portage park - day off school camps
Children will prepare their own lunch and dessert each day. However, you are also welcome to send a nut-free lunch from home if you prefer. Cooking together inspires kids to explore new foods, but we certainly want to ensure no one goes hungry.
Lunar New Year Camp
Join us for a Day Off Cooking Camp where young chefs will dive into the traditions of Lunar New Year through cooking and crafts!
In the morning, we'll roll up our sleeves to create handmade Longevity Noodles—springy and delicious, served with a flavorful sauce and stir-fried vegetables for a warm, satisfying lunch.
After lunch, it's time for some sweet creativity! Campers will whip up homemade cookie dough and craft their own adorable snake-shaped cookies, complete with googly eyes for a fun finishing touch.
As we bake, we’ll explore the traditions of the Lunar New Year and discover why 2025, the Year of the Snake in the Chinese Zodiac, is so special.
$110
9am-3pm
early drop-off possible!
Valentine Camp
Join us for a fun-filled Valentine's Day camp, where sweet vibes and festive fun await!
For lunch, the kids will create their own heart-shaped pizzas, customizing each one to their heart's delight. In the afternoon, they'll make delicious red velvet donuts topped with Valentine sprinkles—our special treat!
Between cooking and cleaning (with love, of course!), we'll keep the fun going with games and soothing crafts.
NOTE: Our red velvet donuts are made without red food dye! We will use beet powder for extra coloring pizazz.
$110
9am-3pm
early drop-off possible!
Presidents' Day Camp
Some presidents loved cooking! They say that Dwight Eisenhower popularized a method for grilling steaks directly on the coals. Jimmy Carter, a good country cook, has a fluffy peanut butter dessert named after him, the Jimmy Carter Delight. Abraham Lincoln was known to put on an apron, too!
So for our camp, we will make a brunch lunch with John F. Kennedy's Buttermilk Waffles and Scrambled Eggs.
We will play games, make crafts, and in the afternoon make some oatmeal sandwich cookies filled with buttercream!
$110
9am-3pm
early drop-off at 8am available
Cowboy Cookin' Camp
Saddle up for Cowboy Cookin' Camp, where young chefs will explore the bold flavors of the Southwest!
For lunch, kids will make hearty Southwest chili paired with homemade crackers, learning to mix spices and create a cozy, comforting meal from scratch.
In the afternoon, they'll whip up delicious churro donuts coated in cinnamon sugar for a sweet finale.
With hands-on cooking, fun games, and crafts, this camp is a rootin'-tootin' good time filled with flavor and creativity!
$110
9am-3pm
early drop-off possible!
jan 20 - mlk cooking camp - day of service
In this day off camp we'll explore honor Dr. King's invitation to each of us to create positive impact within our community.
We'll be making lunch in the morning: Minestrone Soup + Focaccia and in the afternoon we'll bake Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and create CARE PACKAGES for our community's unhoused population that will include warm socks, artwork and cards made by the campers and, of course, some of their delicious cookies.
AGES 5-11
$110
9AM - 3PM
day off camp 11/26
Kids will love kicking off Thanksgiving Break with a day of cooking and crafting at Schoolhouse!
In the morning, campers will make homemade TACO SOUP with beans, rice, corn. It's a camper favorite. They'll also make their own homemade tortillas for quesadillas.
In the afternoon, campers will make delicious CHURRO DONUTS with a chocolate dipping sauce for dessert.
We'll have plenty of time for crafts, games and playing, too!
The day is packed with fun activities, including games, crafts, and free playtime. If the weather cooperates, we'll head to the local park after lunch for some outdoor time.
It's a day full of creativity, cooking and play.
AGES 5-11
$110/ DAY
before care optional
SCHEDULE:
8-9am - Early drop off (please choose this option at registration $10)
9am - Welcome! Get settled in and meet new friends, games, crafts
9:30am - Prepare first recipe/ lunch
11am-1pm - Lunchtime, games, crafts, possible walk to local park (weather dependent)
1pm - Prepare second recipe/ snack
2:30pm - Finish crafts and clean up!
3pm - see you soon!
day off camp 11/25
Kids will love kicking off Thanksgiving Break with a day of cooking and crafting at Schoolhouse!
