Camp-- Everyone has a farmer inside them!

Our mission is to expose 4 - 15 year-old children to where their food comes from and to educate them about sustainable living and farm ecology. Kids are taught the principals of animal welfare and organic gardening, and experience the satisfaction of good work for good food. Farm Camp nurtures children's natural inclination to connect with nature, the outdoors, animals and all living things. Through creative play and exploration, we want children to develop a knowledge, love and respect for locally produced food from small farms. Farm campers are the next generation of consumers and farmers; we want them to be inspired. We want to share the gifts of open space with the children of the community that made the preservation of this farm possible.

The Farm Camp Program allows campers to experience all the workings of a small, organic, diversified farm. They learn how a seed can sprout and grow into a nutritious and delicious vegetable. They learn the basic needs of raising their own ducklings and chicks and get to watch them grow over the course of the summer. Pigs, lambs, rabbits, turkeys and laying hens are all part of a camper’s experience at the farm. Campers will participate in farm chores such as weeding, picking potato bugs, collecting eggs, feeding the pigs, and planting seedlings. Age-specific groups will take walks in the woods, learn about farm and forest ecology, collect salamanders and frogs, do craft projects with farm goods such as wool, eggs and super large zucchinis, and learn how good local, organic farm raised food can be through simple cooking projects. We’ll play and read and dig in the dirt and come home asking for snap peas and carrots for dinner. Campers have access to their own garden, chickens, ducks, and rabbits, in addition to the farm’s other livestock.

Farm Camp is directed by Stacy Brenner, who has been a farmer for 7 seasons and a mother for 12 years. Stacy helped create and develop Farm Camp at Turkey Hill Community Farm in Cape Elizabeth , the community farm she and her husband John started in 2004 prior to moving to Scarborough in 2006 . Every year, she is accompanied by a talented staff of college aged counselors who have a variety of backgrounds in social work, environmental education and early childhood work. Each counselor also comes with a working knowledge of sustainable farming practices and a philosophy consistent with our camp mission. In addition to working with the children, the counselors are also doing farm work and are well immersed in the cycles of the season at Broadturn Farm.

Each week concludes with a family and friends gathering Friday afternoon to enjoy a taste of simple, delicious garden food prepared by the children. The campers will display their art and share their knowledge of farming and foods with a gallery display of camper art and a performance. These Friday gatherings are a great way to meet other families, tour the farm with the best guide available…your camper…and watch as they delight in bringing food from the garden to the plate. We encourage families to take time to explore the woods, streams and farm operation. And of course…a moment to dip your toes into the icy waters of Fogg Brook after a long week at work….a farmer favorite!

Junior Counselors are a strong component of the day to day functions of Farm Camp. These 12-15 year old volunteers offer their time and service as counselors in exchange for an opportunity to learn about early childhood education and sustainable farming. This is a volunteer position. If you are interested in becoming a junior counselor, complete the registration form and indicate which week(s) you would like to join us. We conclude the season for the junior counselors with a pizza-movie party to thank them for all their hard work.