all of the kids as if they are their own. I truly grateful for Lady Savage Daycare!Danielle Johnson

My daughter was attending the YMCA and other school camps from 2015-2018. After going to Lady's Savages Spring break camp in the Spring of 2018, she was eager to go back for the fiscal summer year of 2018. She has decided she will never again attend another recreational camp as long as Lady Savage's daycare/summer program exist. I sometimes have to work 12 hrs shifts at the hospital, but never once, was I worried or had concerned about how things were being conducted and or operated because communication stayed open and available. Knowing that my baby girl is ok, fed and having fun is the very reason I highly recommend trying it. PRAY about it..then try this facility out and compare it to other organizations. You will not be disappointment.Terfinesh Griggs

I would like to say my daughter Za'layah have had trouble in many daycares my wife and I enrolled her in, and at one point didn't know where we would go with her. Until we found Lady Savage Daycare, we both was skeptical at first of course due to it being our first in home daycare but when I tell you we have seen a 360 degree turn in my daughters behavior it's outstanding. She's even learning more there. The Progress I see in her is amazing and put my wife and I at ease to know she's well taking care of. As a parent I personally feel like my child is with family and my child comfort there is like she's at home. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!!! Mrs. Q YOU ARE AMAZING AND MUCH APPRECIATED!!!Keith T

We have had a great experience at the Coder School of Gilbert. First of all a school like this was much needed in this locality. My pre-teen boys attended spring camp here and they both loved it. The staff was very engaging and paid attention to my kids' interests and strengths and weaknesses and recommended programs for them. Emily is a great owner and takes personal interest in ensuring good outcomes for families and kids developing intrinsic motivation to write code. My older son joined weekly classes and is loving it so far. He went around proudly showing off his code on his phone to all our party guests last night. I would certainly recommend this school if you are looking to get your kids interested in coding.Praveen Prasad

I love that this place exists!! I have a son who has been interested in computers and games, especially Minecraft. I was looking for something to engage and challenge him. We went to a free 30 minute session at theCoderSchool, and he was hooked. He said it felt like he was only there for 5 minutes, but had accomplished an entire simple game. We signed up for classes immediately. The owner is amazing, and the staff are all personable and kind.Dawn Brimhall

This is a very special school and is very well put together. It is a great alternative for the typical after school activities. Getting familiar with coding at an early age is priceless. Facilities are great with plenty of space an computers. Coaches are diligent and try make empathy with students. Emily is so positive and tries to know each student so that he/she can get a customized learning. I certainly recommend it.Jorge Zenil

Education is key and every individual deserves an opportunity to use that key to unlock the doors to possibilities and success. I believe that with a strong foundation at a very young age the road to learning becomes easier with every step taken. This preschool holds that key and they have the right tools to build that strong foundation. There is always room for improvement within the classroom but it's not about the product; instead it's the process and these amazing teachers at this school have that ability to help each child reach their potential. It's more than just a school it's family-oriented and every child that has entered those doors has gain a great amount of attaches respect for those teachers. You can see it in their faces when they arrive it's smiles and laughter. Parents are always in a rush and there are little ones that burst into tears at the sight of their parents running out the door, but rest assured those tears and frowns disappear within seconds because these teachers become 2nd parents to these little ones. They give lots of attentive hugs and trust issues are broken to perfection because these teachers display a warm setting that each child can feel loved and unafraid. I can feel the warmth and my trust level with leaving my child is way above average. It shows in their countenance and the reflection in their attitude that they had the "best day ever!" I am thankful for this school and its teachers because not only do they build a safe haven for our little ones, but they have built a new beginning of knowledge in each child's mind and a burning passion for learning in their hearts. Thank you Sunrise Preschool (Alma School & Guadalupe) for all that you do. To the teachers, you are all amazing and I can't thank you enough for being Awesome!!!Makeleta Falevai

