With so many different types of summer camps to chose from, it makes finding the best camp for your kid a challenge. So to make it easier, we put together a list of the best camps for kids who love animals! From horses to hens, and everything in between, here’s your guide to farm (and zoo) animal camps in Metro Detroit.

Blake’s Appleseed Camp (Armada)

Appleseed camp is a three day summer camp that offers an opportunity to educate children about agriculture and farming while providing the fun and unique opportunity to explore the outdoors, meet new friends, discover new interests and create memories that last a lifetime. There’s so much to do at camp including learning about growing crops, planting vegetables, daily crafts, playtime at Funland, visiting animals and learning to make donuts!

• Dates: June 15 – August 12
• Time: 8am to 4pm
• Cost: $225 ($200 for additional siblings)
• Ages: 5 – 11

Bowers Farm School Camp (Bloomfield Hills)

At Bowers Farm School campers will spend the day on the farm, engaging in sustainable gardening, animal care, and exploring 80+ acres of farmland. Each day, time is spent cooking and preparing fresh snacks in the kitchen, strengthening the connection between agriculture and everyday food choices. Each week is themed differently but all weeks offer campers the opportunity for animal interactions, garden time and cooking our freshly harvested food, and a camper choice period!

• Dates: June 21 – August 23
• Time: 9am to 4pm
• Cost: $150 – $425
• Ages: 3 – 14

Carousel Acres Farm Day Camp (South Lyon)

During their stay at Carousel Acres Farm, campers will learn about farm living including animal care, gardening, cooking, make unique crafts and ride ponies every day. Each day will be filled with fun and adventure to form lasting memories. Carousel Acres offers 1-week long sessions and you may sign up for as many sessions as you like.

• Dates: June 14 – September 3
• Time: 9:30am to 3pm
• Cost: $180 per week or $50 daily (discounts available for siblings and multiple weeks)
• Ages: 5-11

Cedar Ridge Equestrian Center Summer Camp (Ann Arbor)

From horse painting to four-corners to worksheets, campers time is spent with the horses at Cedar Ridge Equestrian Center. Participants will have fun learning all the aspects of riding and horse care. The children will be spit up into groups by experience and will ride twice a day.

• Dates: June  – August
• Time: 6am to 4pm
• Cost: $285 per week or $65 daily (discounts available for siblings and multiple weeks)

Howell Nature Center (Howell)

Specialty Day Camps offer a perfect mix of specialized programming for half of each camp day and classic camp fun for the other half. Themes include Lil’ Zookeepers, Bushcraft Survival and Critter Keepers.

• Dates: June – August
• Time: 7:30am to 6pm
• Cost: $240-$270
• Ages: 5-17

Detroit Zoo Zookeeper Camp (Royal Oak)

Zookeeper Camps introduce campers to the needs of animals and the complexities of animal care. Campers have the opportunity to explore all types of animals and learn about their health, behavior, nutrition and welfare. All camps include an interaction with a member of the animal care staff for an authentic experience and insider information. Each Zookeeper Camp will end with a Safari Camp Showcase on Friday afternoon, giving caregivers a chance to view their camper’s work.

• Dates: June – August
• Time: 7:30am to 6pm
• Cost: $165 – $430
• Ages: 5-13

Humane Society of Huron Valley Camp PAWS (Ann Arbor)

The PAWS camp program involves humane education lessons on many topics depending on the session and age group. Some past topics have been pet photography, animal communication, bird identification and wildlife conservation. Participants will also visit with adoptable animals each day, provide enrichment and training with shelter animals and enjoy presentations from local rescue organizations.

• Dates: June 7 – August 27
• Time: 9am to 5pm
• Cost: $305
• Ages: 4-15

Kensington Farm Center Farm Camp (Milford)

Farm Camp offers your child the opportunity to work, learn and have fun on a working farm. Experience agriculture up close by interacting with the farm animals, helping with farm chores, and taking part in a variety of “ag-ventures”. Each day will offer a new adventure with activities such as: hikes (with goats!) and scavenger hunts; craft projects such as candle-dipping, pierced tin, and paper mache; pioneer life experiences like barn-raising, rope skills, or playing old-fashioned games; milking a cow or goat; or grooming and harnessing draft horses before going for a horse-drawn hayride.

• Dates: Begins June 15
• Time: 9am to 3pm
• Cost: $30 per day/$175 per week
• Ages: 8-13

Maybury Farm Farm Camp (Northville)

Farm Camp is a three-day camp filled with exciting experiences designed to engage and educate kids about all things farming! Held entirely outdoors, campers will enjoy learning about the care and function of animals on the farm, the cycle of planting, growing and harvesting by helping out in the Farm Garden, hiking along our forest trails learning about native Michigan plants and crops, playing team-building games, making crafts and much more!

• Dates: June 22 – August 20 (4-day week options)
• Time: 9am to 4pm
• Cost: $215
• Ages: 5-11

MSU Tollgate Farm Summer Camp (Novi)

Summer camp at MSU Tollgate is a fun and enriching opportunity to experience the natural world hands-on. With 160 beautiful farm and forest acres, our camps offer the best in farm and food, discovery science, and natural resource exploration. Each week campers also engage in fun, farm-based activities such as harvesting garden produce to prepare tasty snacks, caring for the animals, a week long STEAM challenge, and exploring 40 acres of woodland. Other activities vary depending on the camp week and may include archery, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, building, sleeping out under the stars, and more!

• Dates: July 5 – August 27
• Time: 9am to 4pm
• Cost: $310 – $350
• Ages: 5-14

Wildwind Equestrian Center (South Lyon)

Wildwind Equestrian Center’s summer horse camp is more than a way to fill a summer day; it’s a chance for a horse-crazy student to spend an entire week with horses. Why do kids come to horse camp? To ride, and we provide more riding time than anyone else. We have 27 well-trained horses and ponies to meet all our rider’s needs.

• Dates: June 15 – September 4
• Time: 9am to 3pm
• Cost: $400 (multiple week discount)
• Ages: 7-16

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