Farm Camp Blog Aug 4 - Aug 8
🌿 Thursday at Camp: Adventure Day in the Farm & the Forest 🌳🍕
Thursday was a full-circle kind of day at Bowers Farm — where nature, agriculture, food, and fun came together for one unforgettable adventure. From early morning farm chores to forest exploration, garden-to-table cooking, and hands-on science in the soil, our campers truly got their boots dirty and their brains buzzing!
🌞 Morning Chores & Farm Life
We began the day with a little bit of hard work and a whole lot of heart. Campers helped feed animals, muck stalls, and collect freshly laid eggs. But farm chores aren't just about work — they’re full of agricultural science lessons, too!
We talked about ruminant digestion while feeding the goats and cows.
Campers learned how hens turn feed into protein-rich eggs, and why nutrition matters for animal health.
Our Farmers-in-Training (FIT) teens had a huge task: unloading hay into the barn’s hayloft. As they stacked bales high (and maybe jumped into a few for fun!), we discussed the role of hay as a dry forage, why proper storage is key to preventing mold, and how weather and harvest timing impact hay quality. Agriculture is full of chemistry and biology — and hay is more than just horse food!
🍕 Garden Kitchen: Farm Fresh Pizza!
After chores, we headed to the Garden Kitchen for — farm-fresh pizza making! Campers picked their own tomatoes, basil, and other toppings from the garden beds and greenhouse.
We discussed the photosynthesis process behind each plant.
Kids learned about companion planting, organic pest control, and how different vegetables need unique care.
While prepping dough, we dove into the science of yeast and fermentation — how tiny microbes help our dough rise!
Who knew that cooking could be such a delicious science lab?
🐐 Animal Visits: Farm Friends & Learning Moments
Our animal stations were full of cuddles, questions, and curiosity. Whether brushing the goats or checking for eggs in the chicken coop, every camper became a little more fluent in the language of livestock.
We explored:
The life cycle of a laying hen and how daylight affects egg production.
How goats’ pupils adapt to light and why their split hooves are perfect for climbing.
The difference between ruminant and monogastric digestion in animals.
Our campers weren't just meeting animals — they were thinking like junior farmers and animal scientists!
🌲 Into the Woods: Forest Exploration & Teamwork
By mid-morning, we headed into the shady, magical woods of Bowers Farm for Adventure Day in the Forest! This is where nature meets outdoor education in the best possible way.
Campers rotated through a variety of hands-on activities:
🧗♀️ Low ropes & team-building games: Using balance, strategy, and teamwork, campers practiced problem-solving, communication, and leadership.
🎨 Nature art: With sticks, leaves, pinecones, and mud as their tools, campers explored patterns in nature and the concept of biomimicry — using nature’s designs for human inspiration!
🛖 Shelter building: From lean-tos to log teepees, kids used engineering skills and discussed how animals build shelters for survival.
🔥 S'mores over the fire — because every good outdoor day needs a sweet, sticky ending!
Meanwhile, the Purple and Red Peppers groups embraced storytime and food science with Stone Soup, exploring how flavor builds layer by layer — and how communities can come together through food. And yes — Purple Peppers and FIT campers even managed to sneak in a peaceful horseback ride through the woods, learning about equine communication and trail safety.
🌱 Garden Science with the Barnyard Buddies
Our youngest campers, the Barnyard Buddies, took a deep dive into plant science with a visit to the Production Garden. With hands in the soil, we explored the question: "What's growing?"
🌿 We harvested:
Kale (learned about its nutrient density and leaf structure),
Cucumbers (discussed pollination and flower-to-fruit transformation),
And bright orange carrots (a great chance to talk about root vegetables and soil health).
Campers read the story "Too Many Carrots!", then did a real-life carrot tasting. With big thumbs up, we turned our harvest into:
Smoothies using kale and fruit (a lesson in nutrition & photosynthesis),
Crunchy pickles made from fresh cucumbers (which sparked conversations about fermentation and food preservation).
We wrapped up with a wagon ride to a picnic lunch, followed by a seed scavenger hunt, where campers discovered different ways plants spread — wind, water, animals, and gravity — and collected seed pods to take home.
