Farm Camp July 13-17th
Farm Camp Day 1: A Great Start to an Amazing Week!
What an incredible first day of Farm Camp! The farm was full of energy as campers arrived eager to begin a week of hands-on adventures, outdoor exploration, and agricultural learning. From caring for animals and exploring the gardens to creating art, making new friends, and discovering how a farm works, Day 1 was packed with excitement from start to finish.
Barnyard Buddies: Discovering the Farm Through the Five Senses
Our Barnyard Buddies kicked off the week by exploring the farm with all five senses.
They also met one of our favorite farm animals the llama and learned the special L.L.A.M.A. message that will guide us throughout camp:
Listen
Learn
Attitude
Make Good Choices
All Together
These simple reminders encourage kindness, teamwork, and positive choices as campers learn and grow together.
As they visited different areas of the farm, campers practiced careful observation by listening to animal sounds, noticing colors and patterns, feeling different textures, exploring farm scents, and talking about what they saw. These activities helped introduce basic science skills while encouraging curiosity and confidence around animals.
The fun continued with a fluffy sheep wool craft, where campers learned that wool comes from sheep and is used to create many everyday items. They also enjoyed a farm-themed story, played a colorful matching game, explored the beautiful Master Garden, and climbed aboard the wagon for a relaxing tour of the farm. The morning ended with a picnic lunch under the pergola, where everyone enjoyed eating outdoors and sharing stories about their favorite discoveries.
Rising Ranchers, Farm Camp, and FIT Camp Get to Work
Our Rising Ranchers, Farm Camp, and FIT campers gathered at the flagpole to begin the day with welcome songs, introductions, and fun icebreaker games. It didn't take long before new friendships were forming and campers were laughing together.
One of the first lessons of the week focused on responsibility. The Purple Peppers and FIT campers jumped right into morning farm chores, helping care for animals and keep the farm looking its best. They learned that every job big or small helps a farm run smoothly and that teamwork plays an important role in daily farm life.
Even our youngest Rising Ranchers had a chance to lend a hand by sweeping the barn with their adorable child-sized brooms. Their excitement proved that everyone can play an important role on the farm.
Garden Kitchen: From Garden to Creativity
Garden Kitchen campers explored the connection between growing fresh food and healthy eating by harvesting colorful Swiss chard straight from the garden before heading into the kitchen.
Using the freshly picked greens as inspiration, campers created unique self-portraits that combined art with agriculture. It was a fun reminder that every meal begins long before it reaches the table and that farmers play an important role in every step of the growing process.
Farm-Wide Adventure
One of the highlights of the day was our exciting farm scavenger hunt. Campers explored every corner of the property while searching for clues hidden throughout the farm. As they completed each challenge, they collected letters that eventually revealed a secret farm phrase.
This adventure encouraged teamwork, communication, observation, and problem-solving while helping campers become familiar with the many places they'll visit throughout the week—from the gardens and animal areas to trails, gathering spaces, and learning stations.
Building Confidence One Horseshoe at a Time
A favorite Farm Camp tradition returned as campers created their Horseshoe Confidence Craft. Horseshoes have long been a symbol of farming and good fortune, making them the perfect project for the first day of camp.
As campers decorated their horseshoes, they reflected on trying new things, believing in themselves, and bringing positive attitudes to every new experience this week.
Meeting Our Farm Animals
Of course, no first day at Farm Camp would be complete without spending plenty of time with our amazing animal friends. Campers met many of the animals that call the farm home while learning about the daily care they need, including fresh food, clean water, safe shelter, and lots of attention.
These hands-on experiences help campers build compassion, responsibility, and a greater appreciation for the important role animals play in agriculture.
Several groups also enjoyed special adventures throughout the day. Black Sheep Chad joined the Red Peppers on a nature hike around the farm, giving campers another opportunity to explore the beautiful grounds. The Yellow Peppers spent extra time visiting the chicken coop, where they learned about caring for chickens, observed their behaviors, and discovered how eggs make their journey from coop to kitchen.
Learning Through Every Experience
One of the best parts of Farm Camp is that every activity becomes a learning opportunity. Whether campers were harvesting vegetables, caring for animals, creating artwork, solving clues, or exploring the farm, they were developing important skills in science, agriculture, creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking.
Most importantly, they were making new friends, creating lasting memories, and gaining a deeper appreciation for the farmers and farms that help feed our communities.
Important Reminder
🎨 Color Wars is Friday! We encourage campers to wear as much of their team color as possible as we celebrate with a fun-filled day of friendly competition, teamwork, and farm spirit. We can't wait to see everyone's colorful creativity!
Farm show Friday for Full day Campers! 3pm
Thank you for sharing your campers with us. We had an amazing first day filled with smiles, laughter, learning, and adventure. We are excited to continue exploring, growing, and making memories together throughout the rest of the week.
See you tomorrow!
Ms. Lou and the Bowers Farm Camp Team
