Testimonials
As a mother and 20+ year employee at HAPPY CAMPERS, I’ve had all three of my children attend, with one currently in preschool. My child loves playing with friends, engaging in art, and celebrating holidays through fun activities. The learning environment has not only taught him Spanish and social skills but has also nurtured a sense of community among classmates and teachers. As a pandemic baby, he has become independent, confident, and interactive. Since starting preschool, he’s made impressive progress in writing his name, learning Spanish, and developing motor and social skills, especially during circle time. My experience with the teachers and staff has been wonderful; they communicate effectively and provide daily updates through Brightwheel. The friendly interactions at drop-off and pick-up have made me feel at ease and created a strong bond with the staff.
My son Emiliano started daycare in January 2024 as I returned to work after maternity leave, and I felt a whirlwind of emotions—nervous, scared, sad, and guilty for leaving him, just three months old, in someone else's care. However, those feelings faded once Emi began at Happy Campers. His teachers were incredible, providing a safe space for him to learn and develop with patience and love. We cherished the pictures and videos, which reassured my husband and me that Emi was happy and thriving with other kids. We are forever grateful to the Happy Campers team. ❤️ ~Ana T.
From a Mom who has a masters in early childhood education: Having taught infant classes and preschool, and then being home with my own children for 4 years and having to return to full time work, I had extremely high standards when looking for care for my (at the time) 18mo and 3 yo. Happy Camper’s not only met those standards but have exceeded them in several ways. In the most significant way, the warmth, kindness, and love that pours out of every single teacher and administrator is palpable and it resonates in my children. I drop them off knowing that they are fully cared for and loved. They come home singing songs they have learned and are happy, I can tell that they have had a well balanced day with appropriate educational opportunities and social interaction. It is clear that the teachers and administrators have strong team work because the children also have a lot of respect for each other, it is observable during pick up and drop off and through communication from the kids and school. They provide predictable consistency that allows the children to gain confidence in their abilities which promotes an optimal learning environment. Lastly, the kids get excited when I tell them it’s a school day. This tells me so much. We are so grateful for this strong foundation, love of learning, and most of all the kindness the kids will always carry in their hearts for life. Thank you Happy Campers!
All 3 of my kids have spent their early years at Happy Campers. To say they are like family to us would be an understatement. My youngest was diagnosed with a medical condition that resulted in him staying home for a year. Throughout that year we were supported by our Happy Campers community and checked in on frequently. When he returned, they made the process so easy and were incredibly flexible with our challenging schedule. To take on what we went through was so difficult and I cannot be more thankful that this was one less thing for me to worry about. We've known the teachers and staff for so many years and they treat all of my kids like they are their own. My older kids love visiting and seeing their old teachers and being made to feel so special. This is so much more than a childcare facility and we could not be happier to be a part of Happy Campers!
When I first learned about the open concept environment at the HCP center, I was nervous. I thought it would be loud, chaotic and just see kids running around everywhere. But it’s anything but that. I enjoy the idea of her learning through hands on experiences and with the open space it’s allows her to explore, experiment and interact with the environment. When our child was learning to potty train, she was very timid. The teachers were very patient with her (and us). We were having such a hard time getting her to be comfortable on the toilet, we had a few different toilet options at home, did the prizes and the rewards but nothing worked. The teachers kept at it and didn’t give up on her. She loved when the celebrated her for using the toilet and it really made her comfortable. We even FaceTimed a teacher a few times to help us at home. We truly appreciate everything her teachers did to fully potty train her.
Since joining Happy Campers Carlmont, we have consistently been impressed by the teachers and school. The teachers at Happy Campers are the most caring and attentive teachers we’ve met. They are kind and observant, they really treat your child as if they are family and they try to recommend what’s best for them and their development. Specific examples include recognizing when Alex was ready for potty training, alerting us in areas where Alex could improve on his skills and opportunities where he can apply them, or even when Alex doesn’t like the food. Almost everyday, after we pick up Alex, he says he had a great day, and talks about all his friends at school and how he had fun playing with them. Since joining Happy Campers, we’ve noticed a positive difference in Alex’s development socially and academically. His vocabulary is extensive and he is finding better ways to communicate using his voice. We were particularly impressed when he started counting in Spanish! He loves reading now and often asks us to read to him, which we’re sure was a result of his experiences at Happy Campers. We also love that there is a soccer program that comes to the school and is a convenient way to add a sport to our child’s week. Finally, we appreciate that the teachers send us photos, videos and progress during the day through the Brightwheel app, which is such a great way to keep connected. The happy campers culture is warm and welcoming, where they truly do their best work in helping your child have a well rounded experience, in a safe and fun environment. We are confident that Alex is more than prepared to go to Kindergarten next year. We highly recommend Happy Campers to all families looking to put their child in a caring, nurturing, educational and top notch environment.
We have been a part of the Happy Campers family for a very long time. We enrolled our son into the Infant Center when he was 5 months old. We had a really good experience, then advancing to the preschool is just as good. The teachers have a really good curriculum tailored for each kid. My son is one of those kids that should be in TK because he’s a November kid turning five, but I am choosing to keep him at Happy Campers. Every single teacher that Brandon has ever had still meets and greets us at the door every morning and says goodbye to us at the end of the day and that just goes to show that it’s a family not a business.
