Winter Break Camp 2nd Week – PM Block (12/28–12/30) 1–4 PM

Winter Break Camp December 28–30, 2026 | 1-4 PM

All of our Winter Break Camps will be led by our very own Co-Founder Hayley Schilling. Hayley holds a bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Child Development from California State University, Northridge, and is a Child Development Specialist with decades of experience working with children from preschool through elementary school, with specialized expertise in supporting neurodivergent children.

Three afternoons designed to build practical, real-world skills through cooking, woodworking, and hands-on challenges. Campers will move from making fresh pasta from scratch, to building their own wooden box, to learning how to prioritize, plan, and manage their time—all while developing independence, problem-solving, and confidence.

DAY 1 — Pasta Please!

Campers head into the kitchen for an afternoon of fresh pasta making from scratch. They’ll begin with kitchen safety, knife handling, and proper hand hygiene before learning how to accurately measure ingredients, mix and knead pasta dough, roll it out, and cut it into fresh noodles.

They’ll prepare both red and white sauces, cook their handmade pasta, and learn the basics of plating and table etiquette before sitting down to enjoy what they’ve created. The afternoon wraps up with a fast-paced dishwashing relay that makes cleanup part of the challenge.

Skills: Kitchen safety • Knife handling • Measuring • Dough making & kneading • Rolling & cutting fresh pasta • Sauce preparation • Stovetop safety • Plating • Table etiquette • Kitchen cleanup • Cooking from scratch

DAY 2 — Build It!

On Day 2, campers trade their aprons for safety gear as they learn the fundamentals of basic woodworking and hand-tool safety. Their challenge: turn individual pieces of wood into their own custom wooden treasure box.

Campers will practice using a tape measure and marking wood before learning how to safely use basic hand saws. They’ll saw, sand, align, hammer, and nail their pieces together, experiencing the entire building process from measurement to finished project. They'll finish by learning an equally important workshop skill—properly cleaning their workspace and putting away their tools.

Skills: Workshop safety • Hand-tool safety • Measuring & marking • Hand sawing • Sanding • Hammering & nailing • Alignment & assembly • Following a build sequence • Fine-motor skills • Problem-solving • Workshop organization

DAY 3 — Beat the Clock!

The final afternoon shifts from making things with their hands to learning one of the most useful everyday skills: how to manage time. Through games, races, and team challenges, campers will discover how estimating, prioritizing, and planning can make everyday tasks easier and more efficient.

They’ll test their internal clocks in a Time Estimation Challenge, use the “Rocks, Pebbles & Sand” strategy to learn how to tackle important tasks before smaller distractions, and work in teams to complete a building challenge using a limited budget of “time points.”

Finally, campers will put everything into action during the Morning Routine Speedrun, a playful obstacle-course-style challenge where they’ll first experience a chaotic routine and then reorganize it using their new planning strategies to see how much more efficiently they can complete it.

Skills: Time estimation • Prioritization • Planning • Sequencing • Time management • Strategic thinking • Decision-making • Teamwork • Problem-solving • Working under a deadline • Personal responsibility

By the end of the three-day camp, campers will have cooked something from scratch, built something with their own hands, and learned strategies for managing their time—three very different experiences connected by one goal: helping kids become more capable, independent, and confident.

Skills We’ll Explore

• Kitchen safety & cooking from scratch• Measuring, prepping & following directions• Fresh pasta & sauce making• Woodworking & hand-tool safety• Measuring, sawing, sanding & assembly• Planning, prioritizing & sequencing• Time management & organization• Teamwork & communication• Problem-solving & strategic thinking• Independence, responsibility & confidence

Camp Details

Dates: December 28–30, 2026

Camp: 1:00–4:00 PM

Drop-Off: 12:45–1:00 PM

Pickup: 4:00–4:15 PM

Location: The Makery Studios at the

Encino Retreat Center

4316 Lanai Rd, Encino, CA 91436

What to Bring

Please send your camper each day with a refillable water bottle and sunscreen already applied. All ingredients, cooking supplies, tools, safety equipment, and materials needed for camp activities are provided.

What to Wear

Campers should wear comfortable clothes that can handle a little mess and closed-toe shoes suitable for active, hands-on cooking and building activities.

Food & Allergies

Campers may taste, sample, and eat the foods they prepare throughout camp with parent/guardian authorization. Please disclose all allergies and dietary restrictions and complete the required camper forms before camp begins.

If your camper has an allergy or significant dietary restriction, one of our Camp Directors will reach out for a consultation to discuss your camper’s needs and the accommodations we can provide. While we will make reasonable efforts to accommodate allergies, our activities take place in a shared commercial kitchen and cross-contact is possible.

Booking & Cancellation

We know plans can change! Bookings may be cancelled within 24 hours of purchase for a full refund. If your camper has an allergy or dietary need and, after speaking with our Camp Director, you are not comfortable with the accommodations we can provide, the standard cancellation restrictions will be waived and the affected camp block will be fully refunded.

See our full Cancellation Policy & Terms & Conditions here.