Mon, Apr 1, 2024 - Fri, Apr 5, 2024 – Spring Break Camps
Mon, Jul 22, 2024 - Fri, Jul 26, 2024 – Summer Camp Week 1
Mon, Jul 29, 2024 - Fri, Aug 2, 2024 – Summer Camp Week 2
Mon, Aug 5, 2024 - Thu, Aug 8, 2024 – Summer Camp Week 3
Try new skills, make new friends, and have fun at North House Folk School’s youth camps.
Youth Camp Update
1/19/2024
Spring Break Camp, offered for kids ages 8-12 during Cook County’s spring break, April 1-5, will be viewable online January 26, and open for online registration Feb 2.
Youth Summer camps will be offered the weeks of July 22, July 29, and August 5. Ages and topics vary, but options for students ages 8-12 will be offered each week, with availability for ages 13-14 the weeks of July 22 and July 29, and ages 5-7 the week of July 22. Camps are either a half day (8:30-12:15 or 12:30-4:15) or full day (8:30-4:15) in length. Scholarships available for Cook County youth.
Camp information will appear online March 4 and open for registration at 9am on March 7.
Attendance: Because projects worked on at camp build from day to day and learning extends throughout the week, please only sign your child up for camp if they will be able to attend all five days of the camp week.
Pick up and Drop Off: You can drop your child off at their camp location up to 30 minutes before the start of camp each day. At the
time of registration, parents/guardians may authorize their child to walk or bike home from camp alone. All kids not walking/biking must be picked up by an authorized parent/guardian within 10 minutes of the end of the camp day.
How to register: Registration is available by phone only for full-time Cook County residents beginning Tuesday, February 14 at 10:00am. Online registration open to anyone will be available beginning Tuesday, February 21 at 9:00am.
Scholarships: We want Kids’ Camp to be accessible to families in Cook County regardless of financial status. There are half cost and full cost scholarships available for youth residents of Cook County. Scholarships can be requested at the time of registration via the phone: 218-387-8762.
Liability Waivers, supply lists, and additional information will be provided later this spring following the initial registration period.
Here is your chance to get into the forge, heat up metal, and hammer it into shapes. Projects will abound in this camp. From decorative hooks to hot dog roasters, there will be plenty of chances to practice your smithing! Youth camp is a great way to learn new things and potentially spark a lifelong interest in crafting and creating.
Ages: 10-14 | Cost: $200 | Instructor: Cody Meyers | 8 spots in each session AM Session: 9am-noon M-F | PM Session: 1-4pm M-F
Kids are invited to bring their imagination to an action-packed wood working week. We will create rolling wooden creatures while being introduced to tools and safety. Students will gain confidence in using hand tools to attach parts and pieces of wood together. We will explore drilling, sanding, cutting, and painting wood while creating our playful projects. By the end of the week we will parade our rolly polly creatures on tracks and paths for all to see.
Cost: $150 | Instructor: Lauren Newby | 8 spots in each session
AM Session: Ages 5-7, 9am-noon M-F | PM Session: Ages 8-12, 1-4pm M-F
This is a week-long camp for tinkerers, explorers, curious kids—MAKERS! Spend each day learning new skills as you try out folk school crafts like woodworking, building, carving, weaving, hammering, sewing, and more. You’ll get to taste what makes learning at North House special as you explore the handcrafts of daily life. Camp is about being creative, having fun, and making new friends!
Ages: 8-16 | Cost: $250 | 24 spots | Times: 9am-4pm M-F Instructors: Susan Ferguson, Lauren Newby, and guests
Get ready to float a boat built with your own hands! Come join boatbuilder Brian as he guides you through the construction of a skin-on-frame 12’ solo canoe. During this week-long class you will learn everything it takes to build a boat. We will start by learning some hand tool woodworking skills, then move on to steam bending wood, shaping, fitting, and installing parts by lashing and finally learning to sew super heavy duty fabric. At the end of the week we will launch our canoe and put all our skills to the ultimate test.
