Jewish Community Center of the East Bay

The JCC of the East Bay Preschool provides a warm, nurturing environment for children ages two to five in our historic North Berkeley location. Our program offers a unique opportunity for young children to thrive in a joyful environment that is a very positive first school experience.

Seeking to support and deepen the children's innate love of learning and wonder, our curriculum is rich in child-centered projects that focus on the many interests brought forward by the children and our talented teachers. These activities often incorporates celebrations of the Jewish holidays and culture. Through playful encounters with each other, their teachers, materials, music, movement, and literature, the children develop their creativity, intelligence and skill in getting along with others. Each child is accepted for who they are and where they are developmentally.

We are a culturally Jewish school in which children celebrate Shabbat and other holidays. The JCC East Bay welcomes and serves families of all cultural and religious backgrounds and diverse configurations. We grow together in a supportive community that enriches all of our lives.

The Afterschool Berkeley Program is located at our spacious and historic Berkeley facility at 1414 Walnut Street. We offer a diverse array of organized activities as well as opportunities for kids to relax and spend time with friends after school. Our staff is here to serve your child’s needs whether it be helping with homework, reading a story, working in the garden, or playing an energetic game of soccer out in our yard. In addition to our core activities, group programming, celebrations, and free play time, there is also a wide range of enrichment classes to choose from.

The JCC provides a wide range of programs for Older Adults, including our twice weekly hot Kosher lunches.  We also provide movement classes, mah jongg and bridge clubs, Yiddish conversation, and Berkeley Adult School classes on site.

Our new school-based afterschool program, Kids Club, is an extension of the formal Joaquin Miller Elementary school day; it serves to complement and enhance learning in the classroom through educational, physical, artistic, and social experiences in a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere. With a small student to teacher ratio (14:1) Kids Club provides children an opportunity to expand their learning through enrichment classes, develop meaningful relationships with their teachers, and build community with their peers. The program also offers healthy snacks, homework help, outside play, and plenty of downtime to unwind and have fun. In addition to our enrichment classes, we also offer full-day programming on most Oakland Unified School District holidays and vacation days.

Our new school-based afterschool program, Kids Club, is an extension of the formal school day; it serves to complement and enhance learning in the classroom through educational, physical, artistic, and social experiences in a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere. With a small student to teacher ratio (14:1) Kids Club provides children an opportunity to expand their learning, develop meaningful relationships with their teachers, and build community with their peers. The program also offers healthy snacks, homework help, outside play, and plenty of downtime to unwind and have fun.

JCC Camp is an inclusive summer day camp, serving children ages 5-15, from Kindergartner's experiencing camp for the first time to teens going on overnight adventures. With activities designed for each age group - ranging from singing to swimming - JCC Camp offers traditional camp experiences with an emphasis on Fun and Discovery! Campers celebrate community based Jewish values, while developing meaningful relationships with new friends and camp counselors. JCC Camp is an ACA accredited camp.

Our 5th-6th and 7th-9th groups participate in the Trip and Travel program, where they enjoy a week of onsite fun and field trips, followed by 2-4 nights of overnight adventures around California.

Camp begins at 9:00am and ends at 4:00pm, Monday-Friday. Extended-care is available at the camp location and at the JCC Berkeley Branch from 8:00-9:00am and from 4:00-6:00pm for an additional fee. A bus is provided to and from camp from the JCC Berkeley Branch (1414 Walnut St.)

CONTEXT: Tracks in Jewish Culture
Through music, film, and literary events, we offer a multitude of ways to explore Jewish culture, identity, and history. These public programs are designed in partnership with Guest Curators and Artists-in-Residence: brilliant, local, cultural leaders who conceive of new arts experiences just for the JCC East Bay.

Events grounded in Jewish values give participants tools to talk across differences, and support to work for equal rights for all.