What is Save The Planet Summer Camp?

Save The Planet Summer Camp is an educational experience that engages kids in eco-education & action! The Orlando summer camp includes supplies and activities related to Florida nature, environmental sustainability & how YOU can save the planet! All tuition proceeds directly fund environmental action projects in the areas of energy, water, food, waste, and ecology.

This summer camp is led by environmentalists from IDEAS For Us, a 501(c)(3) non-profit accredited by the United Nations. IDEAS has developed and implemented thousands of eco-action projects across its 12 global branches. One of the most popular IDEAS For Us programs is Fleet Farming, a Florida-based urban agriculture program that has created 43+ school gardens & hundreds of commercial and residential edible landscapes.

Not Your Typical Summer Camp!

Through this camp, not only does your child get to learn about the natural world and how we can be great stewards of this planet, but you also get to have a tangible, positive impact on the planet. The funds generated by this summer camp go towards eco-action projects including: tree plantings, shoreline restorations, edible gardens, waste cleanups, and more…all led by IDEAS For Us!

This summer camp is led by Environmentalists from IDEAS For Us, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that has developed thousands of eco-action projects in its 12 branches around the world. One of those projects, Fleet Farming, is an urban agriculture program that has created 43+ school gardens & hundreds of edible gardens.

Summer Camp Staff

Caroline Chomanics

Summer Camp Founder

Caroline Chomanics is a passionate horticulturalist in the Central Florida community with a Degree in Landscape and Horticulture Technology from Valencia College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainable Urbanism from Rollins College. Caroline is Program Director of Fleet Farming and Chief Operations Officer of IDEAS For Us. She was Horticultural Specialist and Live-In Caretaker of Nehrling Gardens, a historic botanical garden in Gotha, Florida, for four years. For seven years, Caroline taught Gardening, Nature Studies, Marine Biology and Herbalism at Inspiring Minds Day School.

Kellie Antonowicz

Summer Camp Director

Kellie Antonowicz is an avid adventurer with a passion for Florida native wildlife and plants. She is an alumni of Florida State University, where she graduated with her degree in Environmental Science and Biology. Previously, Kellie has worked at the Tallahassee Museum, where she helped to care for and educate the public on wildlife native to the Big Bend area as well as leading their educational programs and summer camps. She currently leads the Education Department at IDEAS For Us and oversees many educational programs such as Neighborhood Naturalist and the ACE School Garden club.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Counselor Required Background Checks & More:
Each counselor is required to undergo a criminal background check and judge of character check. For further health and safety, they are also required to be CPR trained and must have previous experience in both childcare services and professional educator training.

Parent / Guardian Involvement:
Parents / Guardians are allowed to “pop-in” at any time to aid in overseeing their child. IDEAS For Us has a rule that no parent, guardian, or volunteer may be left with a child by themselves for proper liability and ethics for the child’s safety unless they are the registered contact for that child. All visitors will be required to sign in and must be registered prior to view activities with direct permission from the parent / guardian.

Student/Counselor Ratio:
IDEAS For Us seeks to make sure that every child receives the proper attention for the best experience of Save The Planet Summer Camp possible. Our student to counselor ratio is 1 counselor per 15 children.

Does this summer camp offer field trips?
No, this camp is located 100% at our venue of Audubon Park Covenant Church. All of our lessons, games, activities, and crafts are located inside and outside, as we have a farm in the backyard full of vegetables. We will be going outside to play games while staying within the grassy areas of this location. Camp counselors will be surrounding the students, making sure that all eyes are on the children for their safety and keeping children away from the quiet neighborhood streets.

How long has this summer camp been operating?
This Orlando summer camp was created in 2019 by Summer Camp Director Caroline Chomanics as she was inspired by her students from her Florida Ecology, Marine Biology, & Garden programming at Inspiring Minds Day School, where she taught for 7 years. Their wild imaginations, targeted questions, and extraordinary love for the environment gave Caroline the drive and ideas to create the best summer camp in Florida for nature lovers! The summer camp was cancelled in 2020 due to the height of the pandemic and was operated in 2021 for middle and high school students. This summer, we are SO excited to offer this amazing camp – years in the making–for children aged 3 through 8. It is an honor and a privilege to inspire these important minds to help save the planet in the most positive way possible!

Questions? Please email us directly at: contact@ideasforus.org.

Directions:

This summer camp is located at Audubon Park Covenant Church (a venue, not an affiliated partner) located at 3219 Chelsea St, Orlando, FL 32803, which is 15 minutes from Downtown Orlando, 10 minutes from Leu Gardens, and 5 minutes from East End Market. Check out more driving suggestions from your location with Google Maps via this link.