More than veggies grow at this farm!Â
See for yourself at our 2024Â summer day camps.
About Camp
Each day, campers will participate in a variety of outdoor activities facilitated by camp counselors as well as child-led freeplay opportunities. Weekly themes bring excitement and variety to the camp program. No matter the week they are signed up to attend, every camper will participate in the following weekly activities:
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Nature exploration, like animal games, scavenger hunts, and camouflage activities
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Garden investigation, like bug hunts, color hunts, and garden taste-testing
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Arts & Crafts with recycled and/or natural materials
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An activity to make the world a better place, like creek litter clean up or a pollinator take home project
Campers also have a daily Snacktivity (an activity they eat), Forest Freeplay, and participate in 15-20 minutes of Farm Chores (weeding and watering in the garden, collecting firewood, turning compost, etc.) to help the farm be its best.
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Check out the Summer Camp Family Guide (link below) for more info.
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2024 Camp Dates
Week 1mini: June 5-7 | Week 2: June 10-14 | Week 3: June 17-21 | Week 4: June 24-28 | Week: 5mini: July 1-3 | Week 6: July 8-12 | Week 7: July 15-19 | Week 8: July 22-26 | Week 9: July 29-Aug. 2 | Week 10: Aug 5-9 | Week 11mini: Aug. 12-14 | Week 11: Aug. 12-16
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Camp Goals
Just like the plants in the garden, children will grow at farm camp, too. Through outdoor exploration, hands-on activities, and free play, our goal is that campers will grow in the following ways:
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Build self-esteem through interactions with others and participation in new and challenging activities.
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Grow communication and problem solving skills through child-led freeplay and facilitated activities.
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Learn gardening, cooking, and healthy eating skills that they are able to share at home.
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Develop kindness, compassion, and empathy by caring for living things, articulating feelings, and contributing to group success.
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Become stewards of the land, forming a connection with the earth and a desire to protect both living and non-living elements of our ecosystem.
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Every day will bring new opportunities and new experiences designed to showcase the joys of nature and spending childhood outdoors!
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Basics
Cost: $350/week (unless otherwise noted)
Explorers Club Aftercare: $75/week
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Deposit and Payment Plans: A $50 per week, per child deposit will be due at the time of registration. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable. If not paying in full, a automatic payment plan will need to be selected upon enrollment to pay off balance in scheduled installments.
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Financial assistance is available for all programs. Requests can be made when registering online.
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Camp Times: 9 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Free & Flexible Drop Off: 8:15-9 a.m.
Pick Up: 3:15-3:45 p.m.
Explorers Club Aftercare: until 5:30 p.m.
Ages:
Age 5-7: Hopper Group
Age 7-10: Climber Group
Age 10-13: Flier Group
Age 13-17: Teen Apprentice
​Coming with a Friend? Children must be registered in the same age group to be placed together in a group.
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Cancellation: To be eligible for a refund, cancellation requests must be made by email at least two weeks prior to the start of the program. Cancellations made after the June 1 payment due date, but prior to 2-weeks before the program, are eligible for a refund of 50% of the amount paid. Cancellations with less than 2 weeks’ notice are ineligible for a refund. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Cooke Camp
HALF-DAY CAMP. Sunbury Urban Farm's 1st satellite program - Cooke Camp! We're bringing back one of the things we miss most from our earliest days of camp - working with a small group of campers to prepare a meal to share with everyone. That's right, at Cooke Camp, there's no need to pack a lunch - campers will take turns preparing lunch each day (meals will be vegetarian and nut-free). We'll even make a campfire lunch one day! The rest of the time will be spent exploring, playing, creating, and growing in the garden and woods of our new Cooke Road partner location between Maize and Karl Rd.
Available: June 10-14, June 17-21, and June 24-28 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | No aftercare | Ages 6-10 | $275
>>>Scroll through to see what summer camp looks like!
Find out why Sunbury Urban Farm has been recognized for two years in a row as Central Ohio's EDUCATION GARDEN OF THE YEAR* and one of Columbus' BEST CAMP FOR KIDS** by signing up today!
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*2021 & 2020 Growing to Green Award by the Franklin Park Conservatory; **2021 & 2020 CBUS Top Pick Finalist by the Columbus Dispatch
Weekly Themes:
Camp activities are planned to tie in with kid-requested weekly themes. Each theme occurs multiple times and activities vary each time so kids can happily repeat the same theme. Specific activities will vary for different ages and abilities.
Mini-Session. Experience a little of everything at the farm! Check in on the chickens, pick fresh veggies in the garden, play in the creek, and more! This 3-day program is the perfect sampler of farm camp activities. Week 1mini: June 5-7 Week: 5mini: July 1-3 Week 11mini: Aug. 12-14
Do you like to get crafty and make stuff? Want to bake your own bread, make all-natural healing salve, whittle with a knife, learn to identify wild plants, or try spinning yarn from rabbit fur... the options are endless in this hands-on homesteading week! Week 2: June 10-14 Week 7: July 15-19 Week 11: Aug. 12-16
From fairy tales to forest trails, join us on this journey of discovery as we learn legends of the land and explore how folklore, science, and imagination blend together in magical and fantastic ways. Week 3: June 17-21 Week 8: July 22-26
Learn what it takes to survive in the wilderness. Practice bushcraft skills like tending a campfire (try starting one with and without matches), building shelter, knot tying and knife use, and foraging for wild edibles. Week 4: June 24-28 Week 10: Aug 5-9
If games, contests, and challenges get your explorer excited, then this is the week for them! In this game inspired week, kids have to work together to learn outdoor skills, complete missions, and earn points along the way. Which group will be crowned the Nature Quest Champions? Week 6: July 8-12 Week 9: July 29-Aug. 2
Specialty Camps:
Leadership, cooking, and gardening - these specialty programs for older kids do not follow the weekly themes. Instead they are full of their own fun and adventure for kids who want to dig deeper.
Farm Chef
Ages 8-12
Cost: $375
What culinary creations can you concoct at camp? Spend mornings picking fresh garden ingredients and learning how to turn them into a delicious lunches for your group to eat each day (No need to pack a lunch for this program, because you'll be making it here every day). You'll even get to spend one day cooking over a campfire! Afternoons will be spent playing in the woods and sampling the rest of the camp program.
Available: Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9
Teen Apprentice
Ages 13-17
Cost: $175
Gain leadership skills and farm know-how by assisting in the garden, helping pick and prepare veggies for snacks, and helping lead activities for younger kids. On Monday, you'll help set your own schedule by filling in activity blocks with what interests you and where you can be the most helpful. There will also be plenty of time for you to climb trees, express your creativity, and try out camp activities for yourself, too!
Available: Weeks 2-4 and 6-9