Summer Farm Camps

 2026 Summer Farm Camp at Tollgate  

2023 Camp Banner

 

REGISTRATION FOR

Summer Farm Camp is Opening

January 15, 2026

Summer fun starts at Tollgate Farm with our Summer Farm Camps! Campers engage in hands-on learning activities with our livestock, community-supported vegetable and flower production, and nutritious garden kitchen snacks.

We love camp traditions! Every week of Summer Farm Camp, campers tie-dye a shirt, go fishing and canoeing, make a beaded animal keychain, and create a camp skit with their small group. We highly encourage camp caregivers to attend the Camp Showcase on Friday afternoon to watch all the campers perform!

Weeklong, hands-on projects in every camp focus on different science, technology, engineering, and math topics, and throughout the week, campers have multiple opportunities to express their individual creativity through art.

NEW THIS YEAR 2026

New Seedlings Camp for younger campers! These weeklong, half-day camps are designed for campers entering kindergarten and are the perfect introduction to Summer Farm Camp!

Extended Care expansion! We know that work schedules and camp schedules don’t always align, and we want all families to have the opportunity to send their kids to Summer Farm Camp. By adding before-care and extending after-care, our extended care options are now available 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Summer Farm Camp: Weekly Sessions from June 15 - August 28, 2026

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

  • Week-long day camps ($399 entire week)
  • 9 AM- 4 PM
  • Grades K-6
  • Aftercare available 4 PM- 6 PM ($85 entire week)
  • Beforecare available 8 AM- 9 AM ($60 entire week)

Animal Camp: Farmyard Friends (Entering Grades 1-3)- Let your inner animal go wild! Through up-close, hands-on interactions with Tollgate’s livestock and exploration of the wild animals that also call the farm home, campers will learn all about the fascinating ways animals interact with each other, what makes each animal special, and discover how animals are able to live in all different places. Fur, feathers, fluff, and fun-- we’ve got it all!  (June 15-19, July 20-24, August 3-7, August 17-21)

Animal Camp: Junior Farmhand (Entering Grades 4-6)- Does your camper love interacting with animals? This camp is perfect for them! Youth will not only work with our livestock but also explore our woodlot wilderness to expand their experience and understanding of the animal world. They will investigate animal adaptations while making a model animal of their own, examine eggs and their unique parts, and learn the complexities of animal care. (June 15-19, July 20-24, August 3-7, August 17-21)

Water Camp: Splish Splash Camp (Enter Grades 1-3)- Summer heat is here, and what better way to cool off than diving into the world of water! Combining creativity with hands-on problem-solving, campers will have a blast being engineers-in-training with our boat-building challenge, try their hand at painting with watercolor paint, and so much more! After a week of water exploration, campers will experience pure fun as we race down our giant water slide! (July 6-10, July 27-31, August 24-28)

Water Camp: Water Wonders Camp (Entering Grades 4-6)- How do humans and other animals interact with water? At this camp it’s more than splashing around (even though we do that too!). Campers will explore the complexity of water and apply real-world problem-solving while building a model house fit to survive a hurricane! Campers will identify and observe different bodies of water and learn their important role in protecting the water resources we depend on. (July 6-10, July 27-31, August 24-28)

Survival Camp: Experience the Wild (Entering Grades 1-3)- The woodlot becomes our playground of adventure this week! Campers will learn about the essentials of survival while they make shelters to protect themselves from the elements, practice archery, and create a team flag to show their camp pride. Come to Tollgate and Experience the Wild! (June 22-26, July 13-17, August 10-14)

Survival Camp: Wilderness Warrior (Entering Grades 4-6)- Adventure is about having fun and doing something new! Campers will be able to master orienteering while finding their way around Tollgate Farm, put the survival essentials to the test with knot tying, and take aim with a bow and arrow at archery. Will your camper get a bullseye? Let’s find out! (June 22-26, July 13-17, August 10-14)

Seedlings Camp: Plants (Entering Young 5’s- Kindergarten)- Our youngest campers will become mini-scientists in the morning as they discover what makes plants so special!  They’ll get their hands dirty while exploring the Tollgate fields, gardens, and wilderness as they discover the parts of plants, what they need to thrive, and the many reasons people love them. They’ll even learn to prepare some plant-based snacks in our Garden Kitchen! (July 6-10, July 27-31, August 24-28)

Seedlings Camp: Animals (Entering Young 5’s- Kindergarten)- In this fun-filled afternoon session, our youngest campers will get hands-on interacting with a variety of farm animals, explore creative projects inspired by animal coverings, and enjoy silly, animal-themed games that spark laughter and learning! (July 6-10, July 27-31, August 24-28)

Questions? Contact the Program Team at MSUE.TollgatePro@msu.edu  or call Program Coordinator, Kassie LaVigne at 248-347-0269 ext. 239.

 

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