In the morning, campers will make homemade pizza dough for PIZZA ROLLS. Think Cinnamon Rolls meets Pizza! Kids love rolling up their pizza and slicing into these delicious rolls. So cute!
In the afternoon, campers will enjoy decorating 3 Thanksgiving themed cupcakes of their choice. We'll use fondant, frosting and sprinkles to design adorable cupcakes.
We'll have plenty of time for crafts, games and playing, too!
The day is packed with fun activities, including games, crafts, and free playtime. If the weather cooperates, we'll head to the local park after lunch for some outdoor time.
It's a day full of creativity, cooking and play.
AGES 5-11
$110/ DAY
before care optional
SCHEDULE:
8-9am - Early drop off (please choose this option at registration $10)
9am - Welcome! Get settled in and meet new friends, games, crafts
9:30am - Prepare first recipe/ lunch
11am-1pm - Lunchtime, games, crafts, possible walk to local park (weather dependent)
1pm - Prepare second recipe/ snack
2:30pm - Finish crafts and clean up!
3pm - see you soon!
day off camp - 11/11 - veterans’ day
We’re welcoming the chilly weather with some heartwarming favorites on this day off of school.
In the morning, campers make their own lunch: HOMEMADE PASTA! It’s so much fun to make homemade noodles from scratch. We serve them with our FAMOUS tomato sauce, butter + cheese or plain.
In the afternoon the students will make an adorable dessert, SNICKERDOODLES . They are decorated to look like OWLS!
WHOOOO doesn’t love spending the day in the kitchen? NOODLES + DOODLES!
The day is packed with fun activities, including games, crafts, and free playtime. If the weather cooperates, we'll head to the local park after lunch for some outdoor time.
It's a day full of creativity, cooking and play.
AGES 5-11
$110/ DAY
before care optional
SCHEDULE:
8-9am - Early drop off (please choose this option at registration $10)
9am - Welcome! Get settled in and meet new friends, games, crafts
9:30am - Prepare first recipe/ lunch
11am-1pm - Lunchtime, games, crafts, possible walk to local park (weather dependent)
1pm - Prepare second recipe/ snack
2:30pm - Finish crafts and clean up!
3pm - see you soon!
day off camp 11/5 - voting day!
IT’S THE BIG DAY!
We’re celebrating our country with some ALL AMERICAN favorites.
In the morning, campers make their own lunch: TATER TOT CASSEROLE! The kids love this blend of potatoes, peas + corn … and even mushrooms. :) It’s one of their favorite recipes in our summer camp.
In the afternoon the students will make a classic dessert, APPLE PIE. We’ll try our hand at a lattice top! Ohh la la!
The day is packed with fun activities, including games, crafts, and free playtime. If the weather cooperates, we'll head to the local park after lunch for some outdoor time.
It's a day full of creativity, cooking and play.
AGES 5-11
$110/ DAY
before care optional
SCHEDULE:
8-9am - Early drop off (please choose this option at registration $10)
9am - Welcome! Get settled in and meet new friends, games, crafts
9:30am - Prepare first recipe/ lunch
11am-1pm - Lunchtime, games, crafts, possible walk to local park (weather dependent)
1pm - Prepare second recipe/ snack
2:30pm - Finish crafts and clean up!
3pm - see you soon!
day off camp 11/4
FALL IS HERE!!
In the morning, campers make their own lunch out of beautiful FALL veggies. Carrots, potatoes, butternut squash and warm spices make up this Harvest Curry.
In the afternoon the students will make a classic dessert, BAKED APPLES. Kids will learn how to core an apple and fill it with oats, brown sugar and spices for a yummy treat.
The day is packed with fun activities, including games, crafts, and free playtime. If the weather cooperates, we'll head to the local park after lunch for some outdoor time.
It's a day full of creativity, cooking and play.
AGES 5-11
$110/ DAY
before care optional
SCHEDULE:
8-9am - Early drop off (please choose this option at registration $10)
9am - Welcome! Get settled in and meet new friends, games, crafts
9:30am - Prepare first recipe/ lunch
11am-1pm - Lunchtime, games, crafts, possible walk to local park (weather dependent)
1pm - Prepare second recipe/ snack
2:30pm - Finish crafts and clean up!