From the first day our daughter started at Happy Campers, we felt at ease. She was sleeping, eating, playing and socializing - and we knew all this because the teachers were communicative, shared photos, kept us posted if another kid in class was sick, shared which activities she did throughout the day, and more. Each teacher is unique - they are warm and calm, and they are patient with you as parents. You can tell they care deeply for each of their students. It's where our daughter has learned to socialize with kids her age, operate on an age-appropriate schedule, learn language, and also just have fun and be a toddler. At the end of the day, when I was choosing where to send my daughter every day, I just needed to know that every time I dropped her off in the morning that she would be safe and happy, and she gets that at Happy Campers. I highly recommend Happy Campers when considering where to have your child start their foundational years.
I just want to thank the awesome staff and teachers for teaching and promoting a safe environment for our little ones! As a first time mom ( single parent as well), leaving my baby in care of someone else can be scary. Everyone making the process easy from touring the classrooms to enrolling and getting to know teachers and staff. From the first week of school, teachers notice what peanut enjoyed and what she didn’t. Making recommendations like how she would help her friends fix their own bed because it was easier to maybe getting her a sleeping mat. My daughter being a picky eater at home but wanting the school lunch. It was definitely a relief knowing my daughter is safe at school. The campus has is always welcoming and definitely has a safe environment! My daughter improved her speaking skills and became a social butterfly! The friendships my daughter has made during her journey is what makes her want to go to school! She’s happy going to school and always comes back with a story or two. My daughter grew out of her shell and started to ask for help and learn to share (she’s an only child)! Nati fell in love with her teachers Ms. Dee and Ms. Grace! I will forever be grateful for teaching her and taking care of my little one. My daughter enjoys playing outside in the playhouse! When they have the water park set up, she has a blast playing in the sprinklers. She enjoys reading time which is amazing! Nati has learned to take care of a plant and continue to find the joy in reading! As for the communication between the school and parents it’s 110% in my book! From the time my daughter arrives to Happy Campers and the time for pick up is full communication. Communication is very transparent and the updates I receive daily are always appreciated! Teachers also hold conferences which we talk about the process of my daughter and what I can work on at home to help her at the home! Since I’m a single parent, there’s rough days where my daughter is having a hard time, but when I drop her off she’s happy to see her teachers. Thank you for all the patience and encouragement the teachers provide for our little ones! It’s good to know Happy Campers puts their students education and well being first! Love, Jenny and Natalia 🤍
Happy Campers provides our family with a safe, loving environment that’s like a second home to our two year old. We have been part of the HCITC family since our daughter was 7 months old, and could not be happier with how our daughter has developed and thrived. She loves the schedule and routine of her school day and we are always so impressed with the diverse activities the teachers provide for her age group. The staff at HCITC is truly unparalleled and provides top notch care every day. We know that the teachers truly care for our daughter and go out of their way to show it. They do little things like fix her hair after a busy, hot day and take extra time to help her finish her lunch, and give us plenty of updates on everything she’s been up to throughout the day. That’s the kind of reassurance every parent wants and deserves at a daycare, to know that your child is well cared for and loved by people you can trust. We can’t wait for our daughter to continue to grow and learn with Happy Campers when she moves into preschool!
Both of my children attended Happy Campers from the time they were six months old. My oldest has graduated and the feedback he is getting from his kindergarten teacher speaks to the incredible job that HCC teachers do. He is on grade level or ahead in all of his academic skills but, more importantly to us, he has received multiple comments about his ability to work with other kids, to show empathy and kindness, and to be inclusive in his actions. He was so prepared by the teachers at HCC and we couldn’t be happier. Our youngest is still a student there and, just as we experienced with our oldest, the staff is warm and inviting, provides a wide variety of academic and fun activities, and teaches him what it means to be part of a larger community. The staff at HCC is like family to us and we rely on them for care, advice, moral support, and a good laugh (or maybe a good cry!) on a daily basis. They know our kids so well and when we leave them at HCC, it truly feels like we’re leaving them with family. We are so grateful for everything HCC has done for our boys and feel incredibly lucky that they have been a part of our family’s life and journey.
Our toddler loves Happy Campers! She enjoys the fun, nurturing environment and has made great friends while growing in confidence and social skills. As first time parents, we were especially nervous about potty training. The teachers, especially Ms. Evett, have been amazing, going above and beyond in patiently guiding and reinforcing the training that made the transition to the major milestone successful. The communication with parents is excellent, and we always feel informed about her progress through the app. We love the photos and videos of our toddler’s activities throughout the day. She always seems to have so much fun dancing, listening to story or doing crafts with her friends. We’d highly recommend Happy Campers and look forward to sending baby #2 when he’s here!
We recommend Carlmont Happy Campers to all our friends! Our two sons have both been enrolled here, and we could not be happier. We have seen them both develop their social skills, and begin to learn all of the basics that will set them up for success in elementary school. I would say the one big thing that sets Happy Campers apart from other preschools/daycares are the amazing teachers. They are all so patient and kind and caring, and they create a happy and supportive environment for all the kids. As a parent, of course I love my kids, but I really feel that their teachers do too. If you are looking for a place where your kid will feel loved, and you as a family will feel like you are part of a community, then Happy Campers is for you!
I cannot thank Audra and her team enough for all the support they have provided us over the years. Our son was three and half and had social and emotional issues coming out of COVID and he was delayed in potty training, but the team at Happy Campers helped him with care and understanding. With their efforts, he was able to enter Kindergarten more than ready for the challenges ahead and with a first grade reading level. With our daughter, she has been with this team since she was six-month-old, and she is thriving. Audra and her team are a critical part of our “village”.
