Seedlings summer camp

Dig in, make friends, grow something.

Five sunny weeks of garden games, crafts, and lunch from our kitchen, for kids 5 to 12.

Free for Northside families

Kids laughing in a circle on the grass with a camp counselor

Three camp groups

A group for every age.

Every group gardens, cooks, and plays. Each one at its own speed.

Sprouts

Ages 5–6

Short garden games, big crafts, and a nap-friendly afternoon.

Growers

Ages 7–9

Each Grower tends a square foot of the kids' bed all summer.

Cooks

Ages 10–12

Cooks help Denise make lunch for the whole camp on Fridays.

A day at camp

Here's how the day goes.

Drop-off and games

9:00

Name tags, a big circle, and a game to learn names.

Garden time

10:30

Plant, water, and pick in the kids' teaching bed.

Lunch together

12:00

A hot lunch cooked with what we grew.

Crafts and pickup

1:30

Paint, glue, and one thing to take home.

Parents and two small children walking hand in hand toward a camp cabin

For parents

What families should know.

Camp runs Monday to Thursday, 9 to 2, June 8 to July 9. Counselors are college students from the neighborhood, trained in first aid and background-checked.

  • Sign-in and pickup at the garden gate
  • Lunch and snacks every day, nut-free
  • Sunscreen and water bottles provided

Sign up

Pick your weeks.

Each session is one week. Come for one or all five.

  1. Parent open house

    10–11:30 a.m.

    Community garden, behind 418 Alder Street

    Meet the counselors and walk the garden with your kids.

    RSVP
  2. Week 1: Seeds and soil

    9 a.m.–2 p.m.

    418 Alder Street

    Plant beans, build a worm bin, and make seed-paper cards.

    Save a spot
    Young children painting at a craft table with a smiling volunteer
  3. Family field day

    10 a.m.–1 p.m.

    Alder Street Park

    Parachute games, a potluck, and the Seedlings harvest parade.

    Save a spot
    Kids lifting a rainbow parachute together in a sunny field

See all five weeks

Questions

What people ask first.

How much does camp cost?

Nothing for Northside families. Families outside the neighborhood pay what they can.

Can siblings come together?

Yes. We'll put them in the same group if they'd like.

What should kids bring?

Clothes that can get muddy and closed-toe shoes. We have the rest.

What about allergies?

Lunch is nut-free. Tell us about anything else on the sign-up form.

Save a spot this summer.

Spots fill by May. Sign up for one week or all five.