The Pizza Project

The Pizza Project at-a-glance

Dates: July 27–30, 2026
Ages: Youth entering grades 8–10
Location: UWL Student Union
Format: The Pizza Project is a four-day, immersive summer program incorporating culinary and visual arts, business, marketing, entrepreneurship, and teamwork!

Turn Your Love for Pizza into a Business!

Do you love pizza? Have you ever dreamed of making your own perfect slice—or even selling it? Join The Pizza Project, where you’ll learn how to craft delicious pizzas from scratch and learn entrepreneurial skills such as idea development, branding, teamwork, and understanding how food-based ventures are created and managed.

Pizza Project youth camp participants pose in front of the 'pop-up' restaurant Stone Hearth Pizza

Pizza Project youth campers in a circle with hands united

The Pizza Project is a four-day, immersive summer program where students grow their culinary skills and entrepreneurial mindset through real-world, hands-on learning. Working side by side with University of Wisconsin–La Crosse instructors, students explore what it takes to start and run their own pizza restaurant—from brand creation to kitchen skills to serving the community.

🍕 Mornings: Build a Business Concept

Each morning, students focus on the business and creative side of a restaurant: shaping a vision, developing a brand, and learning how ideas turn into successful ventures.

🍕 Afternoons: Master the Art of Pizza

Afternoons are spent in the kitchen, where students learn how to craft great pizza while building essential job skills like teamwork, communication, and food safety.

🍕Grow Confidence Guided by Expert Mentors

UWL Professors and Staff with extensive experience as creative leaders both inside and outside the university will share their knowledge of marketing, communications, web design, social media, and graphic design.

Chef Mentor: Mitchel Weber, local chef and restauranteur, will take participants behind the scenes at his restaurant Osteria Emilia. Youth will practice their skills in a real restaurant while hearing advice and insight from Chef Mitchel about his path to becoming a chef and business owner.

🍕 Grand Finale: The Pizza Project Pop-Up

The experience culminates on the final day with The Pizza Project Pop-Up Restaurant, where students bring their pizza brands to life. Family, friends, and community members are invited to enjoy pizza during a showcase celebrating the creativity, skills, and confidence students developed throughout the week.

🔥 Are you ready to level up your pizza game? Sign up for The Pizza Project today! 🔥

What to Bring

Water bottle
Comfortable, close-toed shoes
Hair tie or clip if needed
Hat (optional)

Learning Through Connection

UWL Graduate & Extended Learning's goal for participants is to experience the full benefits of being present and engaged at this hands-on camp. Our vision is to create real-world connections and build a sense of community that extends outside the program. We recognize the positive impact of social connection in adolescence through its capacity to promote wellbeing and protect against a range of risks. We design youth programs as screen-free environments that prioritize actively engaged, shared experiences as a central part of our mission.

Be Here

Expectations

Graduate & Extended Learning youth programs strive to create an environment that encourages empathy along with accountability. All staff, volunteers, and participants will commit to the following expectations:

Respect the differences of participants, staff, and volunteers and will not discriminate against anyone else on the grounds of gender, race, sexual orientation, ability, or other identity
Report any incidents of bullying, abusive language, and dangerous or unlawful behavior to adults or supervisors immediately
Support and encourage all other program participants
Follow the directions of program staff, directors, and volunteers
Follow online safety and internet use policies and honor screen-free activities
Lead with respect and act with integrity

The Pizza Project 2026 Registration Fees
Registration type	Early discount by June 26	Register June 27 or later
Youth participant	$335	$370
Pizza Project Pop-Up Adult Guest Ticket (ages 18+)	$6	$6
Pizza Project Pop-Up Youth Guest Ticket (ages 17 and under)	$4	$4

Registration includes: Instruction, lunches, breaks, one guest ticket to the Pizza Project Pop-Up.

Pizza Project Student Participant Cancellation Policy
Substitutions are welcome. Full refund less $25 processing fee two weeks prior to event, no refunds thereafter. Cancellations must be submitted in writing to ex@uwlax.edu.

Pizza Project Pop-Up Ticket Cancellation Policy
Registration is final. Substitutions are welcome. Substitutions should be submitted in writing to ex@uwlax.edu.

Privacy Policy
Registration implies permission for photos, publicity and inclusion in a participant list, unless UWL Graduate & Extended Learning is notified in writing prior to the program at ex@uwlax.edu.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for students who may need financial assistance to make participation in summer youth programs possible.

Apply for a scholarship

Youth Health Form:
Required for participation

To ensure the health and safety of all children, each child must submit a health form prior to the event.

Health forms are available online
Submit your student's form at least 2 weeks prior to the event start date
Students who do not submit a form will not be allowed to participate

Summer youth program scholarships

Youth scholarships help make Graduate & Extended Learning summer programs accessible to more students by reducing financial barriers and opening the door to meaningful learning experiences.

Who are scholarships for?