Unsatisfied with this daycare or preschool! The teachers don’t care about the kids. The rooms, toys and doors are dirty. They don’t care if the kids eat or not. My daughter got sick many times due to a bacteria here. I stopped taking her while she was sick, than I would bring her back and she’ll get sick again until the doctor let me know where it was most likely from. I stopped taking her and she is just fine now. She would come home and tell me her “teachers” were mean! She is just a 3 year old and was scared to go there, I moved her and thankfully she is happy in her new place.Tania Acosta

My son started here at just 8 weeks old, and the staff and teachers here really helped relieve the stress of leaving him. As any new (working) parent knows, there are difficult mornings for drop offs. On the days I had trouble leaving my son, they would send me emails of him playing in the classroom. Every teacher seems invested in the children, not just the ones that teach the specific classroom. I know that my son is well taken care of and loved at this school, and I look forward to bringing my next child hereA W

I am currently attending East Valley Medical College, I just finished my CNA program and continuing on through their PCT program. I have loved every minute of my time I have spent at EVMC!! Amanda with admitting was incredibly friendly and helpful with getting me enrolled and my teacher, Jeniffer has been amazing! Our class as well as lab time has been set up to promote our success, and our teacher was amazing!! She made learning the information very easy, she presented the information very clearly and thoroughly and also incorporated stories from experience that helped me to remember and apply information. The entire staff as well as the environment of East Valley Medical College is very positive and inviting and everyone at the school wants you to succeed, not only through the education process but also in finding a job after your course completion! East Valley Medical College has provided me with a thorough and informative education as well as an environment that promotes success! I am so happy that I was referred to EVMC and with the education that I have received thus far and I definitely feel confident in my skills and knowledge to go forward into the workforce. I would definitely recommend East Valley Medical College and have loved every minute of my education with them!Ally Johnson

If you are looking for quick and effective programs to get your medical career started, look no further than EVMC to get yourself there. I'm beyond grateful to their staff for giving me an opportunity to shine in their program. I enrolled in their 8 week Phlebotomy program, which is 5 weeks in classes while learning to properly draw blood on your classmates. After your 5 weeks, you are assigned a clinical site for 3 weeks. I feel that I received the best education that I could have ever ask for. I say this because when I went to my clinical site (which was a LabCorp), I felt extremely prepared and it reflected in my work at my site. You are given the skills necessary to be successful, but you also must have the drive and desire to work hard as well. Their classes are small (only 10 students are allowed per class). Now, be warned that while you are in class you will draw blood on your classmates and you will be drawn on too, so if you have a fear of getting your blood drawn, this may not be for you. I couldn't be more satisfied with everything that I received from this small school. Everyone from the administration to the the educators were professional and helpful. Thank you EVMC for everything!Jaime Echerivel

I participated in the CNA program at East Valley Medical College and loved every minute of it! The atmosphere, instructors, and set up was exactly what I needed to succeed in the program. The atmosphere had plenty of positive vibes and was very inviting. The instructor that taught the class, Jenifer, was so attentive to details and truly wanted all her students to succeed. With this being said, she was a very helpful instructor and was willing to help us, her students, at any given time. East Valley Medical College had the skills lab set up for us in a way that would ensure that we got a high quality education and ensured that we had all the supplies that we needed to strive for the best. I would highly recommend East Valley Medical College to anyone. It was such a good experience and definitely one to remember.Ayssa Vargas

We experienced LSA as parents of 2 children who went through the program. I can't say enough about how happy we are with the experience. Great attention was made to match the coach to the participant and their model of regular communication, goal setting and accountability was handled in a way that was right for parents, and for the participants. Both of our children loved the program and were happy all the way through. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants their children to develop skills, confidence and experiences, before they leave the nest.Jeff May

After almost two years with them, LSA has really helped me change for the better! Everyone including the coaches are always such amazing people to hang out with. The positivity and lessons of LSA has always have been the best things that always caught my attention the most! Both of their online and in-person events have been so much fun to be at. If I had to recommend this program to anyone I absolutely will! I honestly do think of continuing for another year for sure!Jason Carvalho

