As Farm Camp 2024 concludes, we reflect on a season filled with learning, work, and community. The camp brought together campers of various ages and backgrounds, all eager to engage with farming and nature. Each moment was packed with hands-on activities and valuable lessons. We can’t wait to see what next summer brings! A big thank you to our staff, families, and sponsors that made this summer possible!
Month 1
June kicked off with great energy and support from our Leaders in Training (LITs). One of our LITs, Current, was awesome in helping campers with our horses. Campers had the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of horse care, including brushing their coats and walking them. We were thrilled to see our young campers show their bravery, and we couldn’t be more proud of them! Bella and Lucky, our cow and pig, were showered with attention and enjoyed plenty of fresh veggies from our enthusiastic campers.
In our garden, campers planted sunflower seeds in the plant bed, and we are excited to share that these sunflowers have now grown to be twice the height of some of the kids! Despite the incredibly warm temperatures, our campers’ spirits remained high. The heat also inspired us to make plenty of refreshing strawberry popsicles, a perfect treat for the sunny days. Our kitchen was bustling with activity as campers learned to make tortillas from scratch, a delicious snack perfect for our hiking adventures. Another favorite was making sourdough starters, and we hope your campers have enjoyed their sourdough at home
Month 2
Before we knew it, July arrived, marking the halfway point of camp. This summer we partnered with Pajaro Valley Unified School District to hold 40 spots for their students, making this July our busiest yet. It was so fun to see new friendships form and old friendships coming back together for another summer at Farm Camp. Our garden became a hub of excitement as campers got curious about the little critters living there. They were fascinated by the tiny snails and frogs, even starting a fun little “Snail Club”.
In the kitchen, campers harvested summer squash and strawberries to bake some delicious treats. Be sure to check out our camper-guided zucchini muffin recipe! With the abundance of fruit, we also made fresh juice. Orange juice was the favorite, but everyone enjoyed using the apple press. We’re excited to invite camper families back in the fall for our Apple Palooza! One of the highlights of the month was our group field day. Campers competed in various field games like the egg carry, showing off their team spirit in matching colors. Congratulations to the winning groups! Despite the heat, everyone had a blast, cooling off with quick runs through the sprinklers. Face painting was a camp favorite, with popular requests ranging from Minecraft characters and Hello Kitty to mustaches, butterflies, mushrooms, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.