Summer Day Camp in Canton, Michigan
Give your child a summer filled with adventure, friendship, and unforgettable experiences at Real Life Farm’s Summer Day Camp in Canton, Michigan. Designed for children ages 5–14, our camp offers a safe and welcoming environment where kids can unplug, explore the outdoors, and discover the joys of farm life.
Each day brings something new. Campers spend their time playing games, exploring nature, caring for animals, making crafts, and building friendships that last beyond the summer. Whether they’re riding horses, holding kittens, or running through our expansive property, children experience the freedom and excitement that only a real working farm can offer.
Our experienced staff creates a positive, family-style atmosphere where every camper feels welcomed, encouraged, and included. We believe summer should be filled with laughter, discovery, and the kind of memories kids carry with them for years.
For many local families, Real Life Farm has become a summer tradition—a place where children grow in confidence, try new things, and simply enjoy being kids.
If you’re looking for a fun, safe, and engaging summer camp in Canton, we’d love to welcome your family to Real Life Day Camp.
What makes Real Life Day Camp special?
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Daily interaction with farm animals
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Horseback riding lessons for all skill levels
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Outdoor adventures and nature exploration
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Games, crafts, and creative activities
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A safe, supervised environment with caring staff
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Programs designed for campers ages 5–14
Every day at camp is a chance to learn something new, build confidence, and make lasting memories.
Swimming on Mondays and Wednesdays (after lunch)
Twice each week, our campers travel by camp bus to Canton's Summit on the Park—a large indoor water park with a water slide, lazy river, zero-entry pool, and lap pool that gives plenty of room for children to exercise and play.
All children are welcome in the shallow end of the zero-entry pool, and other activities become available depending on your child's height and whether they pass a swim test to ensure they're safe.
Our own summer day camp staff joins alongside the Canton Summit lifeguard team to provide extra supervision.
Thursday Field Trips
Every Thursday, our Summer Day Campers enjoy a field trip to one of many locations within driving distance of the farm. Field trips include roller-skating, movies & bowling, the zoo, and more (for a specific schedule of field trips, see our camp schedule).
Our day campers are transported by professionally licensed drivers on school busses, and everyone wears one of our green camp t-shirts to ensure our group remains together. Bus rides are filled with laughter and camp songs, and kids love having a little variety in their week.
Friday Cookout Days
Instead of eating a typical packed sandwich lunch, campers gather with their age group and counselor around a campfire to cook part of their meal together. Older campers go to their respective forts in our woods, supervised by their camp counselors.
Campers are encouraged (but not required) to bring a hot dog and bun, hamburger patty wrapped in foil, or s’mores ingredients to cook over the fire. The rest of their lunch can be packed as usual. Camp provides condiments like ketchup and mustard, “bug juice,” and marshmallows (your kids are welcome to bring additional materials to make s'mores).
Cookout lunches give campers a chance to slow down, enjoy the outdoors, and share a fun experience with their friends and counselors. Sitting around the fire together is a simple tradition that captures the spirit of summer camp—good food, fresh air, and plenty of laughter.
Day Camp Daily Schedule:
7:00
Camp opens with animal care and barn play.
8:00–9:15
Horse program begins in the horse barn with feeding, grooming, and tacking up the horses. Other activities open as counselors arrive to supervise them. These activities may include Arts and Crafts, B.B. gun Range, Archery Range, Group Games and Playground activities, Back Barnyard, Animal Care and more. First time campers are given a tour of the farm by a counselor.
9:15–10:00
ROLL CALL...All campers and staff meet in the main eating area. Camper attendance is taken along with morning announcements.
10:00–10:30
Orientation for first time campers only. Rules of camp are explained during orientation along with fire and severe weather procedures.
10:00–11:50
ACTIVITIES RESUME: Beginner Horseback Riding Lessons, Animal Care, Arts and Crafts, Archery range, B.B. gun range, Group Games, Camp Crafts and Special Activities (see calendar of events)
11:50–12:00
Lunch horn sounds. Campers must wash hands, get lunches from the barn and meet in lunch area for a head count.
12:00–12:35
Mid day announcements are made, campers pray for lunch and eat in designated areas.
12:35–12:55
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Monday and Wednesday the campers have the option to ride the camp busses to Canton Summit to swim. After lunch, campers will either grab their swim gear and get on the busses, or meet in the main pavilion for "swim stay-back." Upper level horse back riders will meet at the horse corral. Another head count is done and the busses leave for the pool.
