Summer Cooking Camps 2026
WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR 9TH YEAR OF SUMMER COOKING CAMPS AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE!
This summer we are offering FULL DAY SUMMER CAMPS for ages 5-11 at Oak Park with before care and aftercare available!
Take advantage of 2025 prices for 2026 camps! 10% off using code "TENOFF" AT CHECKOUT
COOK + CREATE CAMP - OAK PARK
Kids will love learning, playing, growing, crafting, baking and cooking at our Schoolhouse Summer Camp.
We offer camp for kids ages 5-11 YRS.
Camp Days: Monday - Friday
9AM - 3PM
$600/child
$50/ week early drop off 8am-9am
$150/ week extended day 3-5pm
For children ages 5-11
Each day is unique and every week is packed with recipes and projects!
Campers will make lunch in the morning from scratch. Homemade pasta, handmade tortillas, dough for empanadas and more! Schoolhouse cooking tools are age appropriate and our warm, encouraging staff helps kids learn important life skills in a positive, supportive, and FUN environment! PLUS! Our new craft studio more than doubles the size of Schoolhouse Oak Park. Kids love crafting in between cooking and other activities.
Campers will make their own dessert each afternoon, learning and practicing measuring, mixing, and other baking and pastry skills.
You are always welcome to send your camper with NUT FREE food for an extra lunch or a snack.
SUMMER CAMP SCHEDULE - FUN THEMES EACH WEEK!
June 3, 4 + 5 - Mini Camp! $360/ 3 day camp
Lunch: Pizza, Lo Mein, Orecchietti (little pasta!) with Peas
Dessert: Crumbl Cookies, S'Mores Donuts, Lemonade Cupcakes
FULL WEEKS:
SEE CAMP DESCRIPTIONS TO THE RIGHT FOR MENUS
June 8 - 12 - Around the World
June 15 - 19 - Restaurant Week
(we are in session 6/19 Juneteenth)
June 22-26 - Around Chicago
June 29 - July 2 - KIDS' MENU WEEK!
July 6 - 10 - Around the World
July 13 - 17 - Restaurant Week
July 20-24 - Around Chicago
July 27 - July 31 - KIDS' MENU WEEK!
August 3-7 - Around the World
August 11 - 15 - Restaurant Week
August 18 - 22 - Around Chicago
Allergies:
We can accommodate most food allergies and do not serve any peanuts or tree nuts. When you register your child please list any food allergies and we are happy to accommodate. Our recipes are all vegetarian. We may offer meat options (like pepperoni for pizza) so please include your child's dietary restrictions in your registration. (vegan, no pork etc). We strive to be 100% inclusive and celebrate every person's choices.
CAMP MENUS
AROUND THE WORLD
Grab your passport! Kids love learning about the world through the lens of food.
Japanese Curry + French Apple Galette
Polish Potato Pancakes, Applesauce + English Berry Trifle
Nigerian Jollof Rice + Mexican Churro Donuts
Italian Pizza + Chinese Moon Cakes
Moroccan Veggie Couscous + Brazilian Alfajores Cookies
AROUND CHICAGO
This week, we'll learn about the neighborhoods of our beautiful city. We'll highlight the special foods in each neighborhood with delicious and kid friendly recipes.
PILSEN - Homemade Tortillas, Quesadillas + Salsa/ Polvorones Cookies with Colorful Sugar
LITTLE ITALY - Three Cheese Calzones / Berry Crostata
CHINATOWN - Homemade Dumplings/ Fruity Boba Tea
BRONZEVILLE - Mac n Cheese Bites / Red Velvet Cupcakes
DEVON - Veggie Biryani /Mango Lassis + Laddu
KIDS' MENU WEEK!
Kids' favorite foods that they learn to cook for themselves. :) We're taking the buttered noodle to new heights!
Pizza/ S'mores Donuts
Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup/ Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ham N Cheese Crescent Rolls, Apple Sauce/ Pop Tarts
Homemade Pasta/ Ice Cream Cone Cake Pops
Veggie Fried Rice/ Pink Velvet Crumbl Cookies
RESTAURANT WEEK
Campers will spend all week preparing for "opening night" of our restaurant. From making decor to preparing the recipes, campers will be involved in every step of serving their families a delicious meal the last hour of our camp.
We'll cook lunch and desserts each day and prep for the final meal! Please join us at 2pm on the final day of camp to sample their cooking.
FINAL MENU
Homemade Crackers + Hummus
Pasta Salad + Focaccia
Homemade Lemonade
Cupcakes + Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
DAILY MEALS/ COOKING
Lo Mein + Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pizza/ Lemonade + Lemonade Donuts
Felafel, Crackers & Hummus + Snickerdoodles
Italian Wedding Soup & Focaccia + Cupcakes
Pasta Salad + Set-up the restaurant!
We'll bake, cook + craft each day and the consecutive days make it possible for us to do longer projects. It's a lot of fun building on skills all week long and having a relaxed and creative environment to play in!
- Recipes are sent home each week so that you can continue practicing skills at home.
HOW OUR WAITLIST WORKS:
If a camp reaches full capacity we cannot accommodate additional campers. However, you have the option to join our WAITLIST. (through the SAWYER registration system).
Once a spot becomes available, we will email EVERYONE on the waitlist. It doesn’t matter what position you are on the list.
As registration adjustments frequently occur before the camp commences, being on the waitlist increases your chances of securing a spot. Feel free to join the waitlist if you're interested in obtaining a spot!
NOTES ABOUT OUR CAMPS:
Accommodations: We strive to welcome everyone at the Schoolhouse and are committed to providing a safe environment for all students. If your child may need behavioral/ emotional accommodations, please let us know when you register or before camp begins so that we can be aware and do our best to be inclusive. Physically rough, destructive or disruptive behavior is not permitted as we are in a kitchen setting and you will be asked to pick-up your camper if they repeatedly engage in behavior that is unsafe or disruptive.
Cancellation Policy for Camps:
CHANGES:
We will change registration with a $25 admin fee
CANCELLATION:
- 2+ wks notice = refund - $25 admin fee
- Less than 2 wks notice = credit - $25 admin fee
- Less than 1 week notice = no credit offered. You may transfer camp to another child.
- Email us to let us know cheryl@iloveschoolhouse.com. NOTE: We can not offer credits or transfers with less than 1 week notice. No exceptions.
What to Bring:
- WATER BOTTLE with name clearly labeled
- Close toed shoes are ideal and tying long hair back is helpful.
- Some kids like to bring aprons - we provide them, as well.
- You may bring clearly labeled “to go” containers for your child. Reduce plastic!
- Dress for Mess!
Arrival + Dismissal:
- Camp staff will be ready to check in campers 10 mins before camp is scheduled to begin.
- FIRST DAY: Please greet the staff counselor with the roster and we'll check in your camper.
