FAQs
Where is the farm?
Farm and Garden Camp takes place in the barns, gardens, and farmhouse of the Hampshire College Farm Center. The Farm Center is located in South Amherst, Massachusetts at 793 West St. (Rt. 116), north of the main entrance of the campus and just past the Admissions building. You can view a map of Hampshire's entire farm here; Thorpe House is our home base and area for drop off and pick up.
What is the farm like?
The Hampshire College Farm Center is based at the Thorpe House, a classic New England Farmhouse with a complete kitchen, craft room, sun room with windows on three sides, and two bathrooms. Our outdoor space includes a grassy play space with picnic tables for lunch and a range of outdoor play materials. We can often be found in the barn visiting with the chickens, bunnies, and goats or walking the farm roads on our way to pick veggies and flowers from the farm fields.
What kinds of activities will my camper participate in?
Just a few examples...
What should my child/teen wear and bring?
My 13-year-old is interested in helping out. Can they volunteer?
We have a successive leadership development program for 7th-11th graders. This program includes training that prepares teens to become paid Assistant Instructors and Instructors at camp. View details here.
How do I register and hold a spot for my child/teen?
Registration occurs online through Active Network. Please view all Registration information and policies here. A $150 deposit is due at time of registration to hold your camper's spot at camp. Complete payment is due by June 1st. You can view our cancellation/refund policy here.
Farm and Garden Camp takes place in the barns, gardens, and farmhouse of the Hampshire College Farm Center. The Farm Center is located in South Amherst, Massachusetts at 793 West St. (Rt. 116), north of the main entrance of the campus and just past the Admissions building. You can view a map of Hampshire's entire farm here; Thorpe House is our home base and area for drop off and pick up.
What is the farm like?
The Hampshire College Farm Center is based at the Thorpe House, a classic New England Farmhouse with a complete kitchen, craft room, sun room with windows on three sides, and two bathrooms. Our outdoor space includes a grassy play space with picnic tables for lunch and a range of outdoor play materials. We can often be found in the barn visiting with the chickens, bunnies, and goats or walking the farm roads on our way to pick veggies and flowers from the farm fields.
What kinds of activities will my camper participate in?
Just a few examples...
- Gathering eggs from nest boxes
- Cutting flowers and arranging bouquets for the farm stand
- Running through sprinklers while watering the garden beds
- Grooming the angora bunny and then spinning fiber into yarn
- Harvesting wild plant treats to feed to the goats
- Going on sensory hikes
- Learning new songs
- Digging potatoes, pulling carrots, and building a bean trellis
What should my child/teen wear and bring?
- Appropriate clothing for farm and garden work (work clothes, clothes with stains and holes! Particularly for Seedlings and Sprouts, we recommend sending an extra of everything)
- Comfortable, closed-toe shoes that protect feet from stones, animal hooves, etc. (NO flip flops!)
- Lunch & Snack (Campers tend to eat more here than they do at home because we are so active. We prepare snacks together from the food grown on the farm, but campers need additional snacks from home)
- Water bottle
- Swimsuit & towel (for slip 'n slide and water games)
- Hat (optional)
- Backpack or bag for bringing home swimsuit, towel, woolcrafts, etc.
- Sunblock/bug repellent should be applied before campers arrive. Staff may help campers to reapply spray sunscreen with written permission from a guardian.
- Please label all items with camper's name
My 13-year-old is interested in helping out. Can they volunteer?
We have a successive leadership development program for 7th-11th graders. This program includes training that prepares teens to become paid Assistant Instructors and Instructors at camp. View details here.
How do I register and hold a spot for my child/teen?
Registration occurs online through Active Network. Please view all Registration information and policies here. A $150 deposit is due at time of registration to hold your camper's spot at camp. Complete payment is due by June 1st. You can view our cancellation/refund policy here.
