Education is a common career in the Holy Trinity community, and Craig & Melissa Horejsi are no different. The Horejsi’s have combined their training and love for Special Education with a unique opportunity on their farm. Camp Butterscotch offers education about agriculture to people of all ages and abilities. This week, everyone is invited to an open house at Camp Butterscotch on Wednesday, August 14 from 5:30 – 8 pm at the Horejsi Farm (4650 Farwell Ave, Webster).
Craig, Melissa, and their daughter, Ella, have been members of Holy Trinity for about 16 years. In the past, Melissa was very involved with youth programming, serving as a Sunday School teacher, VBS leader, Middle School Youth Group coordinator, and Confirmation Small Group Leader. Melissa currently participants in Bell Choir, Altar Guild, and Worship Assistant, and is a member of the Racial Justice Committee. Craig serves as a Worship Assistant. Melissa adds, “We consider ourselves ‘seasonal’ and aren’t around much in the summer.” As a lifelong animal lover, Melissa also volunteered with her local 4-H Club, the Wheatland Wheaties.
During her summers off from school, Melissa would occasionally let her students’ families come and meet the animals. “We wanted to make our farm a place where more people could do that and be engaged. So we started the non-profit and grew from there.” For over ten years, the Horejsi family has run Camp Butterscotch on their farm. A federally-approved non-profit organization since 2014, Camp Butterscotch got its name from Ella’s “super cute farm cat named Butterscotch.”
Camp Butterscotch combines Craig and Melissa’s commitment to Special Education and their love for animals of all kinds. “We felt called to provide a place where any person of any ability level can learn about agriculture in their own space and time. We have no age limit and no ability limits. Our goal is to allow small groups of individuals to take whatever time they need to get comfortable with what we have to offer. Even if it is just to sit and listen or be able to relax in a different environment, our goal is to provide a spot where people can be comfortable engaging with the natural world,” Melissa reports.
In the fall of 2015, Craig, Melissa, and Ella were featured in the magazine, “Acres: Innovative Country Living” for their unique Camp Butterscotch.
Craig, Melissa, and their daughter, Ella, have been members of Holy Trinity for about 16 years. In the past, Melissa was very involved with youth programming, serving as a Sunday School teacher, VBS leader, Middle School Youth Group coordinator, and Confirmation Small Group Leader. Melissa currently participants in Bell Choir, Altar Guild, and Worship Assistant, and is a member of the Racial Justice Committee. Craig serves as a Worship Assistant. Melissa adds, “We consider ourselves ‘seasonal’ and aren’t around much in the summer.” As a lifelong animal lover, Melissa also volunteered with her local 4-H Club, the Wheatland Wheaties.
During her summers off from school, Melissa would occasionally let her students’ families come and meet the animals. “We wanted to make our farm a place where more people could do that and be engaged. So we started the non-profit and grew from there.” For over ten years, the Horejsi family has run Camp Butterscotch on their farm. A federally-approved non-profit organization since 2014, Camp Butterscotch got its name from Ella’s “super cute farm cat named Butterscotch.”
Camp Butterscotch combines Craig and Melissa’s commitment to Special Education and their love for animals of all kinds. “We felt called to provide a place where any person of any ability level can learn about agriculture in their own space and time. We have no age limit and no ability limits. Our goal is to allow small groups of individuals to take whatever time they need to get comfortable with what we have to offer. Even if it is just to sit and listen or be able to relax in a different environment, our goal is to provide a spot where people can be comfortable engaging with the natural world,” Melissa reports.
In the fall of 2015, Craig, Melissa, and Ella were featured in the magazine, “Acres: Innovative Country Living” for their unique Camp Butterscotch.