I love being a part of Leadership Society of Arizona because it has helped me in many ways throughout my time being a part of it. I know that I can count on my coach to help me in whatever area of my life I may need guidance on, and have learned different skills and tried new things since joining the program. I do recommend this for others to try out!Jennifer Blanco

What can I say that others haven't already said and experienced?…This Mathnasium is a gem! My daughter has struggled with high school math for over a year, but once we enrolled her in Mathnasium with Jessica and her team she's done a complete turnaround. My daughter now enjoys math and loves going to the center where she gets one-to-one immediate help so that she understands the algebra, geometry or whatever she is working on. It's resulted in test scores going from s to As. Mathnasium has helped my child become a more confident person in all aspects of life, not just math. The team and their approach has turned her into a once frowning kid into one who feels fulfilled in accomplishments. My daughter also enjoys watching the younger kids get excited when the light bulb goes on and they all walk out with smiles. Thank you, Mathnasium team at Mesa South!Lisa Walsh

In November 2018, my 7th grade son was struggling with Math at school. We started taking him to Mathnasium and he finished the year with a B. Not only did he score well on assignments, but he also scored well on tests. The staff at Mathnasium assisted my child with his daily math homework, but given the fact that he was scoring well on quizzes and tests, he must have been processing the what the staff was teaching him. Not many 12 year olds enjoy having to have a tutor or do school work out side of school, but my son did not fuss about going to Mathnasium. Jessica and her staff are kind and courteous and has always been available to answer any questions I might have. Each month we are sent a monthly progress report showing what our son has worked on and where his skill level lies with that area.Laura Robinson

The staff at this facility have been nothing short of amazing. My son was failing Math and struggling with the effects of the educational restrictions these past 2 years. Recently my son came home and told me his teacher said he currently has the highest grade in his Geometry class. Today we got an email from his teacher stating how well he was doing and felt he would have a very successful year. We owe the teachers at Mathnasium "thanks" for always willing to step up and help. They emphasized getting the basics so that future classes would be successful.Petula Gillingham

Hello, I wanted to share my personal experiences with Bright Horizons at Banner Baywood (BH). I am an admittedly overprotective, overly concerned, 1st time mom and when it came time for my 2 year old to go to childcare, (and BTW there IS a difference in daycare versus childcare and BH is a childcare, MUCH better), I was extremely apprehensive in letting her go just anywhere with just anyone. My husband and I visited/interviewed literally 7 different childcare facilities in our area and researched/called about 15 others. Trust me when I say I interviewed them inside and out and with MANY questions. I had a notebook and all. Please let me tell you….there was something off or not conducive to my desires for my child's childcare amongst each of them….UNTIL I found bright horizons. My daughter has been going to BH at Banner for 2 months. The staff at BH is AMAZING, truly. I had a food sensitivity issue for a bit with my child and they were ON IT being kind, understanding, safe, and efficient. The center director, Michelle, is customer oriented and so down to earth and helpful. She talks to parents and interacts….pretty great! Kristin, the health and safety director, is super calm, kind, and is doing an incredible job helping to keep my daughter and all other littles and staff safe during this trying time of covid….Kristin has been more than fair in working with my family's issues, questions, and schedule. Very genuinely caring customer service and much appreciated great communication. Even when she is busy, she still says hello and calls the kiddos by their names…like, EVERY kid! My daughter and I were almost exclusively together for over a year due to covid and she is shy anyways, so she does NOT like being away from me. Separation anxiety to the max. I'm telling you, her teacher, Ms. Jessene, is AMAZING!!! She has such a calm, caring, considerate personality, my daughter took to her in like 2 days!!! That has NEVER happened before, and not even to this day. My daughter literally loves her! My daughter has such fun at BH, and gets to do a lot of fun, learning activities. For example, Father's Day is coming up, they gave her a white mug to color as a gift for her dad and put tissue paper around it and all in a white bag that she also colored! Come on!! SO GREAT!!!! Please hear me when I tell you I see, hear, and feel how much this BH staff cares for these kids. Also, as an awesome side note, my daughter only said about 6 words and signed around 100 words before attending BH….I was worried for her …..but first of all, the staff knows some basic sign, and they also know how to engage my daughter and help her communicate…..my daughter has been talking a LOT more since attending BH, like 50 plus words in 1 month. Coincidence? Growth Spurt? Yeah, maybe. But research has shown, the staff promotes, and my heart believes, that play based learning, and singing, and reading help kiddos develop! I'm super happy 😄 Okay, so BH is indeed a bit more expensive than a lot of the others places I looked at. But honestly, it is worth it to me and my family. I TRUST them with my only precious little girl. Trust is hard to come by in general, let alone with someone else caring for your kid all day. So many other I integral and wonderful staff. Between the truly caring staff, great communication, fairness in management, how great everyone is with my kiddo, and honestly in addition… the 3 provided meals a day. (Listen, not having to make all these meals and snacks everyday is fabulous! So having BH take care of it is awesome. Many places either don't provide food, or, do, but don't provide dinner.) So, in summary, finally, absolutely 💯% YES I recommend BH at Banner. I have no affiliation with Banner nor anyone at BH other than being a now confident and happy momma bear to my baby who happily attends BH. At the very least, schedule an interview with them! There is so much to love and appreciate about BH at Banner!!! Best wishes!KI Bogs

