Summer Camps
Summer camps immerse children in life on the farm through play, creativity, and exploration. Campers explore the farm and Boreal forest, help with farm and garden chores, express their creativity with art projects, meet the farm animals, cook fresh vegetables, and snack their way through the fields!
Registration for 2023 Camps opens February 1st at 6pm!
Farm Camp Session 1:
Life on the Farm
Grades: going into K-6th in Fall 2023
June 12-16, 2023
9am-3pm
This hands-on, outdoor camp at Calypso is all about connection with nature and all the things the Farm has to offer! Through play-based learning and exploration, campers will explore life on the farm and in the surrounding forest. This includes meeting the farm animals, learning about life in the boreal forest, helping in the garden, and more!
This session is being offered as part of our Indigenous Agriculture program and will be held the same week as an adult farmer training program for Indigenous and Rural Alaskan communities. It will include aspects of intergenerational learning and opportunities for campers to meet others from across Alaska!
Cost: $300 members/$325 non-members*
Farm Camp Session 2:
Animal Adventures
Grades: going into K-2nd in Fall 2023
June 19-23, 2023
9am-2pm
This session is all about hands-on, play-based learning and exploration. Learning about the farm’s many amazing animals is always one of the favorite activities of this age group, and this camp session will focus on learning all about the animals that live on the farm - and the ones that live in the forest! Whether meeting the farm animals in the barn, exploring the ponds and garden for insects, playing games, or creating art projects, campers will have a blast exploring life on the farm!
Number of campers per session: 18
Cost: $250 members/$275 non-members*
Farm Camp Session 3:
Farm and Forest Explorers
Grades: going into 3rd-5th in Fall 2023
June 26-30, 2023
9am-3pm
This session is all about hands-on learning and exploration. Each morning begins with fun farm chores such as feeding the animals, weeding a garden bed, or checking the coup for eggs. The rest of our days are packed with a variety of exciting activities - from catching insects in the pond to building forts in the forest, cooking to wool crafting, and so much more. Whether meeting the farm animals in the barn, tasting from the garden, playing games, or creating art projects, campers will have a blast exploring the farm and forest!
Number of campers per session: 21
Cost: $300 members/$325 non-members*
Farm Camp Session 4:
Farm Adventure Camp
Grades: going into 6th-9th in Fall 2023
July 10-14, 2023
9am-3pm
This session is focused on team building and hands-on learning! Geared for older students, campers will explore in-depth skills like cooking from the garden, outdoor survival, wool crafting, wood carving, animal husbandry, and more. There will also be an emphasis on team building and leadership, and lots of opportunities for campers to challenge themselves and put their new skills to the test.
Number of campers per session: 18
Cost: $325 members/$350 non-members*
Farm Camp Session 5:
Harvest Adventures
Grades: going into K-6th in Fall 2023
July 17-21, 2023
9am-3pm
This hands-on, outdoor camp is all about connection with nature and learning about harvesting food from the farm and forest! Campers will taste their way through the gardens, and learn about harvesting plants from the forest and farm for food and crafts. Cooking from the gardens is always a favorite camp activity, and this session is at the perfect time of year to participate in the summer harvest!
This session is being offered as part of our Indigenous Agriculture program and will be held the same week as an adult farmer training program for Indigenous and Rural Alaskan communities. It will include aspects of intergenerational learning and opportunities for campers to meet others from across Alaska!
Cost: $300 members/$325 non-members*
Farm Camp Session 6:
Garden Gnomes and Forest Fairies
Grades: going into 1st-5th in Fall 2023
August 7-11, 2023
9am-3pm
In this session, campers will be using their senses as well as their imaginations to explore the farm and forest! With all the Farm Camp favorites like forest games and farm animal time still included, this camp will also include lots of imaginative exploration, such as making fairy houses in the woods, potion making (cooking from the garden), crafting the wool from our friendly fairy-tale sheep, and so much more. Whether playing fantastical games in the forest, tasting from the garden, or creating fun art projects, campers will have a blast exploring the real-life magic of life in the farm and forest!
Number of campers per session: 21
Cost: $300 members/$325 non-members*
Location: Hunter Elementary School Garden
Grades: going into K-6th in Fall 2023
July 31 - August 3, 2023
9am-12pm*
This Garden Camp is all about fun, hands-on learning in the Hunter Elementary School Garden! Campers will use all their senses to investigate the many wonders of the garden, from tasting fresh garden veggies, to exploring plants and insects, to making garden-inspired art, and so much more!
Campers do NOT need to be students at Hunter to attend this camp!
*Please note that this is a shorter camp! Camp runs from 9am-12pm, Monday-Thursday. Drop-off will be between 8:30-9am and pick-up will be between 12-12:30pm. There will be no camp on Friday, August 4th.