Experiences at Camp Butterscotch are customized to each group. Melissa explains, “There is no typical week for us. It all depends on our availability and what we can focus on. We are completely volunteer-run. As a non-profit, we have a board of directors (who are volunteers) and volunteers who are “animal experts” and general helpers for different events. We are unique because we tailor every event for the people who attend. We offer open house-style events for the public where anyone can stop by between certain hours, or private events of various sizes. Some events are larger like the one we are holding for Holy Trinity, and some are as small as a family who 
has a need. We have held week-long camps in the summer where kids can sign up for a spot and learn about a different animal/agriculture area each day. We rarely take the animals off the farm for events so bringing them for VBS this year was something we don’t usually do. Our church family is special, so I made an exception.”
Visitors to Camp Butterscotch meet cows, sheep, goats, rabbits, and chickens. “We have sensory gardens, yard and table games, and we try to have an activity that each person can bring home depending on the season. In the spring, we send people home with a potted plant, in the summer, we might paint rocks or send home some of our herbs and veggies from the sensory gardens, and in the fall, we have pumpkins and gourds (our leftovers often end up as decor for the Holy Trinity’s entry doors). All of our animals are people-friendly and are handled by ‘animal experts’ – people who know about them to answer questions and will handle the animal for people. It is definitely not a petting zoo – it’s an individualized and educational experience,” Melissa shares. A bonus is Melissa’s favorite activity, snuggling all of the animals!
Camp Butterscotch also has several great “Instagram-worthy” photo op areas, including Betty, the tractor. See the video Melissa submitted to win Betty 12 years ago.
Melissa concludes, “The bottom line is we love nature, animals, living in the country, and sharing our privilege of living here with others. We want people to feel comfortable learning about animals, knowing where your food comes from, and to experience living on a hobby farm.”
has a need. We have held week-long camps in the summer where kids can sign up for a spot and learn about a different animal/agriculture area each day. We rarely take the animals off the farm for events so bringing them for VBS this year was something we don’t usually do. Our church family is special, so I made an exception.”Visitors to Camp Butterscotch meet cows, sheep, goats, rabbits, and chickens. “We have sensory gardens, yard and table games, and we try to have an activity that each person can bring home depending on the season. In the spring, we send people home with a potted plant, in the summer, we might paint rocks or send home some of our herbs and veggies from the sensory gardens, and in the fall, we have pumpkins and gourds (our leftovers often end up as decor for the Holy Trinity’s entry doors). All of our animals are people-friendly and are handled by ‘animal experts’ – people who know about them to answer questions and will handle the animal for people. It is definitely not a petting zoo – it’s an individualized and educational experience,” Melissa shares. A bonus is Melissa’s favorite activity, snuggling all of the animals!
Camp Butterscotch also has several great “Instagram-worthy” photo op areas, including Betty, the tractor. See the video Melissa submitted to win Betty 12 years ago.
Melissa concludes, “The bottom line is we love nature, animals, living in the country, and sharing our privilege of living here with others. We want people to feel comfortable learning about animals, knowing where your food comes from, and to experience living on a hobby farm.”
Visit Camp Butterscotch!
All are welcome to an open house at Camp Butterscotch on
Wednesday, August 14
5:30 – 8 pm
Horejsi Farm
4650 Farwell Ave, Webster
Bring a picnic dinner and your favorite camp chair or blanket. There will be a fun scavenger hunt to visit everything on the farm as well as rock painting, yard games, puzzles, and card games. Sarah’s Stable Eats will be providing FREE cotton candy and ice cream. Come to learn more about this new, woman-owned business!
All are welcome to an open house at Camp Butterscotch on
Wednesday, August 14
5:30 – 8 pm
Horejsi Farm
4650 Farwell Ave, Webster
Bring a picnic dinner and your favorite camp chair or blanket. There will be a fun scavenger hunt to visit everything on the farm as well as rock painting, yard games, puzzles, and card games. Sarah’s Stable Eats will be providing FREE cotton candy and ice cream. Come to learn more about this new, woman-owned business!
Written by Karen Taylor, Communications Manager
August 8, 2024
