Purpose
Farm and Garden Camp seeks to inspire and equip youth and young adults to enjoy growing, harvesting and working with food and fiber, as well as to contribute to robust, regenerative, and just food systems.
Values
Whole Person Development
We value learning space in which people feel their whole selves are welcome and all voices are heard. Through engaging in relevant and necessary work on the farm, participants make meaning out of old and new experiences, build practical and artistic skills, and grow socially and emotionally.
Shared Leadership
We value individual and collective responsibility. Through engaging in inclusive decision-making and routine care of animals, land, space, and infrastructure, participants learn to work together and discover new avenues for leadership.
Creativity & Laughter
We value silliness and song, joy and laughter, learning and play. Through singing, dancing, cooking, crafting, and more, participants explore new ideas and exercise their creative capacities in a nurturing and fun environment.
Mindfulness
We value presence and attention. Through being encouraged to listen to their bodies and what the plants and animals are communicating, participants develop their sensory awareness and their ability to focus on both details and bigger pictures.
Vibrant Food Systems
We value vibrant food systems. Through sharing recipes; growing, harvesting, and preparing fresh food; taking care of animals and learning about their place in food systems; and experiencing culturally affirming foods and food traditions, participants expand their palates and feel connected to the food webs that nourish them.
We value learning space in which people feel their whole selves are welcome and all voices are heard. Through engaging in relevant and necessary work on the farm, participants make meaning out of old and new experiences, build practical and artistic skills, and grow socially and emotionally.
Shared Leadership
We value individual and collective responsibility. Through engaging in inclusive decision-making and routine care of animals, land, space, and infrastructure, participants learn to work together and discover new avenues for leadership.
Creativity & Laughter
We value silliness and song, joy and laughter, learning and play. Through singing, dancing, cooking, crafting, and more, participants explore new ideas and exercise their creative capacities in a nurturing and fun environment.
Mindfulness
We value presence and attention. Through being encouraged to listen to their bodies and what the plants and animals are communicating, participants develop their sensory awareness and their ability to focus on both details and bigger pictures.
Vibrant Food Systems
We value vibrant food systems. Through sharing recipes; growing, harvesting, and preparing fresh food; taking care of animals and learning about their place in food systems; and experiencing culturally affirming foods and food traditions, participants expand their palates and feel connected to the food webs that nourish them.
Culture
Every camp is a unique place with a unique culture. Our camp culture:
- Appreciates the gifts of the farm and the earth, and the effort involved in feeding a community
- Celebrates both difference and commonality, both visible and invisible parts of ourselves
- Fosters awareness of self and inter-relatedness with others
- Honors strengths
- Supports articulation and embodiment of healthy boundaries
- Provides opportunities to courageously try new things and creatively self-express
- Embraces the sharing of stories, skills, talents, and joys
- Is one of care, consent, and emotional safety
Land Acknowledgment
Farm and Garden Camp facilitates programs on the traditional ancestral territory of the Nonotuck and Pocumtuc peoples. We acknowledge their stewardship of, inhabitance in, and continued connection with this place for thousands of years. We acknowledge the harmful impacts of colonization on Indigenous communities and earth and food systems, including people's access to healthy, sacred, and culturally relevant foods. We are grateful for and privileged to have the opportunity to learn, work, and play here.
Here are some action items for learning about and supporting local Indigenous communities:
Here are some action items for learning about and supporting local Indigenous communities:
- Visit www.maindigenousagenda.org to learn about active bills that native nations need your support to move through the state legislature. Teach your campers how to look up and call their state representatives.
- Attend an educational event and volunteer at the Wissatinnewag gardens with the Nolumbeka Project.