Number of campers per session: 24
Cost: $150 members/$175 non-members*
Location: Pearl Creek Elementary School Garden
Grades: going into 1st-6th in Fall 2023
June 12-16, 2023
9am-12pm
This camp takes place at the Pearl Creek Elementary School Garden! Campers will explore science, art, cooking, and more through a wide range of hands-on activities in the garden. They'll learn all about growing food while enjoying healthy snacks straight from the garden, making new friends, and having FUN! Since this session is earlier in the season, many activities will focus on the wonder of seeds, garden insects, harvesting wild plants, and playing in the forest.
Campers do NOT need to be students at Pearl Creek to attend this camp!
Number of campers per session: 15
Cost: $200 members/$225 non-members*
Location: Pearl Creek Elementary School Garden
Grades: going into 3rd-6th in Fall 2023
July 17-21, 2023
11am-4pm
This camp takes place at the Pearl Creek Elementary School Garden! Campers will explore science, art, cooking, and more through a wide range of hands-on activities in the garden! They'll learn all about growing food while enjoying healthy snacks straight from the garden, making new friends, and having FUN! Since this session is later in the season when the garden is in full bloom, many activities will focus on harvesting and cooking from the garden, using garden materials for crafts, and more!
Campers do NOT need to be students at Pearl Creek to attend this camp!
Number of campers per session: 15
Cost: $250 members/$275 non-members*
Farm Camp Youth Leadership Program
For youth entering 7th-12th grade, the Farm Camp Youth Leadership Program is a great way to get involved by volunteering as a junior counselor at our Farm Camps! Teens will have the opportunity to develop hands-on leadership and teamwork skills while assisting with camp activities and helping younger children. Click here to learn more!
Other youth education programs include Farm Field Trips, Farm School and the Farm Discovery Program!
REGISTRATION LIMIT: Registration is limited to one session per camper, giving more kids the opportunity to attend camp this summer. Parents will be able to check back at a later date for available spots in other sessions, however, we ask that you initially choose just one session per child.
FLEXIBLE PICK-UP/DROP-OFF: Drop off and pickup times will be a 30 minute window before camp begins and after camps end. For example, if camp begins at 9am, drop-off will be between 8:30-9am. If camp ends at 3pm, pickup will be between 3-3:30pm.
SMALL GROUP SIZES: To encourage individualized learning, inclusivity, and an overall better camp experience, it's important to us to keep group sizes small. Kids will spend most of their time at camp in a group of 6-8 other students, plus 1-2 staff members.
*MEMBERSHIP: Members receive a discount on summer camps while also helping to fuel our education programs! You can become a member by making a donation of any amount on the camp registration page. Click here to learn more about membership.
PAY WHAT YOU CAN: Calypso’s “Pay What You Can” initiative is designed to support our friends and neighbors in need. Summer Camp registration is available on a Pay What You Can basis, up to 50% off. The funds available for Pay What You Can discounts are limited and it is our hope that those who need it most will be able to benefit. We ask that you keep the broader community in mind and if you’re able to pay in full, please do - your extra dollars will support someone who is unable to.
PAYMENT PLANS: Payment plans are available to those who prefer to make four monthly payments instead of one payment of the full amount. To utilize a payment plan, register as normal but enter the coupon code PAYMENTPLAN at checkout. This will deduct 75% from your total. Once we receive your initial payment of 25%, your remaining balance will be divided into three equal payments. We will reach out to you to set this up.
HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES: To sign up using your homeschool allotment, you have two options:
- Register as normal and pay in full, then submit your receipt to your homeschool for reimbursement.
- If Calypso is a vendor with your homeschool, you can sign up online using the HOMESCHOOL coupon to pay a 25% down payment. This payment is refundable once full payment from your homeschool is received. Once we receive your registration, we will be in touch with more instructions. Calypso is a vendor with IDEA, BEST, FOCUS, Raven, and CyberLynx Homeschools.
COVID-19 INFORMATION: In order to keep our programs accessible to all, especially those who are immunocompromised, we will continue to monitor the situation in Fairbanks and make final decisions regarding Covid-19 safety measures closer to specific program dates. We are not currently requiring masks on the farm, however, we may require masks in indoor spaces if warranted.
Our highest priority is keeping our community safe and we will communicate with camp families throughout the season to let you know of any changes to our programs or policies.
SUMMER CAMP CANCELLATION POLICY:
A $30 non-refundable deposit is included in the cost of all camps. For cancellations made at least 30 days prior to the start of camp, a refund will be given, minus the non-refundable deposit.
Should any circumstance require you to cancel your camp registration less than 30 days prior to the start of camp, the following options will be available:
- Refund: If we are able to fill your child’s spot in the camp session with another camper, we can offer a full refund, minus the non-refundable deposit.
- Donation: Registration fees can be turned into a tax-deductible donation and will directly support the development, operation, and sustainability of our education programs.
Should Calypso need to cancel a camp session for any reason, registration fees will be refunded in full, including the $30 deposit.