Ages: 8-12 | Cost: $200 | Instructor: Brian Thorkildson | 5 spots in each session AM Session: 9am-noon M-F | PM Session: 1-4pm M-F
This week will be packed full of fun, creative, and interesting crafts! Each day you’ll get to sample one or several new crafts and combine them into projects—from tree to bark and fiber to fire-building and cooking, we’ll do it all. When we need a break, we will explore the rocks and beaches along
the lakeshore. Your instructors come from Sweden and Minneapolis, and have been working in the outdoors and in maker spaces for a combined 35 years. Come ready to create all sorts of things, have fun with new friends, and maybe even learn a little Swedish!
Ages: 8-16 | Cost: $200 | Instructors: Anna Sharratt and Andreas Sohlberg | 16 spots
Times: 9am-4pm M-Th (Due to travel schedules, this will be a 4-day camp)
Summer Youth Camps at North House Folk School: day camps for youth ages 8 - 16. As a camper you will try out lots of skills while making new friends and having fun! Youth will be in a small group while they learn from instructors who are knowledgeable and excited to help youth learn about traditional crafts.
Camp Schedule:
Camps are held from 9 am-4 pm each day with an hour break from noon-1 for lunch and down time. All campers must bring their own bag lunch to eat each day.
We encourage kids to bring a book or quiet game for their break and they will have access to outdoor space in good weather to play during lunch break.
COVID Safety:
- Health and safety of all participants is our top priority.
- All campers will be required to wear face masks during the day at camp (except when eating/drinking) regardless of vaccination status.
- All activities will be planned to maintain social distancing of 6 or more feet between participants as much as possible.
- Camps will be limited to 8 or 9 campers with 1 or 2 instructors for a total group size of no more than 10 people.
- Indoor activities will take place in our large classrooms, with windows open for ample ventilation. Instructors will teach outdoors when possible.
- Every camper will undergo a temperature check and verbal symptom screening at the beginning of each day of camp, campers who feel ill will be asked to stay home.
- Families are asked to be mindful of these health and safety precautions in the two weeks leading up to and during their child’s participation in camp.
Attendance:
Because projects worked on at camp build from day to day and learning extends throughout the week please only sign your child up for camp if they will be able to attend all days of the week.
Pick up and Drop Off:
You can drop your child off at their camp location up to 30 minutes before the start of camp each day. All parents/guardians must drop off their children in person each day of camp, and must wait to leave until their child has had their temperature/symptom screening for the day. At the time of registrations, parents/guardians may authorize their child to walk or bike home from camp alone.
All kids not walking/biking must be picked up by an authorized parent/guardian within 10 minutes of the end of the camp day.
Scholarships:
We want Kids Camp to be accessible to families in Cook County regardless of financial status. There are half cost and full cost scholarships available for youth residents of Cook County. To request a scholarship, please call us at 218-387-9762 or email Susan at sferguson@northhouse.org.
How to register:
Registration is available online. Families of Cook County youth requesting scholarships should call North House at 387-9762 and ask for Susan or email sferguson@northhouse.org.
Ages: Varies per camp
Registration: Please register for this class under the parent/guardian name. We will contact you to find out the student's name and age.
Scholarships available: There are a limited number of half cost and full cost scholarships available for youth residents of Cook County.
Families of Cook County youth requesting scholarships should call North House at 387-9762 and ask for Susan or email sferguson@northhouse.org.
Camp Schedule:
Camps are held from 9 am-4 pm each day with an hour break from noon-1 for lunch and down time. All campers must bring their own bag lunch to eat each day.
We encourage kids to bring a book or quiet game for their break and they will have access to outdoor space in good weather to play during lunch break.
Attendance:
Because projects worked on at camp build from day to day and learning extends throughout the week please only sign your child up for camp if they will be able to attend all days of the week.
Pick up and Drop Off:
You can drop your child off at their camp location up to 30 minutes before the start of camp each day. All parents/guardians must drop off their children in person each day of camp, and must wait to leave until their child has had their temperature/symptom screening for the day. At the time of registrations, parents/guardians may authorize their child to walk or bike home from camp alone.
All kids not walking/biking must be picked up by an authorized parent/guardian within 10 minutes of the end of the camp day.