I really cannot say enough good things about Bright Horizons at Banner Baywood. My son was so happy there, it was amazing to see him smile at the teachers and other care workers. The facilities are so nice and the curriculum is excellent. I loved seeing the pictures and reading about all of his activities throughout the day on their app. It’s truly amazing to see your child enjoy going to day care each day. My son attended from age 18 months to 2 years. The only reason we are leaving Bright Horizons is because my husband took a job out of state and we are moving. I can easily say the hardest thing about leaving AZ will be saying goodbye to Bright Horizons. They have set the bar so high for childcare I truly worry about finding another daycare that is on their same level in our new state.Rebecca Ruddy

We have been taking our kids here for almost 3 years. Both our kids started here at 12 weeks and 6 weeks old. We are extremely picky about who can watch our kids. This place is fantastic. They update us on EVERYTHING. As an Emergency Room Nurse, I want to send my kids somewhere safe. They take safety very seriously. They also have lesson plans starting for the kids while they’re infants. Our kids are now 3 and 2. Our pediatrician is always impressed with how far ahead our kids are. We are so thankful that our kids have a clean, safe, and loving place to be when they can’t be with us during the day. This place actually cares about your kids. They treat you like family. 10/10 I recommend this place to everyone I know.Mattie Smith

It would be impossible to count the ways that Professor Shaw and the fine instructors at APSK have impacted my family for the better. In the interest of time, I’ll just mention a few of the things I’m most grateful for. My boys began their martial arts journey 4 days after my youngest son’s 3rd birthday. My middle son had just turned 4, and oldest son 5. Now, 6 years later, karate is as much a part of their lives as air. We initially signed the boys up hoping to get them to listen better and be more active. They used to fight a lot, and it would often turn physical amongst the kids. If they weren’t fighting with each other, they were fighting with me about school, chores, dinner, anything really. Immediately after beginning karate I noticed a dramatic shift in my kids. Soon, our days were no longer filled with arguing, fighting and boredom. We had peace in our home. As they got older, I saw just how much of an advantage my kids had from participating in Karate. I love the values and self-confidence they have gained the most. It fills me with joy when they excitedly share new skills with me. I am proud that they hold to their morals, and are not afraid to stand up for what’s right. More importantly, they are proud of themselves. Professor Shaw/APSK also places great importance on discipline and respect. I see the benefits of this daily. Being respectful of teachers at school, always ready to listen and learn has no doubt contributed to their stellar grades and accelerated schooling. Their determination is unmatched by most kids their age. When the going gets tough, like with a new skill or a challenging math concept, my boys don’t give up. They buckle down and keep at it until they master it. They have the physical stamina many kids their age lack, which allows us to participate in lots of fun activities. They have the confidence I lacked as a child to reach out and make new friends. And, of course, they are well prepared to defend themselves should the need arise. After 6 years studying under Professor Shaw at APSK, these behaviors come naturally to my boys. APSK is a second home to my family. Professor Shaw and all the staff go above and beyond every single day to make sure my kids, and the other students, are as best equipped for the real world as possible. Signing my boys up for martial arts at APSK 6 years ago was without a doubt one of the decisions I am most proud of as a parent. I love all of the positive changes I have seen in my family. I absolutely recommend bringing your kids (or yourself!) in to try it out.Jennifer Irizarry