💬 Reflections & Farm Magic
By the end of the day, everyone — from tiniest Barnyard Buddies to seasoned FIT teens — had made memories, gained new knowledge, and maybe even discovered a future passion for agriculture, animal science, or environmental stewardship.
It was a Thursday filled with:
🧠 Learning through play
💪 Strength through teamwork
🌱 Curiosity in every corner
🍕 Food that fuels and teaches
❤️ And lots of laughs that echo through the fields and forests
🐎 Horse Camp Highlights: Trotting, Barn Design & Horse Health!
This week at Horse Camp has been packed with hands-on learning, barnyard creativity, and lots of horse-powered fun! Our campers have spent their days in the saddle, at the drawing table, and even on the frontlines of equine care — becoming more confident and knowledgeable with each passing day.
🐴 Riding Into Confidence: Trotting Practice!
One of the biggest milestones this week: TROTTING! Campers who had mastered their balance at the walk got the chance to take it up a notch with rising trot (posting) and sitting trot exercises.
We practiced keeping a steady rhythm, rising with the horse's diagonal step.
Riders learned how to stay balanced through their core and soft in their hands.
For many campers, this was their first time trotting — and the smiles said it all!
Instructors guided each rider at their own pace, with encouragement, support, and plenty of cheers from the group. Everyone took big steps (and trots!) toward becoming more skilled and confident equestrians.
🏗️ Build-A-Barn: Creative Planning Meets Real Farm Function
In between riding sessions, campers rolled up their sleeves and let their imaginations gallop free in our Barn Design Challenge!
Each camper (or group) designed their own dream horse barn — and they had to think like real barn managers:
What type of barn? Center aisle? Shed row? Lean-to?
How many stalls? (And don't forget to leave room for the horses to turn around!)
Tack room or feed room? Or both?
Wash stall? Heated water for winter?
Water buckets, windows, ventilation — so many things to consider!
Campers used graph paper, rulers, markers, and even some 3D building supplies to sketch or build their barns. The results were impressive — and full of creativity and problem-solving. Some even added round pens, trails, hay lofts, and fun extras like a horse treat bakery or barn cats' lounge!
🔬 Horse Science: Vitals, Height & Weight
Yesterday, we put on our lab coats (okay, maybe just our thinking caps!) and dove into the science of horse health. Campers became junior veterinarians, learning how to take a horse’s vital signs and assess its overall condition.
Temperature: Campers learned the normal temperature range for a healthy horse (99–101°F) and how to safely use a thermometer.
Pulse & Respiration: We located pulse points and counted breaths, comparing results between horses after rest and activity.
Capillary Refill Time & Hydration Checks: By pressing on a horse’s gums and doing the "pinch test," we explored how to monitor hydration levels.
Height & Weight Estimation: Using height sticks and weight tapes, campers measured their horse’s height in hands and estimated body weight — learning how important these measurements are for feeding, vet care, and equipment fitting.
Campers even discussed why knowing a horse’s body condition score matters for overall health. These hands-on experiences sparked thoughtful questions and built a deeper understanding of what it takes to keep horses healthy and happy.
🧠 What We’re Learning:
Every part of horse camp — from grooming to riding to health checks — builds knowledge and responsibility. This week, campers are learning:
Equine anatomy & body systems
Balance, communication, and confidence in the saddle
Design thinking through barn planning
Scientific observation and animal care
And of course, how to treat horses with respect, patience, and kindness — the heart of any great horseperson.
🐾 Wrapping Up With Whinnies & Wisdom
It’s been a week full of new experiences, personal growth, and lots of neighs. We’re so proud of all our campers for trying new things, helping each other, and taking amazing care of their four-legged friends.
Stay tuned for more updates as we head into the final days of camp. There’s more to learn, more to ride, and plenty more hay to get in our boots!
Until then — happy trotting! 🐎💚
🐓🧼 Wednesday on the Farm: Animal Science & Baa-rilliant Experiments!
Wings, Wool, Jeopardy, and a Whole Lot of Learning
Midweek at Farm Camp means our campers are hitting their stride — more confident, more curious, and more connected to the land and animals around them. Wednesday’s focus? Animal science! From feathers to fleece and everything in between, campers became junior scientists today, exploring what makes farm animals so amazing and how we can work with them in fun and sustainable ways.