Scholarships are available for students who may need financial assistance to make participation in summer youth programs possible.

How do I apply for a summer youth scholarship?

Complete the online application and include one of the following:

Option 1: A letter from the student (maximum of 300 words) explaining why they want to attend the program and what they hope to gain from the experience.
Option 2: A brief letter from a teacher, coach, supervisor, or mentor supporting the student's participation in the the program.

What happens after I submit the application?

Check your email - scholarship decisions will be sent via email 5 business days after submission
Scholarship recipients will be sent instructions on how to use the scholarship and register for their program

Reminders

Apply early, funds are limited
Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis

Questions?

Reach out to us at ex@uwlax.edu with any questions. We will do our best to work with you to address barriers to youth program participation.

Youth Health Form:
Required for participation

To ensure the health and safety of all children, each child must submit a health form prior to the event.

Health forms are available online
Submit your student's form at least 2 weeks prior to the event start date
Students who do not submit a form will not be allowed to participate

Guest Chef/Community Collaborator

Mitchel Weber

UWL Instructors

Ellen Cervantes

Kaylie Connaughty

Kenneth Graham

KJ Krzyzanowski

Lisa Lenarz

Dave Piro

Jake Speer

Nhouchee Yang

Support Graduate & Extended Learning Youth Programs

Contact KJ Krzyzanowski to learn more about supporting youth programs.

Fostering youth development

Young people thrive when they’re given opportunities to discover their potential through experiences that challenge, inspire, and help them grow. UWL youth programs create supportive, skill-building environments where participants develop confidence, learn meaningful skills, and engage with peers and caring adults as valued members of their community.

How this benefits the Driftless Region

UWL youth programs strengthen the Driftless Region by helping young people build skills, form positive relationships, and develop a strong sense of purpose. Through intentional activities, youth connect with supportive adults, student mentors, and community leaders who encourage their growth. This sense of connectedness is essential to effective youth development—and central to UWL’s commitment to reflect and uplift the voices of the community it serves.

Ways to support UWL Graduate & Extended Learning Youth Programs

Program Supplies: Donate new or gently used materials that can enhance youth learning and creativity. Contact program staff if you have items to offer.
Community Involvement: Share your expertise, serve as a guest speaker, or volunteer (pending approval). Community members play an important role in creating impactful experiences for youth.
Financial Support: Contribute to youth scholarships, program supplies, or other resources that reduce barriers to participation.
Supportive Adult: Encourage young people to be themselves and pursue their potential. Your mentorship can have a lasting impact.

Location

UWL Student Union

Student Union, UW-La Crosse, 521 East Avenue N, La Crosse, WI 54601

Pizza Project Drop-off/Pick-up Schedule
Description	Time	Parking Location
Drop-off: All days	8:30–9 a.m.	In the Farwell St. loading zone by the Student Union or lot C-12 across the street
Pick-up: July 27–29	3:30–4 p.m.	In the Farwell St. loading zone by the Student Union or lot C-12 across the street
Pick-up: July 30	3–3:30 p.m.	In the Farwell St. loading zone by the Student Union or lot C-12 across the street

The Pizza Project will meet each day in the UWL Student Union. Youth should enter the building through the Farwell St. entrance. Staff will meet youth participants in the lobby and lead them to the program headquarters.

The Pizza Project Pop-Up Restaurant
You must pay for parking if attending the Pizza Project Pop-Up Restaurant.

Parking Information

A parking permit is required in all UWL lots. Anyone who parks in the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse lots must purchase a permit or pay with the Passport Parking mobile app. Parking is not free anywhere on campus. Citations are issued to vehicles without a valid permit or who park longer than 15 minutes in a loading space.

Drop-off: July 27–30

From 8:30–9 a.m. each day complimentary parking is available for the Pizza Project student drop-off in Lot C-12.
- If you stay longer/arrive earlier, you must pay for parking.
- Parking can be paid using the Passport Parking app.
- The charge is $1/hour.

Pick-up: July 27–29

From 3:30–4 p.m. complimentary parking is available for The Pizza Project student pick-up in Lot C-12.
- If you stay longer/arrive earlier, you must pay for parking.
- Parking can be paid using the Passport Parking app.
- The charge is $1/hour.

Pizza Project Pop-Up Restaurant: 11:30a.m.–12:15 p.m., June 30

If you attend the Pizza Project Pop-Up, you must pay for parking
- Parking can be paid using the Passport Parking app.
- The charge is $1/hour.
- You will be prompted to enter the zone number that corresponds to the lot.
- The closest lots are: C-12, Ramp levels 1–3.

Pick-up: Thursday, July 30 - Pizza Project Pop-Up

From 3–3:30 p.m. complimentary parking is available for The Pizza Project student pick-up in Lot C-12.
- If you stay longer/arrive earlier, you must pay for parking.
- Parking can be paid using the Passport Parking app.
- The charge is $1/hour.