2 years ago I decided it was time for my daughter to learn self defense. Having studied Kenpo, TKD and Aikido from a young age and also being a US Marine I knew what I was looking for (she won’t let me train her…yet lol). One of the bigger places nearby seemed to spend more time talking rather than training, so I passed. APSK has essentially 3 different groups and teach well to their age and level. My daughter is learning well and has advanced nicely. She’s learning not only the typical punches, blocks and kicks but gymnastic moves as well. I’m impressed watching her and some of the other kids and what they’ve learned. They have two instructors that work very well with the younger kids. She’s gained confidence and skills she can use her whole life and she has a lot more to learn from them. I recommend APSKPacky Flickinger

I signed my grandson up here at this school after looking at so many schools in the valley. I am particular because I have taken Karate all my life. I received my black belt years ago in kenpo. I was so impressed by the instructors at this school it was the best decision I have ever made for my grandson. I recommend this school for anyone that wants to learn martial arts. My grandson , Danny, loves it and will continue on his journey with this school. Thank you to all the instructors because you continue to do a awesome job. Thank you Don PhelpsDonald Phelps

Our daughter has been a part of the Goddard family for close to two months, shortly after turning three and we LOVE them. Our first impression was how kind, knowledgeable and welcoming the staff was. As first time parents we were nervous about putting our daughter in a school, however during the tour, Kaleigh made us feel at home and answered all of our questions with a smile. We were impressed with the cleanliness of the school, fun educational activities, and their commitment on communication and safety is second to none. Ms. Stormy has been a wonderful teacher to our daughter. She is kind, welcoming, patient and caring. Our daughter had said repeatedly how much she LOVES school and as parents we couldn’t be more pleased to hear that. In the short two months since joining Goddard our daughter’s vocabulary, speech, imagination, social skills and confidence has significantly improved. We are thrilled to be part of the Goddard family and we highly recommend them.Mike Alvarado

Our Daughter has been a part of the Goddard family for over a year and we LOVE them! She started right when she turned two and it was a huge transition as she had been at home for the first two years of her life and has more of an observant/quiet personality. Our first impression was the cleanliness of the school and set up of the classrooms / daily activities, as well as their priority of communicating and keeping the parents involved. Ms.Kayla is everything we could have asked for as our Daughter's first teacher. She is welcoming, patient, playful, kind and there is no denying her passion and commitment to the kiddos in her class. We have watched our girl blossom over the last year. Her speech, imagination, social skills, academic skills and confidence has FLOURISHED since starting school. They also helped with potty training and made it a seamless transition for us. We couldn't recommend them enough!!Lyndsie Kendall

Our time at Goddard is coming to an end this month but we have loved the school and our toddler enjoys going every day. Kayleigh and Becca in administration are kind and down to earth. It reflects in the overall low-stress atmosphere in the school. Our daughter is in the Toddler classroom with Ms. Cassie who has just been so sweet and patient. All of the assistants have been amazing too! (Ms. Penny, Ms. Liselle, others). They have fun activities planned every day and send photos daily through the app so you can see what your child has been doing. I feel that our daughter is well looked after and that it is a safe space both physically and emotionally. Thank you to everyone at Goddard who welcomed our family and made this time such a positive experience.Jen Langenberg