Let’s just say, things got fluffy, foamy, and even a little egg-splosive in the best way possible!
🧠 Morning Brain Warm-Up: Farm Jeopardy!
We kicked off the day with a spirited round of Farm Jeopardy, complete with categories like:
“Who Laid That Egg?”
“Woolly Facts”
“Feathered Friends”
“What’s That Animal Sound?”
“STEM on the Farm”
Campers worked in teams to test their knowledge about animals, farming, and fun facts we’ve learned so far. Did you know that chickens can have over 8,000 feathers? Or that sheep have lanolin in their wool that helps waterproof their fleece? Now your camper does!
🐓 Chicken Science: Wings, Feathers & Flight
In our Animal Science Classroom, we dove deep into the anatomy of a chicken, with a special focus on flight feathers and wing structure. Campers examined real feathers, learned how to tell the difference between primary and secondary feathers, and even flapped their own “wings” in a chicken flight challenge (spoiler: chickens don’t fly very far!).
We discussed why some birds are great flyers and others, like our hens, are more about balance and flapping than soaring. Campers loved comparing flight feathers vs. down feathers and making predictions about what each one does.
🐑 Wool Wonders: From Fleece to Fabric
Over at the Sheep Station, things got hands-on — and a little fuzzy! Campers explored freshly sheared sheep wool, feeling the natural oils, texture, and learning about how wool goes from sheep to sweater.
✋ Activities included:
Rubbing wool fibers together using friction and pressure to create colorful wool bracelets
Making a “Baa of Soap” — a fun and functional craft using wool roving wrapped around soap bars, turning them into natural loofahs that help exfoliate and clean
💡 Science Moment: Campers learned about felting, the process of matting wool fibers using heat, moisture, and movement. This is how humans have made fabric and crafts for centuries!
🥚 Egg Drop STEM Challenge
Back in the STEM tent, things got crackin’ with a classic challenge: the Egg Drop! Using only farm-friendly materials like straw, feathers, wool scraps, cardboard, and string, campers designed and built contraptions to protect a raw egg from a fall.
Excitement built as each camper climbed the ladder and dropped their creation — would the egg survive the fall?
🏆 We had some egg-cellent engineering and plenty of ooey-gooey giggles when things didn’t quite land as planned. Either way, every camper learned something about gravity, impact force, and design thinking!
🐴 Red Peppers Ride with Bud the Horse!
Today was the Red Peppers' turn in the saddle, and they partnered up with the calm and steady Bud the Horse. Bud was patient, gentle, and gave each camper a safe, exciting, and confidence-boosting experience around the paddock.
🐎 Horse Camp Spotlight: Trotting, Horse Homes & Dream Farm Design
Our Horse Campers have become pros in the barn and in the saddle, and today they took things to the next level:
🐾 In the Arena:
Campers continued practicing their riding skills — this time trotting! With guidance from our instructors, they learned to post, keep their balance, and build trust with their horse. Trotting is a huge step up in confidence and coordination, and our Horse Campers absolutely rocked it!
🏡 In the Barn:
Campers also explored the ideal living conditions for horses, asking questions like:
What kind of bedding do horses need?
How do we manage manure and keep stalls clean?
What space and enrichment do horses need to stay healthy and happy?
We walked through our real-life barn setups and compared them to what horses need in different environments, including pastures, dry lots, and stables.
🎨 Creative Time:
Campers then used what they learned to design their very own dream horse farm! They mapped out stalls, paddocks, riding arenas, hay storage, and even special “horse spa” areas. Some even included sensory paths and splash zones for hot days!
This activity helped campers connect science, animal care, and creativity — plus dream up some pretty amazing future careers!
🌱 Barnyard Buddies: Garden Explorers & Little Sprouts
Our youngest campers — the Barnyard Buddies — had another magical day of discovery around the farm.
Today’s highlights included:
🎨 Painting with vegetables! Campers used cut okra, celery, corn cobs, and leafy greens as natural paintbrushes and stamps to create colorful garden masterpieces.
