Our goal is to:

• Use children’s natural curiosity and enthusiasm for the outdoors to explore important ecological concepts.
• Investigate the abundant agricultural history and practices in our area.
• Discover how fascinating plants are by learning about wild plants as well as the cultivated plants we eat.
• Explore food in new ways by making and tasting new foods each week.
• Have fun outside and in the food lab!

MORNING SESSION - Field Studies 9am-12pm

• 9:00 a.m. Welcome - Group games
• 9:30 a.m. Lesson on the theme of the week
• 10:00 a.m. Ecology - visit observation stations, project time
• 12:00 p.m. Pick-up 

AFTERNOON SESSION - In the Kitchen 1pm-4pm

• 1:00 p.m. Group games
• 1:30 p.m. Lesson on the theme of the week
• 2:00 p.m. Food/project time
• 4:00 p.m. Pick-up

Drew and Eli Zemper (pictured here on the North Country Trail) LOVE to be outdoors, and have long dreamed of offering a summer camp that would share that love. This summer marks the culmination of years of planning and experience to bring this program to life.

Drew has been a certified science teacher for the last 10 years and has experience teaching both at the high school and college level at Washtenaw Community College.  Subjects Drew has taught in the past include biology, chemistry, genetics, Earth science, and a new class using aquaponics to study fish and plant biology.  In the past Drew has also spent time as a veterinary technician, an exotic animal keeper, and as a biology lab technician.  With his best buddy Eli, he continues to find all sorts of adventures to get into such as parenting twins, exploring the Huron River by kayak, biking local trails, and learning about bees and fruit trees.  

Drew’s co-host (and wife) Eli has spent the last 26 years as a certified English teacher teaching everything from reading programs to kindergarteners to poetry to undergraduates at the University of Michigan.  Early experiences as a facilitator at the University of Michigan’s Outdoor Adventure Program honed her skills as an outdoor educator, while work with the Anti-Defamation League helped strengthen her group facilitation skills. Over her 26 years in education she has taught subjects ranging from film and video and theater, to food systems and ethics. As someone who is deeply curious, Eli has and continues to investigate all kinds of life experiences including coaching roller derby, raising rambunctious twins, and facilitating a new  mobile clay studio. She is so excited to play and learn with you this summer!