We hosted a fundraiser at this location and it was absolutely amazing. The staff bent over backwards to make our experience great and the performers were hilarious. Unfortunately there was no signage on the building which made it hard for our guests to locate it. I'm guessing that will eventually be corrected, but just know it's directly east of Bass Pro shop and directly across from the "brass tap" bar. Definitely worth a trip out. Funny, funny stuff.Tony Stark Policci

Wonderful to see the crew back on thier original stage! Covid hit everyone hard, and we attended as many variety venues as we could while the jesterZ name was absent! Nothing compares to the auditorium like stage, the custom lighting, the aura of prior acts floating in the air, best place in town to enjoy a good family friendly laugh!Arthur Tallman (King_Arthur_VII)

Always a fun evening at JesterZ Improv! I especially love that it is fun for all ages. We’ve been going since almost the beginning, both of my kids have requested to go for their birthday over the years. I love comedy, but it’s nearly impossible to find ‘clean’ comedy. Thank you JesterZ for the many years of laughter!Amber Henthorn

My 2 Granddaughters age 8 and 12 had a choice to do many different Camps this summer. They chose Camp at Altitude Gilbert for the 1st week. They had so much fun that they decided to do another week. 5 weeks in and they are sad to not be going next week. This Camp has it dialed in. The kids are NEVER bored, Come home talking about the day and cant wait to go back the next day. The girls have made some great new friends. The Staff for the Summer Camp AZ program are so nice. The security systems they have in place to keep our children safe are great. They really care about our loved ones and they have fun right along with the kids. The activities they do are so fun from the Petting Zoo, the Arts & Crafts and the Water Gun Play just to name a few, were fantastic. Very Affordable and Great fun! Gilbert Altitude Staff was very helpful and nice alsoSherri Radick

Summer Camp where the owner is present and truly cares about all the kids, even have one on one conversation with them to make them feel welcome and cared for. We tried many different summer camps around town including Lifetime and my son said he really likes this one and insisted on going there this year aswell. It really feels good to hear my son get excited about going to summer camp. Reasonable prices, option with food Included aswell and several field trips a week, open wide range of hours to avomodate early even late work schedules…really hard to beat what your children are able to do for the price anywhere else. Thank you Michael!Y K

My kids have been coming to camp here for three years now. They absolutely love it. Master Mike always has fun things planned for the kids. They are constantly instructing them, motivating them, and mentoring them into strong and independent individuals. We love that every week is different so the kids never get bored. They especially love the field trips to different locations every week. If you are looking for a place to challenge your child, physically and mentally, come visit Master Mike and his staff at America’s Best Karate.Jessica Scara

I visited several preschools before choosing this one and actually drive an extra hour each day so she can attend. Goddard school has been such a wonderful place. My daughter is graduating there soon and it’s just heart breaking that she won’t be going there anymore. We have both made excellent life long friends there. I love the teachers so much – Ms Christie and Ms hailey (and now also ms kayla) are the only people in this world I trust to look after my baby and we will miss them so much. I am grateful for all the growth my child has had under their wonderful care. Claire and I will be forever grateful for this experience.S Meacom

We enrolled both of our children at Goddard when they were infants. The school has given great care and consideration to both of them throughout their time at The Goddard School. It is really amazing to watch the learning and growth that occurs as a direct result of this school. My son recently graduated the pre-k class. He was screened and accepted into an advanced class for kindergarten. We are proud of what he's accomplished, but know that it wouldn't have been possible without the care, concern and rigor of The Goddard School. This school is really an extension of our family and we are forever grateful for the teachers.Stephen Smart

My son has been a student here for years and we love it. The owners are genuine in their love and care for the students. I can honestly say I have not had ONE issue since he's been in attendance. The turnover rate is low, which is rare in this industry. In addition, the owners are always seeking ways to invest in the school's curriculum to keep the children challenged. My son has learned so much more than I would have time to teach him. I highly recommend this Goddard to any parent looking for quality childcare.Julia Brown

