Camps at The Little Bits Workshop are a collage of creativity, ingenuity, learning, upcycled projects, outdoor explorations and fun with friends. The underlying theme of each camp is to learn the necessary skills to create useful beauty and to be good stewards of the natural beauty all around us.
We are a bunch of nurturing, creative moms & “mums” who love teaching kids to use their hands, not just their thumbs!! Our goal is to develop independent and confident MAKERS who have skills for life so they don't bring their pants home from college to be hemmed!!! We believe they should be able to DO IT THEMSELVES!
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CAMPS
2019 Summer Camp
Registration is OPEN!
MakerNature Camps are a partnership between The Little Bits Workshop and the FPCC Trailside Museum of Natural History and are based in the Thatcher Woods Pavilion.
1 spot just opened!
MakerNature Camp Week 2:
June 17-21 The Happy Camper, ages 7-14
in the Thatcher Woods Pavilion 9am-3pm
This week’s camp will be ALL about camping tips, using tools, survival skills and having fun outdoors. The Campers entering 1st -3rd grade will make a hammock and 4th - 7th will make a campfire chair. Trailside Naturalists will take kids kayaking, do archery, go pond dipping, do nature ID, learn all about fire and how to cook camp food. The Forest Preserve of Cook County has 5 camp grounds. Campers take home information about all that is available: gear, tents, kayaks, programing and more! $325 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
1 spot left!!! June 24-28 Art in the Forest,
ages 7-14
in the Thatcher Woods Pavilion 9am-3pm
During this camp, young crafters and artists will have many projects to chose from as we create outdoor art exhibits for Trailside and Home: learn to knit an owl, painted stones, wood critters, bee houses and map-making...all the while, campers will learn fascinating facts about our native plants, animals, birds and insects. Did you know that you can figure out the air temperature just by listening to a cricket? Each day will be filled with creativity, outdoor adventures, creature encounters and discovery. Campers will also get to make bow & arrows and go kayaking with Trailside Naturalists. $325 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
MakerCamps...
...below are a based at The Little Bits Workshop
located at 411 Park Ave in River Forest.
June 12-14 Summer Cottage Camp, ages 7+
9am-noon
The Little Bits Cottage is a launching point for imagination. Half the fun of making a Little Bits Cottage is when kids discover objects in your recycle bin, junk drawer or jewelry box that could actually become a burner on a stove, a knob on a faucet or a dining room chair. We have plenty of bits, but kids are always welcome to bring items from home. This camp is a skill-builder: measuring, designing, considering proportion, using sharp tools and learning how to sew. $160
June 17-21 Camp Runway, ages 10+
9am-2pm
Kids will make and show their own outfit from start to finish while learning how to read a pattern and implement all the instructions. Patterns are included in the camp fee. Materials are not part of the camp fee.
Prior to camp, an email will be sent regarding measurements and a shopping list. $325
June 24-28 Sew Many Choices
ages 8+ (7 with sewing experience) 9am-noon
Campers may choose to sew popsicles, ice cream cones, magical castles or unicorn pillows by hand and machine...Sewing basics such as seam allowance, following a pattern, and hand embellishments are just a few of the skills that campers will master. $269
3 spots left July 1-3 Summer Cottage Camp, ages 7+
9am-noon
The Little Bits Cottage is a launching point for imagination. Half the fun of making a Little Bits Cottage is when kids discover objects in your recycle bin, junk drawer or jewelry box that could actually become a burner on a stove, a knob on a faucet or a dining room chair. We have plenty of bits, but kids are always welcome to bring items from home. This camp is a skill-builder: measuring, designing, considering proportion, using sharp tools and learning how to sew. $160
ADD+July 5 Summer Cottage Camp, ages 7+
9am-noon
Add on one more day of Cottage Camp to fill the week! $53
FULL July 8-12- Jr. Camp Runway, ages 8-9
9am-noon
For the beginner fashionista! Campers will learn the basics of hand sewing, how to run a sewing machine and how to cut out a simple pattern. What is seam allowance? How to sew a straight line? How to thread a machine? Friends & Family are invited to attend a FASHION SHOW on the last day! $269 ADD YOUR NAME TO OUR WAITLIST
ages 7-14 9am-noon
From Picasso, to O’Keeffe, kids will learn the fascinating stories behind their famous paintings. Each camper will receive their very own sketchbook suitable for watercolor, acrylic, pastels and ink. We will have fun drawing, painting and making collages. We’ll paint inside and outdoors “en plein air.” Practice-pieces become masterpieces! $250
July 15-19 Extreme Knit & Crochet: Woodland Friends
9am-noon
Kids will learn to knit and crochet while creating absolutely adorable critters: badgers, raccoons and foxes...OH MY! Plus a few other whimsical habitat items like mushrooms and flowers. The perfect skill to learn for those lazy days of summer or rainy days at the lake house. $250
July 22-26 The Good Guerilla Artist, ages 7+
9am-noon
Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky....highly classified and clandestine art projects that will be slipped around town... Tricky, whimsical, harmless fun! Maybe a few yarn-bombs, perhaps a few fairy houses...some secret messages... a wishing tree...We guarantee your kids will have a blast placing these silly compositions for passersby to discover and smile. Plus we’ll be outside soaking up sun and fresh air! Campers will take home a wishing tree kit for their own neighborhood too! $250
FULL July 29-August 2 Sew Cool (and sweet!) 8+
(7 with sewing experience)
9am-noon
Imagine a giant ice cream cone, a popsicle, an ice cream sandwich....giant plushy, sweet, irresistible pillows. Fun to make and kids will learn skills for life. $269 ADD YOUR NAME TO OUR WAITLIST
FULL August 5-9 Camp Runway, ages 10+
9am-2pm
Kids will make and show their own outfit from start to finish while learning how to read a pattern and implement all the instructions. Patterns are included in the camp fee. Materials are not part of the camp fee. Prior to camp, an email will be sent regarding measurements and a shopping list. $325
August 12-16 Camp Sampler 6+ 9am-noon
Each day kids will make a different project and learn a new skill:
Monday: All things beads, from bracelets to keychains!
Tuesday: Cross Stitch treasure jar
Wednesday: Build and decorate a Little Bits Cottage
Thursday: MakerNature outdoor adventure and bushcraft
Friday: Zentangle Masterpiece
$250
SCROLL DOWN TO REGISTER
