Summer at Hawthorne Valley Farm Camp
OUR CAMP programs seek to build reverence for life and community awareness through living, playing and working together on an active farm. While the camp strives to complement the educational approach of Waldorf schools, campers come from all backgrounds.
Our camp is uniquely situated within Hawthorne Valley Farm, a 400-acre biodynamic farm in the scenic Berkshire/Taconic foothills of eastern New York. The farm has a heard of 60 milk cows, heifer herds, calves, a flock of laying hens, horses and feeder pigs. Milk from the cows is processed in the farm dairy into yogurt, cheese and quark. A market vegetable garden grows biodynamic produce for the camp kitchen, local CSAs and consumers as far away as New York City. There is a busy farm store and bakery. For details on our location, contact us.
The younger House Campers and staff live together in a large farmhouse. The older Field Campers and their counselors share a campsite in a shady glen in the northeast corner of the farm. Their homes are large, bunk-bed equipped cabin tents mounted on wooden platforms. All meals are served family style in our Dining Hall. A spring-fed pond serves as our swim facility. It is state-inspected and supervised by trained lifeguards. Wooded areas ideal for hiking and camp-outs surround the farm fields.
OUR DINING HALL serves staff and campers meals prepared from scratch using biodynamic/organic ingredients. Campers and staff eat together family style fostering the community-building spirit of the camp. Meals are vegetarian, with farm fresh eggs and dairy products. Menus emphasize fresh, seasonal vegetables and whole grains. We seek to build awareness of the connection between the land and the nourishment we receive from it.
OUR STAFF consists of five full-time experienced year round personnel. Sixteeen counselors and four counselors-in-training join for the summer. We maintain a 3:1 camper to adult ratio. Our camp is monitored and licensed by the NY State Department of Health.
Our Logo T-shirts and hats are available during our summer camp program. Our hats are on sale at the Farm Store on a year round basis. All profits from the sale of this merchandise benefit our camp scholarship fund. If you would like to contribute to this fund or our other needs, please see our How You Can Help section and help a child enjoy a nurturing summer on the farm.
We have many employment opportunities available during our summer camp program. See our Employment Opportunities section for details.HOUSE CAMP: PROGRAM FOR YOUNGER CAMPERS
THE ONE-WEEK SESSION FOR AGES 8 AND 9 is a good first time sleep away experience for children. We provide a nurturing environment for the campers in a homelike atmosphere to help the children feel safe and secure. The children feed animals, clean the barn, collect eggs, garden, ride horses, walk the local hills, enjoy arts and crafts, singing, games, swimming and family style vegetarian meals. This will be a hands-on farm experience that is suitable for the younger, first time camper.
1-week House Camp 2008: Sunday, July 13 - Friday, July 18; Tuition 2008: $680.
THE TWO-WEEK SESSION FOR AGES 9 AND 10 is a wholesome, enjoyable program of activities well suited to the nine-year-old child. Children feed the animals, clean the barn, collect eggs, and garden. Their farm experiences are interwoven through the day with more traditional camp activities that include horseback riding, swimming, arts and crafts, nature projects, games, archery and morning and evening singing. Walks, hikes at local parks, cookouts and campfires round out the two weeks. A homelike atmosphere allows children to feel comfortable and secure.
2-week House Camp 2008: Sunday, June 22 - Saturday, July 5; Tuition 2008: $1,600.
THE THREE-WEEK SESSION FOR AGES 10 AND 11 is similar in rhythm and structure to the two-week session. Animal feeding, cleaning the barn, gardening, horseback riding, arts and crafts, games and archery are all part of the weekly rhythm. In the longer session, the emphasis is on building a home away from home on the farm. There is more time for lively camp events such as hikes to nearby state parks and forests, camp-outs, cook-outs, Sunday gatherings, a carnival, Olympics day and Talent Night.
3-week House Camp 2008: Sunday, July 20 to Saturday, August 9; Tuition 2008: $2,375.
Camper readiness will be determined in consultation with and is subject to the approval of the camp director. If you have questions about which camp is appropriate for your child please contact our camp director. Each session is limited to 28 campers.
FIELD CAMP: PROGRAMS FOR OLDER CAMPERS
THE
TWO-WEEK SESSION FOR AGES 12 AND 13 is for campers
who will work for part of the day alongside farmers and other professionals
who grow, process, distribute and cook healthy food. Hawthorne
Valley provides an excellent opportunity for young people to learn about
and work in the farm-to-food system. There is also ample time in
the day for swimming, sports and games, nature exploration, arts and
crafts, campfires, music, and other camp projects. A talent show
as well as hikes and other day trips enhance the experience. Campers
are encouraged to develop responsibility for self and others through
meaningful and productive work while learning to live together in a community
setting.
2-week Field Camp 2008: Sunday, June 22 to Saturday, July 5; Tuition 2008: $1,600.
THE FOUR-WEEK SESSION FOR AGES 13 TO 15 challenges campers to be "junior apprentices"
in the different areas of endeavor on the farm. Professional
staff in the retail store, bakery, dairy plant and camp kitchen as well
as in food growing, processing and preparation will supervise campers
for part of the day. Campers have time each day to relax and enjoy
traditional camp activities such as swimming, crafts, music, hikes, campfires,
etc. This session features an extended overnight camping and hiking
trip, as well as opportunities
to attend plays and performances in our region. Campers and counselors
develop a tight-knit community where all learn to meet the challenges
and reap the rewards of living and working together. Goals that
are attainable during camp are developing responsibility for self and
others, acquiring the skills to live in community, understanding the
life processes that sustain us, and learning to commit to complete a
job to its fullest.
4-week Field Camp 2008: Sunday, July 13 to Saturday, August 9; Tuition 2008: $3,200.
Due to the challenging nature of these programs, only campers who are deemed mature, healthy, and interested enough will be accepted. All applications must include a Field Camp Questionnaire completed by the camper. Each session is limited to 15 campers.
Application Process
Preference for all camps is given to returning campers, school children who have attended our Visiting Students Program and e-mail/phone applicants who have visited the farm and talked extensively with our Camp Director about our program. Summer at Hawthorne Valley Farm is a not-for-profit camp; tuition reduction forms are available upon request. Please complete our Summer Camp Application and return it to us with a $50 non-refundable registration fee. The Field Campers must also complete a Field Camp Questionnaire and return it with the application. The Visiting Students and Summer Camp programs are members of the Hawthorne Valley Association, Inc., click on our Links section for more information.
After your child is accepted into camp, he or she will need to have a physical examination by a doctor. You will receive a parent packet with these forms enclosed, but in case you need them prior to receiving our information, we have provided them on our Medical Form page.
For questions or more information about our camp program contact Nick, Charlie, Matt, or Helen at (518) 672-4790 or e-mail helen@vspcamp.com. For more details on our location see Contact Us section. We have many employment opportunities available during our summer camp program. See our Employment Opportunity section for details.