Had so much fun and will definitely come back again! I took my brother here for his birthday and ended up making a reservation. The table was ready for us either everything you needed when we arrived. It took awhile for us to pick out the pieces we wanted since there were a lot of options! It was a little pricey ($110 for 2 people), I will say it is worth it for having something you can keep for ever though. The only thing I wish was that the employees were all on the same page of how certain items work. My brother wanted to put glaze on his plate, which he asked at the beginning. She said you would put normal color on then the glaze afterward. He started painting with the normal colors and asked another person the best way to do the glaze. She said that she didn’t think you could put glaze over a standard color. The employee then asked another associate about it and she said it should be fine and could end up looking cool. Besides the employees not seeming to be on the same page about the process was a little frustrating but overall the process was fun and I would go back again!melanie mcbride

We had a blast painting at As You Wish. This was a great summer time activity to do with the kids. We actually attended a class for painting an individual popcorn bowl. We then came back and did open studio time to paint our choice of pottery. I highly recommend doing a class some time! The gals who taught and coached throughout the class were so friendly and patient. We really enjoyed our creations. We love our popcorn bowls and we were excited looking at all the other class offerings on the calendar. The staff at this As You Wish in particular were just excellent. So friendly and willing to help.Lyza Daubert

We had a good time! Took the kids just to do something different and thought we would try craft day. We each selected different ceramics to paint and we will see how they turn out after the glazing process. It's highly recommended that you make reservations before coming. Don't just show up because they are pretty busy. Also plan to spend about 2 hours which is a reasonable amount of time. They have a large selection of different base colors to use on some with different tip styles so you can do some creative artwork on your ceramics. Added photos of post glaze and fireMichael Fisher

May 24/2022 – We were really looking forward to playing this course and drove a fair distance to enjoy Las Sendes. When we checked in to the pro shop we were informed that the first 2 fairways were punched and no refreshment cart (100 degrees today). When we got to the first tee the starter was incredibly rude. There are no GPS units on the carts so we asked where the yardage markers are located. The starter said the yardages are on the cart paths. After finishing the first hole, and finding no markers on the cart paths we asked one of the maintenance workers. He said the yardage markers were on the fairways but because the fairways had been punched they would be hard to find. Then he explained that there were 6 fairways punched! We contemplated quitting and going to another course. The pro shop staff says it’s not very busy so that’s why there’s no cart but the marshall is rude and insists that we pick up the pace because it’s busy…. I’ll admit we were slower on the first few holes because the yardage markers were difficult to find and the group behind us was a hole behind. The maintenance workers do not care that you are golfing – it’s clear that their job is more important. Beautiful course! Terrible customer service! Sorry we made the trip. Of course we didn’t stay for lunch or visit the pro shop after golf. If you go with a range finder and expect terrible customer service you will enjoy your day simply because of the scenery.Heather Quattrin

I played golf at Las Sendas today and some inclement weather (rain) blew in at Hole 5 and the temperatures dropped drastically. I got soaked!! Must admit the weather the weather was cool at the start of the round but tolerable. I really wanted to enjoy the day at Las Sendas as heard it was a first class golf course with the right conditions. I drove back to to club house and asked for a rain check and the fellow behind the desk looked at me with the “ deer in the headlights” look..he said are you serious..didn’t you check the weather when you booked?? Very inflexible and almost rude..felt like a third class citizen but obviously course caters to members and any outside business is a bonus!! I left insulted and unappreciated..guess rain checks are almost unheard of in Arizona but repeat business because of a favourable golf experience is a must!! Just my opinion!! Won’t be golfing there again anytime soon!!Murray Sander

The course for this time of year was in pretty good shape. Fairways had some dry spot but we expect that. Seems like they punched the greens a month ago and they are definitely still recovering. Had numerous putts bounce around. It would have been nice to know this before booking. We played the back tees and for some reason about 4 of the holes were at the very back of the box. One of my back swings hit a tree branch. The maintenance crew did not seem to get out of the way on a hole nor did they care if you were teeing off. We understand they need to work but most courses respect the golfers. We will need to come back here to give a better review. With all the rain it seemed the maintenance crew had a lot going on. We need more time for the greens to recover. This course has a really cool setting and layout. We will update this once we play it in the winter.Cali Made Golf

