Rather than a schedule with pre-set activities, our weeks on the farm are dictated partially by the interests of the campers. Non-negotiable, however, are chores and meals. It’s where we collaborate to accomplish goals, i.e. running the farm and feeding camp, and provides structure to the days.
Chores happen before breakfast and dinner and meals are served at 8:15, noon, 3:15 and 6:15. After lunch is siesta / rest-time. So, each week we begin with a framework, show the kids all the possibilities, e.g. building, art, nature, and then allow for tweaks to the time and frequency. More important to us is that kids get their ABC’s:
A: Autonomous – We ask the campers all about what is interesting to them and then offer choices, based on these interests. B. Belonging: We welcome kids as they are and work to build community through fun. C. Competence: Kids learn how to do things by doing things that are interesting to them, and led by caring guides who might also be subject experts.
Note: We do our best to include campers in ‘food’ every day, either harvesting, cooking one of the meals, or taking part in a food workshop, e.g. making bread, pesto, pickles, etc. Wednesday is pizza-from-scratch day. Campers are also involved in caring for farm animals each day.
Some of what we did the last two summers and some of what we plan for this summer:
Construction project, e.g. mini garden boxes with cedar wood Survival Skills, like fire starting and foraging 101 Dino Egg Hunt (and Scavenger Hunt) Outdoor Cooking (over a fire) Mindfulness, Meditation & Yoga Drum Circles Boat Building Jewelry Making Cardboard and Duct Tape Games Chopping Wood Tie-Dye t-shirts or cooking aprons, with natural dyes Pressing flowers & constructing frames Nature art, e.g. charcoal sketch Nature hike, with path and map making Camp Drama Skit (& Thursday night Talent Show) Wooden spoon making Food Dioramas Mural Painting Homesteading with Deborah, e.g. sugar scrub, dryer balls Carpet weaving, with natural materials Solar oven construction and use Camp Olympics and Capture the Flag
Our activity options are often decided through group decision making. All activities are actively supervised (and taught) by at least one staff. We insist one camper’s behavior never take away from another camper’s experience, or endanger oneself or the community.
We understand (and celebrate) that each camper is different. Everything that happens at camp stems from: Why We Do What We Do
