FAD PAD: Summer Camps

FAD PAD 2025 Holiday & Summer Camps with Mary Ellen Hill are registering now. This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to be outside in a beautiful, magical setting, to move their bodies and do really fun, cooperative, creative activities in her magical backyard- complete with loquat tree, swings, hammock, fruit, herb and vegetable patches. For K-5th graders with 8 children maximum and 4 minimum.  Spring FAD PAD Holiday Camps are from 9:30-3:30 for K-5th. $100 per day. May 26, Monday, is Celebration Day! Celebrate the end of school, the FAD PAD’s 14th birthday with Harry Potter games, magical cookery, garden delights and a dance party! Summer Camps are M–F, 9:30a-3:30p, $500 per week. Starwitz : Harry Potter Camp Session 1: June 2-6, Session 2: June 9-13, Session 3: June 16-20. This summer we will cover Book 5 :”Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix”. Delving into the magical and imaginary realm of witches and wizards through art, play and drama. Some of the activities include: wands & spell work; the Sorting Hat, Hogsmeade, creating a patronus, attending the DA and the Department of Mysteries quest. Headmistress ME has been a Harry Potter fan since 1997! BOTBOT Camp (a bit of this & a bit of that) Session 4: June 30-July 4. Come and enjoy some FAD PAD favorites: cooking, gardening, sewing, storytelling and various art projects plus general goofing around! Mary Ellen has so many activities she likes to do with campers- she can’t choose just one! Fairy Camp: Session 5: July 14-18 & Session 6: July 21-25. Calling all fairy fans! Flower and tree fairies await your arrival!  Campers will make fairy houses using clay, paper, wood and fabric. We will also spend time playing, singing and dancing in a wide array of fairy costumes. Gardening and Cooking Camp (organic, GF & vegetarian): Session 7: August 4-8. Campers will learn about and harvest organic fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers and use them for yummy cooking projects. Basic gardening and cooking skills will be taught and all campers will brew their own tea each day. Mary Ellen has enjoyed creating recipes and trying them out since she was a youngster and is amazed when she can grow things in the garden. BOT BOT Camp (a bit of this & a bit of that- see above for details) Session 8: August 11-15.  ALSO, there are still openings at Adoptees Connecting Club (ACC) is on Saturdays from 1-5pm on March 15, April 19, May 10. Cost is $300. ACC is a fun, safe and creative place for adoptees, 7-14 years old. This club is for children who want to explore their adoption story in a supportive and playful way with other adopted children. Mary Ellen was adopted as an infant and has been exploring adoption in various creative ways for many years.  To find out more about the FAD PAD, go to: www.mehstories.com. The FAD PAD is located in Oakland, near 580 and Edwards Ave. Mary Ellen Hill has a Masters degree In Earth Justice, an Elementary Education degree, has been a professional storyteller since 1990 and has 40 years experience of teaching in a wide variety of settings. She worked at Adventure Time for 32 years, co-led Puppets and Pie, and has led FAD PAD creative camps for 13 years. She also is a professional Storyteller and enjoys telling stories for all ages at birthday parties, schools, and Harry Potter events as well.  Parties at your home, school or the FAD PAD can be arranged! Families say: "Mary Ellen has created a very special place for kids to be themselves while learning to be part of a community and having SO MUCH magical, dramatic and artistic fun." "Our son, age 9, had such a great time at camp yesterday! Thanks for creating such a joyous, creative space for the kids to play and learn. He said” this camp is a 10 out of 10!