🌼 Five Senses Garden Walk – noticing how basil smells, how soil feels, and how bees sound while working in the flowers
🐓 Animal Visit – campers got up close with our hens and a fluffy bunny visitor
🐣 Little Sprout Sensory filled with corn, wool, feathers, and toy animals to sort and explore
🖐️ A “Garden Texture Hunt” to find things that were smooth, rough, bumpy, soft, or crunchy
These gentle, joyful experiences are all about helping our littlest farmers connect with the world around them through touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste.
💬 Ask Your Camper Tonight!
Parents — here are some great questions to ask around the dinner table tonight:
What’s the difference between a flight feather and a down feather?
Did your egg survive the egg drop challenge?
How did you make your felted bracelet?
What kind of space does a horse need to live in?
Barnyard buddies what veggies did you paint with?
🐄 Wrapping Up Wednesday
From chicken feathers to wooly crafts to trotting in the arena, today was a full-on animal adventure and animal science. Campers didn’t just meet animals — they learned what it takes to care for them, communicate with them, and create a world where they can thrive.
Tomorrow, we swing into the forest for our adventure day as we head toward our big Friday celebration!
See you bright and early for more muddy boots, big smiles, and unforgettable memories!
🌱🐝 Tuesday on the Farm: Worms, Soil & Pollinators, Oh My!
Soil Science, Team Spirit, and Tasty Farm Fun!
There’s never a dull day on the farm — and Tuesday at Camp was bursting with curiosity, creativity, and a whole lot of squirmy fun. Today was all about digging deeper — literally! — as we explored the fascinating world of soil, compost, and pollinators. From seed balls and microgreens to horse health and worm bins, campers rolled up their sleeves and really got their hands dirty (in the best way possible).
🎶 Flag Ceremony & Team-Building Wiggles
We kicked off our morning under the rising sun with flag ceremony and camp songs. Today’s favorite? The catchy, silly, always-loved "Herman the Worm" — complete with giggles, chomping motions, and some very dramatic storytelling. (Parents, feel free to get in on the action and sing along: Herman the Worm - YouTube)
After that, it was time to wriggle together — literally — as campers formed teams for the “Human Worm” challenge, a goofy and fun team-building game that got everyone moving, laughing, and learning to work together.
🧑🌾 Morning Chores: Becoming Real Farmers
By Day 2, our Farmers in Training and Horse Campers were already feeling like seasoned farmhands. Their confidence was shining as they took on their morning responsibilities:
🥚 Green Peppers & Purple Peppers collected freshly laid eggs, washed them with care, and prepped them for our Friday Farm Store — where families can take home the fruits (or eggs!) of campers hard work this week!
🌱 Rising Ranchers headed into the greenhouse to water our seedlings and baby plants, checking for new growth and learning about how soil moisture and sunlight help plants thrive.
🐴 Horse Campers cleaned stalls, filled water buckets, and fed their four-legged partners before suiting up for their second day in the saddle!
Chores are more than just tasks here — they’re part of becoming a true steward of the land and animals, something we focus on all week long.
🧪 Digging into Soil Science: Compost, Worms & Wildflowers
Our Science Classroom was a buzzing hub of discovery today as campers got hands-on with some of the farm’s coolest systems:
🐛 Worm Bin Exploration
Campers got up close and personal with our vermicomposting bins, learning how red wiggler worms break down food scraps into rich, nutrient-dense compost called “castings.”
💡 Agriculture Science Fact: Compost helps soil hold moisture, adds nutrients for plants, and reduces food waste. Worms are nature’s best recyclers!
Campers even helped feed the worms and were amazed to see what happens to yesterday’s lunch leftovers.
🌻 Seed Balls with Michigan Wildflowers
In our garden workshop, campers created their own seed balls using clay, compost, and a special mix of native Michigan wildflower seeds. These little bundles of life are meant to be taken home and planted — in a backyard, school garden, or even a sidewalk crack!
We talked about the importance of native plants for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies and helping local ecosystems thrive.
🐝 Pollinator Power
In our science room, we dove into the incredible world of pollinators and their vital role in agriculture.
Bees, butterflies, and beetles aren’t just buzzing around for fun — they’re helping fruits and vegetables grow by transferring pollen from flower to flower.
Campers learned that 1 out of every 3 bites of food we eat relies on pollinators!
