Camp Elawa

2025 Camp Registration Opens On February 10th at 9am!

Our Camp Programs

Farm Camp (ages 5-7)

This year, we’re combining the best of farming and cooking for our littlest campers. Campers will have the chance to explore our vibrant gardens, plant their own vegetables, and harvest fresh ingredients to create tasty, wholesome recipes like veggie frittatas, spring rolls, homemade fruit jams, and more. Along the way, kids will interact with the farm team to learn how gardening and harvesting works, how animals contribute to farms, and how to seed and plant. They'll even get to make recipes using ingredients they harvest on the farm!
In addition to hands-on cooking, campers will venture through our farm, gathering materials for creative arts and crafts projects. As the camp wraps up, children will also enjoy a fun and educational visit with our farm animals, where they’ll learn about animal care and have the opportunity for playful, interactive experiences.
Farm-to-Table Cooking Camp (ages 8-11)

Join us for an exciting, hands-on adventure at Farm to Table Camp, where campers will dive into the world of fresh, locally grown ingredients from Elawa Farm. They'll harvest their own crops, then head into our teaching kitchen to transform them into tasty, nutritious dishes. Along the way, they'll discover how each ingredient benefits their health—like how carrots support eye health or how zucchini's potassium helps keep the heart strong. Kids will also interact with the farm team to learn how gardening and harvesting works, how animals contribute to farms, and how to seed and plant. They’ll even get to make recipes using ingredients they harvest on the farm!
After harvesting, campers will plant new seeds to continue growing delicious vegetables in our Discovery and Hive Garden, including pumpkin seeds for the fall season. The fun doesn’t stop there! After a day of cooking and learning, kids will enjoy engaging afternoon activities such as scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, and nature-based projects, all designed to inspire a lifelong love of gardening and the outdoors.

2025 Camp Schedule

All camp sessions run Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Session I: Week of June 9 | Farm Camp (ages 5-7)
Session II: Week of June 16 | Farm to Table Camp (ages 8-11)
Session III: Week of June 23 | Farm Camp (ages 5-7)
Session IV: Week of July 7 | Farm to Table Camp (ages 8-11)
Session V: Week of July 14 | Farm Camp (ages 5-7)
Session VI: Week of July 21 | Farm to Table Camp (ages 8-11)

Registration will begin in February! Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about our registration dates.

Meet Our Camp Staff

Elawa Farm’s Program Manager & Camp Director
Linda Rivera

Linda grew up in the city of Chicago but spent most of her summers outside from the moment she woke up until the streetlights came on. Whether it was making mud pies or digging for worms, camp was running around the streets playing cops and robbers and having water balloon fights in the backyard with her sisters. In the last 13 years, Linda has worked as a nanny and private chef to families in the city and prior to coming to Elawa last May, she worked in a research lab at the University of Chicago. Coming to Elawa has allowed Linda to combine both passions into one. This is her second year running Camp Elawa and she is excited to bring another fun and exciting year to Camp Elawa with more projects and activities for the campers to enjoy.

Kind Words From Past Campers

"Of all the summer camps and programs our girls attend, this short camp at Elawa has been among their very favorite.  The setting and staff provide a unique environment for education and learning that really seems to resonate with our kids in a way that feels incredibly worthwhile. "

— Ben O.

“We have supported Elawa Camps since our children were very young! We enrolled our 7-year-old in Farm Camp and Farm-To-Table Cooking Camp last summer, and we couldn’t have been happier! The hands-on experience she received was incredible and kept her engaged and learning throughout the entire program. The activities were so well-organized, and there was a perfect balance between fun, learning, and outdoor adventures. Our child came home every day excited to share stories about crafts, nature hikes, and even new friendships. It was clear the counselors were not only trained professionals but also genuinely passionate about working with kids. We highly recommend Elawa Camp to any parent looking for a safe, fun, and enriching summer experience for their child."

— Adrienne P.

“Camp Elawa was my daughter’s favorite camp experience of the summer!  She loved the independence & creativity to make her own projects.  Her confidence skyrocketed after spending a week at Elawa!”

— Julia B.

“My son absolutely loved Camp Elawa! The camp offers a unique opportunity for children to learn about the process of planting and harvesting food to then be used in recipes that the campers make. They spend plenty of time outdoors collecting items to use in crafts and they have exposure to the animals at Elawa. A highlight for my son was visiting the chickens to collect eggs. I would highly recommend this camp to anyone who is looking for a very well-rounded, wholesome, and fun week for their child.”

— Sydney B.

Note on Accessibility

Elawa Farm Foundation fosters inclusive, welcoming, and supportive programs for children and adolescents of all abilities. Our Discovery Gardens, farm animal area, and facility grounds are ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant and our programming is adaptable to meet the age-specific physical and social developmental needs. To learn more, please contact us at info@elawafarm.org.