What ages can attend Holiday Camp?

This session is for children ages 3 to 9; campers must be toilet-independent.

Yes—homemade breakfast, lunch and a snack are included as part of the cooking experience; dietary needs can be accommodated with prior notice.

Where and when do we meet?

Meeting point is 1057 Hillcrest Road, Ridgewood, NJ 07450; camp runs 9:00am–3:00pm on the listed date(s).

Is the site accessible?

Yes, the program is wheelchair accessible; contact organizers ahead of time if you need specific accommodations.

How large are the groups?

Groups are intentionally small—space is limited to 16 children to ensure focused instruction.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation details were not provided in the listing; check the booking link or contact the organizer directly for current policies.

Hands-on Holiday Camp for Kids in Ridgewood: Cooking, Composting & Nature Hikes | Cooking Class | Hiking

At HealthBarn’s Holiday Camp in Ridgewood, New Jersey, kids ages 3–9 spend a full day learning to cook, garden, compost and hike on a small patch of Eastern deciduous woodland just off a suburban street. Meeting at 1057 Hillcrest Road, Ridgewood, NJ 07450, this one-day drop-in (9:00am–3:00pm) combines hands-on kitchen lessons with an outdoor curriculum built around local oak and maple groves, pollinator-friendly gardens and short nature trails. The program—celebrating 20 years of healthy-lifestyle education—keeps groups intentionally small (maximum 16 campers) so instructors can guide each child through age-appropriate tasks: measuring ingredients, tending soil, identifying common backyard plants and getting comfortable with composting. Homemade breakfast, lunch and a snack are included as part of the cooking experience; staff accommodate dietary needs with advance notice. Tuition is $135 for one day or $250 for two days, and a sibling discount is available. The core features set this camp apart from a typical day-care offering. The on-site teaching kitchen is practical and bright, stocked with kid-sized tools and recipes designed to expand palates. Outside, a compact teaching garden and a composting station make soil health visible: kids dig, plant and see where food waste goes. Short guided hikes through suburban woodlots introduce learners to the Eastern deciduous forest ecosystem—think red oak and sugar maple, songbirds and busy pollinators—on easy, stroller-friendly paths. The program is wheelchair accessible. Practical details matter: campers must be able to use the bathroom independently and should be dressed in layers for indoor and outdoor activities. Packing suggestions include a reusable water bottle, rain boots or shoes that can get wet, and an apron if your child wants to wear one during cooking. Space is limited; early booking is recommended. Sessions are led by professional instructors who balance safety, skill-building and fun, and each camper leaves with printed recipes and simple steps parents can use to recreate dishes at home. The camp’s limit of 16 children preserves a warm learning atmosphere and allows instructors to tailor tasks to ages three through nine. With homemade meals, composting education and short, low-impact hikes through local woodlots, Holiday Camp turns a single school day into practical outdoor education that supports healthy habits year-round and confidence.

Difficulty

easy.

Duration

6 hours (9:00am–3:00pm).

Fitness level

Children should be comfortable walking short distances and able to use the bathroom independently.

Wildlife

white-tailed deer
eastern gray squirrel

History

HealthBarn is celebrating 20 years of offering healthy-lifestyle education to children in the Ridgewood area.

Conservation

The program emphasizes composting, reducing food waste and teaching low-impact trail etiquette to protect neighborhood woodlots.

HealthBarn USA is a Ridgewood, New Jersey–based farm and education organization that runs hands-on cooking, gardening, and youth programs focused on healthy eating, seasonal produce, and outdoor learning. It offers a range of workshops and camps for children and families, including spring break camps, multi-week summer Seedlings camps (5- and 10-week options), age-targeted classes such as Sprouts and Seedlings, youth Master Chefs for ages 12 and up, Pollinators sessions, and specialized workshops like Fruit & Nut Tree Basics. Programs combine organic gardening in an on-site garden, a spacious patio kitchen for outdoor cooking, and classroom instruction to teach planting, harvesting, meal preparation, and nutrition. Camp experiences list homemade meals and hands-on cooking where participants prepare seasonal dishes, practice safe knife techniques, and build kitchen confidence. The Fruit & Nut Tree Basics workshop, led by expert Peter Namuj, covers planting, care, and pruning for trees suited to USDA zones 6–7, including figs and pomegranates, and highlights the community orchard at Irene Habernickel Family Park. HealthBarn USA structures programs by age and skill level, serving children ages 4–12 in many camps and adolescents in advanced chef tracks. Sessions emphasize experiential learning, seasonal food literacy, and outdoor safety. All program descriptions reflect scheduled offerings and curriculum themes, focusing on gardening, cooking, creativity, and healthful eating in Ridgewood and the surrounding area. Schedule details, session dates, and registration information are published with each program listing so families can choose sessions that fit their calendars. Updated seasonally.

Base locationRidgewood, New Jersey

Tours offered21+

Specialtyland-adventures

StewardshipLeave No Trace