We even looked at real bee anatomy under magnifiers and did a hands-on demo showing how pollen moves from flower to flower.
🌿 Microgreens to Go!
Campers each planted their own pot of microgreens — tiny, tasty baby plants packed with nutrients. These greens will sprout in just a few days, and campers will bring them home to harvest and taste!
🥬 Farm-to-Fork Moment: Microgreens are often grown in indoor trays and harvested early for their intense flavor and nutrition. They’re great in salads, wraps, or even on toast!
🐴 Horse Camp Highlights: Riding, Treats & Horse Health
Our Horse Campers continued building their riding skills with day two in the saddle. Confidence grew with each loop around the paddock, and campers started learning basic riding commands and horse handling.
In our Garden Kitchen, they made homemade horse treats using oats, carrots, molasses, and apple — and yes, their horses loved them!
They also learned how to check a horse’s vitals — including pulse, temperature, and respiration — and why it’s important for both animal wellness and safety. Real farm science in action!
🐴 Meanwhile, our Orange and Yellow Peppers had their very first ride on Clifford — one of our most gentle and beloved horses. With big red hair and a heart to match, Clifford gave our campers a calm and confident first riding experience. Whether it was their first time on a horse or just their first time on Clifford, the smiles were wide and the confidence was high.
🐐🐓 Barnyard Buddies: Five Senses Fun!
Our youngest campers — the Barnyard Buddies — continued their farm adventure with a gentle wagon ride tour, another visit from our animal friends, and a super sweet sensory activity.
They made their own “Five Senses Finders,” exploring the farm using:
👁 What they saw (colorful flowers, fluttering feathers)
👃 What they smelled (fresh hay, herbs in the garden)
✋ What they touched (wool, soil, feathers)
👂 What they heard (roosters crowing, goats bleating)
👅 And what they tasted (fresh fruit and veggie snacks!)
Their Five Senses Sticker Chart helped them reflect on how they use their whole bodies to connect with the farm.
🎨 Garden Kitchen: Taste the Rainbow (of You!)
In the Garden Kitchen, creativity met nutrition as campers made “Food Self-Portraits” using farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. Cherry tomato eyes, cucumber slice ears, and spinach hair — campers had a blast assembling themselves on their plates… then tasting their art!
This silly-yet-educational activity helped campers explore:
Where food comes from
The colors and textures of different produce
The importance of eating a rainbow of fruits and veggies for good health
👩🌾 Talk to Your Camper Tonight!
Parents — if you're looking for dinner conversation starters, try asking your camper:
What’s something cool you learned about worms or compost?
How does a bee help a plant grow?
What was your favorite part of the Human Worm team game?
What did your food face look (and taste) like?
🌞 The Dirt on Tuesday
Today was a perfect blend of science, play, creativity, and exploration. From compost bins to pony saddles, every camper walked away with something new in their brain, on their hands, or in their heart. And that’s what farm camp is all about!
Tomorrow? We’re diving into animal science — and we can’t wait.
See you in the morning for more farm-filled fun!
🌾🐴 Welcome to the Farm!
First Day at Farm Camp — A Hands-On, Boots-On Adventure!
There’s nothing quite like the first day of Farm Camp (even if you were returning campers this week, every day of farm life is new and different)— the sun shining over the pastures, the smell of hay and fresh soil in the air, and the sound of chickens clucking in the background. Today we kicked off “Welcome to the Farm” day for our Aug 4th campers, and our campers jumped straight into life on the land with open minds, curious hearts, and lots of energy!
From our youngest Barnyard Buddies to our Rising Ranchers, Peppers, Farmers in Training and Horse Campers, everyone got a taste (sometimes literally!) of what it means to live and learn on the farm.
🚜 Getting Started – Meeting Our Farmers and Breaking the Ice
Our FIT campers began the day by meeting our resident farmers — the amazing Ms. Sharon and Farmer Paul, who shared a little about their lives on the farm and what campers can look forward to learning. They’re not just farmers — they’re teachers, animal caretakers, and food growers, and campers will be learning straight from the source all week long.
To break the ice during our morning gathering and start building our camp community, we played some name games and silly ice breakers around the flag pole. Laughter and high-fives were flying as campers started to feel at home.
