Farm Camp Blog July 28 - Aug 1

🌾 FARM CAMP BLOG: Muddy Boots, Butter Churns, and Big Smiles! 🌞

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you mix mini tractors, giggling campers, goats with attitudes, and a whole lot of sunshine—welcome to Farm Camp, where fun grows wild and every day brings a new adventure!

Today, our barns, fields, and kitchens buzzed with activity, as our campers rolled up their sleeves and jumped into farm life—boots first.

🚜 Tractor Training 101 & Mini Cars Mayhem

Who needs a driver’s license when you’ve got determination. Our “campers” crew took the wheel (literally!) for Tractor Training 101. The mini cars zoomed around our circle drive like a miniature tractors.

⛺ Lincoln Log Cabins & Dig Zone Delights

Our campers flexed their building skills with Lincoln Log Cabins, proving that engineering begins with imagination and wood pieces that never quite stay where you want them. They learned about Abraham Lincoln and how he grew up in a Cabin just like ours. Then they dug deep—literally—in the Dig Zone, learning about the pioneer days and panning for gold.

💦 Slip ‘n Slide Water Play

When the sun turned up the heat, our Slip and Slide Water Zone was the place to be! There was laughter, and enough splash zones to give the plants a drink too.

🚜 Tractor Rides & Animal High-Fives

What’s a farm without a tractor ride? Campers climbed aboard for a bumpy ride past mooing cows, bleating goats, and some very photgenic horses. Our Animal Visit had kids petting chicks, feeding goats, brushing horses, and learning why pigs love mud (spoiler: it’s not just for fun).

🧈 Butter Making Bonanza

With sleeves rolled and muscles flexed, campers shook jars of cream into real, spreadable, farm-fresh butter—then tasted the sweet reward. Some may have mistaken the process for a dance move. We didn’t correct them.

🍳 Garden Kitchen Adventures

In the Garden Kitchen, young chefs whipped up fresh pizzas, salads, and treats straight from the garden. There were flour fights, tomato tastings, and one very passionate debate over whether basil is better than oregano. Spoiler: it’s still ongoing.

🍽️ Lunch & Laughter

Lunch was served picnic-style with a side of sunshine. Campers chatted about their adventures while munching away.

💰 Panning for Gold

Our mini miners grabbed pans and headed to the stream for a shimmering Gold Rush! While some struck it rich (with glitter), others discovered the true treasure was friendship. And frogs.

🏀 Farm Games & Adventure Playground

From hay bale hopping to barnyard basketball, our Adventure Playground turned into a joyful jumble of tag, giggles, and smiling faces.

Our youngest “Barnyard Buddies” even crafted their own I Spy tools to explore the farm with extra curiosity (and dramatic flair).

Chores & Cheers: Becoming Farmers

Throughout the week, our “Farmer in Training” campers got their hands dirty—feeding animals, gathering eggs, sweeping barns, and even fixing fences. Working first hand with farm Paul and Sharon, learning the ropes of the farm.

🐴 Horse Camp Highlights

Meanwhile at Horse Camp, our equestrians learned to ride with confidence and care, explored the horse digestive system (hint: it’s long!), and discovered just how many apples one horse can eat in a day. It’s more than you think.

🍳 Garden Kitchen Adventures: Veggie Faces & Farm Fresh Fun

Today in the Garden Kitchen, our campers became culinary artists—literally! After harvesting crunchy cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, curly kale, and the occasional slightly-too-curious carrot, campers used their ingredients to create veggie face masterpieces. Smiling squash mouths, broccoli hairdos, and bell pepper glasses filled the picnic tables as creativity ran wild (and occasionally rolled off the cutting board).

While building their edible artworks, campers also learned about how each veggie grows—from seed to sprout to snack. We talked roots vs. vines, sunlight vs. shade, and why worms are VIP guests in any healthy garden.

And yes, most veggie faces were proudly eaten once the giggles died down (except for one radish nose that somehow ended up in someone’s pocket).

Because here at farm camp, we don’t just play with our food—we learn where it comes from too!

Until Next Time…

From splashes to saddle rides, farm chores to fresh-made butter, it’s been a week of learning, laughter, and LOTS of hay in our socks. As the sun sets on another great week at Farm Camp, we send our campers home a little dustier, a little wiser, and definitely full of stories.

See you tomorrow for more mud, magic, and maybe even a baby goat or two!

🌻 Ms. Lou and the farm camp team! 🐐

🌾 Day One at Farm Camp: New Friends, Dancing Corn, and Barnyard Adventures! 🌞

Well folks, we kicked off the first day of farm camp in true summer style — with big smiles, curious minds, and, let’s be honest… a lot of sunscreen. The sun was blazing, but it didn’t stop us from jumping headfirst into all the fun the farm has to offer!

🐴 Rising Ranchers & Green Peppers Ride Off Into the Sunset (Well… Around the Paddock)
Our Rising Ranchers and Green Peppers were absolute troopers today. Despite the heat, they saddled up and went for their first horse ride of the week — and let’s just say, the horses were very excited to meet their new human buddies (especially the ones who brought apples).

Groups also enjoyed our famous tractor ride — complete with giggles, bounces, and dramatic wind-in-the-hair moments (even if that "wind" came from someone fanning themselves with their hat).

🐐 Animal Encounters Galore
Whether it was goats nibbling on shirt corners or chickens strutting like they own the place (because they sort of do), our campers made lots of new furry and feathered friends. The animals were thrilled with all the attention — and the occasional scratch behind the ears didn’t hurt either.

🏋️ Horse Camp + FIT = Chore Champions
The Horse Camp and FIT (Farmers in Training) groups didn’t waste a second. They jumped into chores today like total pros — mucking, feeding, hauling hay, and managing to do it all while still cracking jokes and humming camp songs. These kids are unstoppable (and maybe slightly dust-covered, but that’s just proof of hard work, right?).

🌽 Dancing Corn & Wacky Science
After getting their boots dirty, many campers took part in our dancing corn science experiment. Picture this: corn kernels bouncing and twirling like they were in a salsa competition. The kids were amazed (and a little confused), but mostly amazed. There were giggles, guesses, and a few impromptu dance moves from campers trying to mimic the corn. Mission: accomplished.

🌳 Climb Campers: Low Ropes, High Energy
Our Climb Campers got a taste of adventure as they explored the low ropes course. They learned the ropes — literally — with teamwork challenges and balance games that brought out their inner ninjas. After that, it was time to dive into some colorful fun with tie-dye and personal journal decorating. We now have some very stylish campers and very bright hands. but with a twist! Instead of the usual neon spirals, we used natural dyes made from farm-grown and kitchen-sourced ingredients like beets, turmeric, blueberries, and even onion skins. Campers loved seeing how nature can make art — though some now believe turmeric is magic (they might not be wrong). Expect to see some beautifully earthy tones coming home on t-shirts, and possibly a little bit of beet juice on socks.

🐣 Barnyard Buddies Explore with Their Five Senses
Our youngest campers, the Barnyard Buddies, spent the day using their five senses to explore the sights, smells, textures, and sounds of the farm. They squished hay, listened to roosters crow, and even described what a goat smells like (answers ranged from "earthy" to "cheesy grass"). We call that a full sensory experience!

💦 Tomorrow: Slip, Slide, and Splash!
With another hot day ahead, we're making a splash — literally! Tomorrow is WATER DAY! Campers will be slip-sliding, splashing, and cooling off in every fun way imaginable. Pack those swimsuits, towels, and extra shoes

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!