Kindergarten Camps

For campers entering kindergarten in fall 2026

Busy Bees

Half-day: AM (9am-noon) or PM (1-4pm)

Choose either AM or PM; activities are the same. Offered weeks 1, 2, 6, and 10.

Why are bees so busy? Explore the world of pollinators through hands-on activities, stories, and visits to the many gardens around the Farms, including the Bayer Pollinator Garden. Answer these questions: Are bees the only pollinators? Why are pollinators important to farmers? To us? How do good insects help gardens grow the food we eat?

	Theme	Activity Highlights
Monday	Flowers & Gardens	Make nature sun catchers, create watercolor garden art, shop in Museum Store
Tuesday	Bees	Book: “The Very Greedy Bee,” craft a bee, visit gardens in 1876 town of Walnut Hill
Wednesday	Butterflies	Craft a butterfly, visit 1850 Pioneer Farm, creek play
Thursday	Other Pollinators	Book: “Flowers Are Calling,” pollinator scavenger hunt, people as pollinators activity
Friday	Products of Pollination	Book: “Before We Eat,” bake cornbread muffins, visit 1900 Farm

Activities subject to change. On creek day your camper will get wet and muddy. Bring a towel or plastic bag for the car.

Farm Life

Half-day: AM (9am-noon) or PM (1-4pm)

Choose either AM or PM; activities are the same. Offered weeks 3-5, 7-9

Where does our food come from? Before we can buy it at the store, it is grown on the farm! Learn the basics of farm family routines by pitching in with chores like taking care of chickens and making ice cream. Each day will start with a story, followed by visits to our historic sites and crafts made from recycled materials.

Special note for weeks 4 and 5: Leading up to July 4th, all camps will include special activities relating to the celebration of America’s 250th birthday.

	Theme	Activity Highlights
Monday	Cooking	Book about food, make muffins and applesauce, shop in Museum Store
Tuesday	Farm Animals	Book: “Mrs. Wishy Washy’s Farm,” visit 1900 farm, help with farm chores
Wednesday	Farm Life	Visit 1700 Ioway Farm, visit 1850 Pioneer Farm, creek play
Thursday	School Days	Visit Schoolhouse and Print Shop, make crayons
Friday	Farm Plants	Book: “How Plants Grow,” plant seeds, visit 1876 town of Walnut Hill

Activities subject to change. On creek day your camper will get wet and muddy. Bring a towel or plastic bag for the car.

Wait list

If a camp session is full, you may ask to be placed on a wait list.
Be sure to indicate the name of the camp(s) and the date(s) you want.

Group Requests

When we have multiple camps of the same grade level, we cannot guarantee your child will be placed with friends. However, we will make every effort to accommodate up to two requests. Please keep the following in mind:
• Campers must be registered for the same camp, in the same week, and be in the same grade.
• Camp is about making friends. When large groups of friends are together, other campers can feel left out. We will split requests larger than 3 friends.