3pm - see you soon!
indigenous peoples’ day 10/14
We're honoring Indigenous People and their food ways in this day of COOKING + CRAFTING for kids. Our morning cooking adventure is making Blue Corn Cakes and Black Bean and Corn Hash for lunch. Young chefs will grind their own corn and chop up veggies for this delicious dish.
After lunch, kids will make Pumpkin Muffins. They love exploring the warm spices of Fall for this dessert.
The day is packed with fun activities, including games, crafts, and free playtime. If the weather cooperates, we'll head to the local park after lunch for some outdoor time.
It's a day full of creativity, cooking and play.
AGES 5-11
$110/ DAY
before care optional
SCHEDULE:
8-9am - Early drop off (please choose this option at registration $10)
9am - Welcome! Get settled in and meet new friends, games, crafts
9:30am - Prepare first recipe/ lunch
11am-1pm - Lunchtime, games, crafts, possible walk to local park (weather dependent)
1pm - Prepare second recipe/ snack
2:30pm - Finish crafts and clean up!
3pm - see you soon!
day off camp 10/11 dia de los muertos celebration
We're honoring the beautiful celebration of Dia de los Muertos in this day off COOKING + CRAFTING CAMP for kids.
Our morning cooking adventure is making HOMEMADE TORTILLAS with different colored masa… red, blue and maize colors from different corn.
After lunch, kids will bake and decorate SUGAR SKULL COOKIES which are a lot of fun to make!
The day is packed with fun activities, including games, crafts, and free playtime. If the weather cooperates, we'll head to the local park after lunch for some outdoor time.
It's a day full of creativity, cooking and play.
AGES 5-11
$110/ DAY
before care optional
SCHEDULE:
8-9am - Early drop off (please choose this option at registration $10)
9am - Welcome! Get settled in and meet new friends, games, crafts
9:30am - Prepare first recipe/ lunch
11am-1pm - Lunchtime, games, crafts, possible walk to local park (weather dependent)
1pm - Prepare second recipe/ snack
2:30pm - Finish crafts and clean up!
3pm - see you soon!
welcome fall! 9/27 cooking camp
We're welcoming FALL in this day of COOKING + CRAFTING for kids. Our morning cooking adventure is making Butternut Mac n Cheese for lunch. Young chefs will chop veggies and whip up a homemade sauce for our cheesy pasta dish.
After a delicious lunch, kids will make Apple Crumble - a Schoolhouse favorite. They love peeling and chopping apples for this delicious dessert.
The day is packed with fun activities, including games, crafts, and free playtime. If the weather cooperates, we'll head to the local park after lunch for some outdoor time.
It's a day full of creativity, cooking and play.
AGES 5-11
$110/ DAY
before care optional
SCHEDULE:
8-9am - Early drop off (please choose this option at registration $10)
9am - Welcome! Get settled in and meet new friends, games, crafts
9:30am - Prepare first recipe/ lunch
11am-1pm - Lunchtime, games, crafts, possible walk to local park (weather dependent)
1pm - Prepare second recipe/ snack
2:30pm - Finish crafts and clean up!
3pm - see you soon!
APRIL 10 - DAY OFF COOKING CAMP - CELEBRATING SPRING!
We're welcoming SPRING in this day of COOKING + CRAFTING for kids. Our morning cooking adventure is making Pasta Primavera for lunch. Young chefs will chop veggies and whip up a homemade sauce for our pasta.
After a delicious lunch, kids will make Strawberry Lemonade Donuts - a Schoolhouse favorite. They love glazing and decorating their donuts to share with you.
The day is packed with fun activities, including games, crafts, and free playtime. If the weather cooperates, we'll head to the local park after lunch for some outdoor time.
It's a day full of creativity, cooking and play.
AGES 5-11
$100/ DAY
before care optional
SCHEDULE:
8-9am - Early drop off (please choose this option at registration $10)
9am - Welcome! Get settled in and meet new friends, games, crafts
9:30am - Prepare first recipe/ lunch
11am-1pm - Lunchtime, games, crafts, possible walk to local park (weather dependent)
1pm - Prepare second recipe/ snack
2:30pm - Finish crafts and clean up!
3pm - see you soon!
APRIL 1 - DAY OFF COOKING CAMP - CELEBRATING APRIL FOOL’S DAY
It's APRIL FOOL's Day in the Schoolhouse Kitchen and kids will love cooking up some silly food pranks together.