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On Thursdays the camp takes all the campers on a field trip. You can check the Calendar of Events to see what the field trip is each week. There is no "stay-back" option for field trip days. Thursday lunch schedules will vary depending on the time of the field trip. Schedules will be announced each week to parents and at Roll Call each day to the campers.
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On Tuesdays and Fridays we will not leave the farm property with the campers. When lunch is over, counselors will be dismissed first to open thier after lunch activities, followed by the campers. Fridays are also camp Cook-Out days. Campers will each lunch with their age group and counselor around a campfire. Campers are encouraged, but not required, to bring a hotdog, hamburger and/or s'mores ingredients to cook on the fire for lunch.
12:55–3:45
Campers Traveling to the Summit (Monday & Wednesday):
12:55–1:05
Travel to Summit Pool in Canton. Staying back from swim is an option. Parents must sign campers up for "Swim Stay Back" at drop off if the camper wishes to not go to the pool
1:05–1:30
Disembark...change into swim suits...shower...head count inside pool area...Swim test for all new campers and classify campers into swimming groups.
1:30–3:05
Swimming at the Summit pool in Canton. Regular buddy checks. A limited number of activities are open back on the farm for Swim Stay Back kids.
3:05–3:35
Exit pool...change clothes...load buses ...head count.
3:35–3:45
Travel back to camp.
Campers staying back from the Summit (Monday & Wednesday):
12:55–3:45
After a head count, staff will announce which activities are open during stay-back (since half the counselors will be at the Summit, not all areas are open during stay-back). Campers will be released to choose their activities.
Campers in the Horse Program-higher levels:
12:55–4:00
Campers will help take the horses to water, groom and tack them. Higher level riding lessons will be from 2:00-4:00 each day. After riding lessons campers will take horses back to the horse barn to untack them for the day and put them back in the pasture for the night.
Friday Schedule:
12:55–4:00
Cook out lunch may take longer than regular lunch time. After each group is done eating, counselors will report to their after lunch activities and campers will be released to choose an activity.
3:45–5:30
All campers are welcome to help untack and brush the horses before putting them back in the pasture for the night. Some more activities reopen as the counselors from the pool return. Parents pick up and sign out campers between 4:00–6:00 p.m. As counselors leave for the day, some activities will begin too close.
5:30–6:00
All outside activities are closed. Campers are required to be inside the Big Red Barn for the remainder of the camp day while they wait to be picked up.
6:00
Camp is closed...see you tomorrow!
2026 Summer Day Camp Tuition
Annual Registration Fee:
$50.00 per child
Tuition will be charged for all days your child is registered, even if your camper is unable to attend due to sickness or other reasons, unless you give us a TWO WEEK NOTICE of cancelling a day.
Tuition Rates for Summer 2026:
Tuition is based on how many days per week your child attends camp.
Weeks 1 – 12:
5 days: $ 310.00 - Plus $25 field trip fee.
4 days: $ 270.00 - Plus $25 field trip fee if child attends on a Thursday.
3 days: $ 225.00 - Plus $25 field trip fee if child attends on a Thursday.
2 days: $ 180.00 - Plus $25 field trip fee if child attends on a Thursday.
1 day: $ 90.00 - Plus $25 field trip fee if child attends on a Thursday.
Week 13 only:
Field trip fees are included in tuition this week as there will be a field trip each day. (We are closed on Thursday and Friday of week 13, so there are no 4 or 5 day rates listed.)
3 days: $ 270.00
2 days: $ 200.00
1 day: $ 110.00
* Field Trip Fee: An additional field trip fee will be added to weekly tuition if your child attends on a field trip day (Thursday). These fees are designed to cover the extra cost of the field trip, which includes (but is not limited to) bus rental, extra gas, and admission to the specific field trip. This fee does not cover extra elective costs to your camper, such as candy, snacks, arcade games, and souvenirs. If you would like your child to have extra spending money, you can come to the main floor of the barn during drop off any day of the week to add cash to your child's "camp bank." Field Trip Fees are $25.00 per child, per field trip, unless otherwise stated.
To see a list of the planned field trips, check out our Calendar of Events.
Please note: While it is rare, field trips are subject to change for reasons such as weather, availability, etc. Any changes will be made known to parents through the Parent Dashboard.
A LATE FEE OF $30.00 WILL BE ADDED TO LATE PAYMENTS.
THERE IS A $30.00 FEE FOR ANY RETURNED CHECKS.
Payments can be made on the online Parent Dashboard by credit card, or in-person with check or cash.
All payment are due by Monday at 9pm, ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE of the week your camper is scheduled for.
A service fee of 2.9% + $0.30 will be added to all credit card payments.
A 0.8% service fee will be added to all ACH online bank payments.