🔍 Scavenger Hunt & Wagon Ride Adventure
Next up: the Farm Scavenger Hunt! Campers spread out in small groups to explore every nook and cranny of the farm — from the buzzing garden beds to the shady animal barns. They searched for feathers, hoofprints, different leaf shapes, and even evidence of pollinators hard at work (hint: bees love sunflowers!).
Later in the day, all campers hopped aboard for a wagon ride tour around the farm, giving everyone a chance to kick back with new friends and enjoy the sights — waving at the ponies, checking out the compost pile, and hearing some fun farm facts along the way. Did you know chickens lay different colored eggs depending on their breed? Or that goat pupils are rectangular to help them see predators from far away? Now they do!
🐐 Meet the Animals – Farm Friends Everywhere!
One of the biggest highlights? Meeting the animals, of course!
Campers were introduced to:
Our friendly chickens and their fluffy baby turkeys (called poults!)
The always-popular ponies and horses
Our newest additions: bouncy baby goats
And for our Barnyard Buddies — a hands-on sensory visit with sheep’s wool as they learned how it looks, feels, and even smells after shearing!
Our Horse Campers had an exciting start to their week as well. They met the horses they’ll be working with, saddled up for their first ride, and even had a visit with our farm farrier, who taught them all about hoof care and the importance of horse shoes. Speaking of which…
🎨 Craft Time – Horse Shoes & Sheep Wool Art
Campers got creative with some farm-themed crafts today!
Everyone made their own painted horseshoe to hang at home — a fun souvenir and good luck charm! And our youngest campers made an adorable sheep craft using real wool, using their senses to describe what wool is like before it’s cleaned and turned into yarn or clothing.
“Ew!” was a common (and honest!) reaction to the natural smell — but also a great lesson in where materials really come from!
🥒 Garden to Jar – Farm Fresh Pickles!
In the afternoon, campers rolled up their sleeves and became farm chefs! making farm fresh smoothies fruit smoothies: we added a banana and the debate is still up for who opens a banana the correct way humans or monkeys? We harvested fresh cucumbers straight from the garden and turned them into tasty quick refrigerator pickles. Using vinegar, salt, water, garlic, and dill, each camper packed their own jar and learned a little food science along the way.
💡 Agri-Science Moment:
We talked about how pickling preserves food using acid (vinegar) to stop bacteria from growing. This method has been used by farmers for centuries to store vegetables through long winters or drought seasons. It’s tasty AND practical!
🐴 Pony Rides for Rising Ranchers & Green Peppers
For many campers, today brought a major milestone: their very first pony ride!
Our Rising Ranchers and Green Peppers got to saddle up and take a gentle ride around the paddock, guided by our experienced staff and wranglers. The smiles were BIG, and the confidence? Even bigger.
We talked about how horses communicate with their bodies, how to safely approach a pony, and what it takes to care for these incredible animals.
🎨 Tie-Dye Time – Camp Shirts Ready for Friday!
To wrap up this full, fabulous first day, campers headed to the craft tent to make their tie-dye camp shirts, which they’ll wear proudly for our Friday Farm Celebration. Bright swirls of green, blue, yellow, and red were flying as kids twisted, squirted, and designed one-of-a-kind creations.
🌱 A Day Well Spent on the Farm
From baby animals to briny pickles, from muddy boots to painted horseshoes, our campers got their hands dirty — and their hearts full — learning what it really means to be a Farmer in Training.
Parents: Be sure to ask your camper…
What animal was their favorite to meet today?
What did the sheep’s wool smell like?
What ingredients went into their pickle jar?
What color their camp shirt turned out!
We can’t wait for more adventures tomorrow — we’ll be planting seeds, brushing ponies, and diving deeper into life on the land.
See you bright and early for another beautiful day on the farm!
Ms. Lou and the Bowers Farm Camp Team
We’re so excited to kick off another unforgettable week of Farm Camp! Whether it’s your first time joining us or you’re a returning camper, get ready for days filled with hands-on adventures, curious critters, fresh air, and the simple joys of life on the farm. From collecting eggs and feeding animals to planting seeds and exploring nature trails, there’s something new to discover every day.
Stay tuned to our blog for updates, photos, and stories from the fields — we’re so glad you’re here!