Update 2: If you would like another example of the dishonesty of the owner, please see the response to this review. I did not request a refund. I requested that moving forward that we put terms of any deal in writing to ensure transparency. As a result of this request, my family was asked to leave. I had pre-paid for all services and recently purchased branded equipment. Since I had paid for services that he was not going to provide, and I had purchased branded equipment under the assumption that those services would be provided, a refund for the services and partial refund for equipment was a legal liability. Additionally, he originally only refunded me 60% of that liability. When I pointed out how much was owed, he said he was not being dishonest, he just “forgot” when I started. That may be true, as was pointed out before, he keeps no records of deals or services. Update: Moving from 2 stars to 1 star. The owner called and asked me to meet about the review. When we met he could not answer any specific questions. Such as when I asked him to show me in writing what was in my deal and to show me when he offered an all access deal (he could provide neither). He ultimately said: "So I guess you just want a refund." I said that this was not a money grab and I was not interested in a quid pro quo to remove an honest review. That my integrity was worth more than that. I said what I wanted was honesty and accountability. I was not interested in getting something for free, I would pay for any service that was outside of my deal. But at this point, it felt like my honesty was being taken advantage of because he has not been able to give me a straight answer. Ultimately, I said that to ensure he and I are both on the same page and protected in the future, we should put future agreements in writing. And that was how we left. A few days later, I received a call with him stating that he was kicking us out of the gym. This is who owns this business – a man who feels justified in removing students because a customer who always paid all fees, spent money on all extra events (like tournaments) wanted honesty and transparency in his deals and suggested future arrangement be in writing. Original review: Pros – it is very kid friendly place and they have some good staff who are great with kids. The threshold for passing to the next belt is a little light, mostly based on attendance, but they do a good job making it seem like they have harder requirements and that does give the kids a sense of accomplishment. Cons – Be very careful with the owner. He will try to pass himself off as an honest broker, but he should not be trusted. I began with the gym by purchasing a pre-paid deal over two years. In my second stint on that deal, my kids decided they wanted to try to a different class (in addition to their Karate class). I asked the owner if that was included in the package. After a couple weeks he finally got back and said I had to pay for the addition. I asked if I could pay up front until the end of my current deal (about 15 months) and receive a similar discount. His response was that he could not make that decision, his partner made all decisions like that (which turned out to be a lie). Later I was speaking with another parent, and he informed me that because he bought the pre-paid plan (same plan and year as I did) he does not have to pay for any additional classes that his child takes. The owner saw an opportunity to take advantage of the fact that I did not know about the extra class inclusion and took that opportunity. Which is ironic because so many of their lessons to the kids are based on acting with integrity. Summary: There are some good things for the kids at this place and some good people who work there. But if you sign up, be very careful with the owner. Get EVERYTHING in writing.Ryan Kuck

This place is awesome! Master G is great with young kids, older kids and adults, the instructors are very professional and helpful, and Precision mentors the older/higher ranking kids so that they can learn leadership and instructional skills. Both of my kids went here for many years, have helped with the summer kids camp, and one works there now. I started going last year when Precision offered an adult fitness class and have been going ever since! Great atmosphere, family friendly, excellent work outs! Yes, it does get sweaty and a little dirty by the end of the day, but that is because everybody is getting a great work out! They do clean it every night! 🙂Deb K

I love this school. My son has been going here almost a year now. He started with the summer camp in 2020, then enrolled in weekly lessons, and is now in black belt training. My daughter recently enrollment in weekly lessons as well and loves it! The instructors are so friendly and do a great job keeping the kids engaged. The kids do exercises, learn valuable life lessons, and learn self defense. Mr. Harris has been so helpful in helping my son come out of his shell and be more outgoing. I highly recommend this school and summer camp!Katrina Romero