Ages 7 - CLASS FULL
Unleash your creativity in this fun and artistic class exploring the world of body art! Campers will have the chance to try either henna or face painting, with options tailored to their age group. You'll learn simple designs, from swirling patterns to playful motifs, while discovering tips for applying them with ease. This hands-on session encourages self-expression and lets your imagination run wild. By the end of class, you'll walk away with your own unique creation or the skills to share your art with others!
Read MoreAges 10+ - CLASS FULL
Kids race through challenges in teams of two—challenges include the monkey bridge, zip line, alligator pit, jungle swing and mud mountain—and trying to beat their own best time. Students will get very dirty and must wear secure closed toed shoes.
Read MoreAges 8-12
Come and see why clay has been an honored art form for thousands of years! Students will have time for both group projects as well as free expression time. We will use special clay that will allow you to take your masterpieces home the same day you create them! Bring a box to transport your treasures!
Read MoreAges 7+
You’ll find out what reptiles and amphibians live on the Sun Foundation property. You will be able to see and touch many of the animals. You’ll find out what they eat and where you might find them. This is an introduction to herpetology. If weather permits, we’ll head to a pond to see some animals in their natural environment. Please wear appropriate clothes.
Read MoreAges 7+ (Will be assigned with kids of similar ages)
Rocketeers will assemble and launch rockets from ready-made kits. They will learn how careful assembly procedures and safety practices lead to successful rocket flights.
Read MoreAges 10+ - CLASS FULL
In this fun and engaging class, young learners will discover the exciting world of knitting! Perfect for beginners, this class introduces children to the basics of knitting, where they’ll learn to cast on, knit, and bind off using soft, colorful yarn and needles. Through hands-on instruction, they’ll create their very own small practice swatch, as well as receive instructions for other small projects such as cozy scarves, simple fingerless gloves, or playful patterns. As they learn, kids will develop important skills like patience, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor control, all while building confidence in their ability to create something beautiful from scratch. With a focus on creativity and fun, this class encourages children to explore their imagination and experience the satisfaction of making something by hand. By the end of the class, kids will leave with new knitting skills, a completed learning swatch, their own yarn and needles to keep, and a newfound love for the art of knitting—perfect for sparking their crafting journey!
Read MoreAges 7+ (Will be assigned with kids of similar ages) - CLASS FULL
In this fun and creative class, kids will design and paint their own custom fabric bandanas! Using techniques like stenciling, freehand drawing, and sponge painting, they’ll create colorful, unique designs on the fabric. After sketching their ideas, they’ll bring their designs to life with vibrant fabric paints. The finished bandanas make great wearable accessories or gifts, and kids will love showing off their creative creations! Perfect for young artists who enjoy expressing themselves through art.
Read MoreAges 7+
A few hundred years ago, Illinois was covered mostly in expansive grassland habitats known as prairies. In this class, we’ll immerse ourselves in the Sun Foundation’s prairie and explore it’s science through hiking, activities and an animal encounter or two.
Read MoreAges 7+ - CLASS FULL
This class will be a shorter version of the Major class, we will work from both dry and wet natural history specimens preserved in jars, such as frogs, fish, turtles, mud puppies, as well as dry, specimens, such as bones, skulls, dried plants, seeds, and marine collections such as starfish, shells and seahorses. In each session, we will begin with drawing, add watercolors to our drawings and the last hour will be working with self -hardening clay, making small sculptural forms inspired by our natural history collections. Ages 7+
Read MoreAges 7+ (Will be assigned with kids of similar ages) - CLASS FULL
This class offers students an opportunity to explore splatter painting techniques. Participants will engage in creative expression through dynamic and spontaneous painting methods, emphasizing experimentation and fun!
Read MoreAges 10+ - CLASS FULL
Students will spend the afternoon learning the basic skills of IMPROV! From creating strong characters to telling short stories, we will have fun doing exercises and playing games to help become strong improvisational performers.
Read MoreAll Day Major • Ages 8-12 - CLASS FULL
This class is for younger students interested in learning survival skills. The focus of this class will be to learn experientially as we discover our innate woods wisdom and deepen our relationship with ourselves, one another and the earth. We will make fires by rubbing sticks together, learn shelters, how to purify water, basic tracking and practice awareness exercises. We will be spending time immersed in nature, playing in the creek and learning about the local flora and fauna.
Read MoreAll Day Major • Ages 12+ - CLASS FULL
This class is for older students interested in learning or fine tuning survival skills. We will practice skills such as fire, shelter, cordage and tracking while immersing ourselves in the woods of the farm with awareness practices and games. We will learn natural camouflage and rely on the interdependence of the class community as we learn how to stalk animals and move across the landscape quietly without disturbance.
Read MoreAges 8-14 - CLASS FULL
This year campers will learn, rehearse and perform in the world premier of “Bananular! The Banana Phone Musical”. Students will learn audition skills before auditioning and being cast in a musical production that will be performed at the end of the week. Throughout the class students will learn and develop skills in music, improvisation and acting. This class will be an all-day major Tuesday, Thursday and Friday – so students will only have minors on Monday and Wednesday. STUDENTS MUST BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN FRIDAY EVENING PERFORMANCE!
Read MoreAges 10+ - CLASS FULL
Students will experience various techniques specific to clay with both guided and free expression time as well. Students will leave with a foundation of how to make both sculptural as well as functional ceramic art this is glaze fired. All experience levels are welcome!
Read MoreAll Day Major • Ages 13+ - CLASS FULL
Luke McNally & Damien Schierer
More than a game, Coyote Warriors builds upon a foundation of athletics to teach young people about teamwork, conflict, work ethic, awareness and maintaining a healthy mind and body. This course is about building confidence in teens. By facing hard work and struggle in a fun environment, we equip students with tools to better prepare for work and school beyond nature’s classroom. Coyote Warriors relies upon an ancestral understanding of team sports blended with modern science and a hint of the spiritual. It is a chance to escape the contemporary world, examine ourselves in nature, and return to the challenges of modern life with new training for adulthood. Ironically, these lofty ideals are achieved through not trying too hard, from the ground up . . . from a foundation that starts with lots of running and team rivalry. Please note, scholarships are not available for this class.
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