For lunch, we'll make homemade pizzas and shape them into silly shapes.
In the afternoon we'll make our favorite "spaghetti + meatball" cupcakes. The meatballs are made of rice crispies and chocolate and the noodles are homemade buttercream.
The day is packed with fun activities, including games, crafts, and free playtime. If the weather cooperates, we'll head to the local park after lunch for some outdoor time.
It's a day full of creativity, cooking and play.
AGES 5-11
$100/ DAY
before care optional
SCHEDULE:
8-9am - Early drop off (please choose this option at registration $10)
9am - Welcome! Get settled in and meet new friends, games, crafts
9:30am - Prepare first recipe/ lunch
11am-1pm - Lunchtime, games, crafts, possible walk to local park (weather dependent)
1pm - Prepare second recipe/ snack
2:30pm - Finish crafts and clean up!
3pm - see you soon!
FEB 19 - celebration of soul food - cooking camp
Young chefs will enjoy cooking and crafting on their day off in this day long camp!
We'll work together to create a Soul Food Feast for lunch: Candied Yams, Corn Bread and Red Beans + Rice while learning about the history of these foods and why they are important to African Amercian culture and history. After lunch, kids will learn how to make traditional Peach Cobbler for an afternoon snack.
In between cooking, there's time for crafting and playing games.
AGES 5-11
$100/ DAY
before care optional
SCHEDULE:
8-9am - Early drop off (please choose this option at registration $10)
9am - Welcome! Get settled in and meet new friends, games, crafts
9:30am - Prepare first recipe/ lunch
11am-1pm - Lunchtime, games, crafts, possible walk to local park (weather dependent)
1pm - Prepare second recipe/ snack
2:30pm - Finish crafts and clean up!
3pm - see you soon!
FEB 9 - LUNAR NEW YEAR COOKING CAMP!
In this Day Off Cooking Camp young chefs will explore the traditions of Chinese Lunar New Year with cooking and crafts.
In the morning, we'll make handmade Longevity Noodles! These springy noodles are perfect for a warm lunch with a delicious sauce and stirfied veggies.
After lunch, we'll bake cupakes to decorate with fondant dragons and learn more about the symbolism of Lunar New Year through food, color, shape and the Chinese Zodiac. .
AGES 5-11
$100/ DAY
before care optional
SCHEDULE:
8-9am - Early drop off (please choose this option at registration $10)
9am - Welcome! Get settled in and meet new friends, games, crafts
9:30am - Prepare first recipe/ lunch
11am-1pm - Lunchtime, games, crafts, possible walk to local park (weather dependent)
1pm - Prepare second recipe/ snack
2:30pm - Finish crafts and clean up!
3pm - see you soon!
jan 15 - mlk jr day camp- cooking + community - a day of service
In this day off camp we'll explore honor Dr. King's invitation to each of us to create positive impact within our community.
We'll be making lunch in the morning: Minestrone Soup + Focaccia and in the afternoon we'll bake Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and create CARE PACKAGES for our community's unhoused population that will include warm socks, artwork and cards made by the campers and, of course, some of their delicious cookies.
AGES 5-11
$100/ DAY
before care optional
SCHEDULE:
8-9am - Early drop off (please choose this option at registration $10)
9am - Welcome! Get settled in and meet new friends, games, crafts
9:30am - Prepare first recipe/ lunch
11am-1pm - Lunchtime, games, crafts, possible walk to local park (weather dependent)
1pm - Prepare second recipe/ snack
2:30pm - Finish crafts and clean up!
3pm - see you soon!
nov 21 - gratitude cooking camp
Kids will make homemade empanadas & sugar skull cookies!
nov 20 - gratitude cooking camp
Kids will make homemade empanadas & sugar skull cookies!
Nov 10 - festival of lights cooking camp - celebrating diwali
Kids will make homemade naan, chana masala and mango lassis!
oct 26 - dia de los muertos cooking camp
Kids will make homemade empanadas & sugar skull cookies!
oct 9 - three sisters’ cooking camp/ indigenous peoples’ day
Kids will make homemade potstickers and moon cakes!
SEPT 22 DAY OFF CAMP/ potstickers + mooncakes
Kids will make homemade potstickers and moon cakes!