SUMMER CAMP AT THE FARM
Spend a week at the farm! Our summer camps are centered around hands-on learning, projects, and crafts that connect kids to nature and animals. We offer full-day program options for youth entering grades 4-8 (Farm Camp, Horse Camp), as well as a half-day option for youth entering grades 1-3 (Junior Farm Camp).
Visit our 6crickets page to view past sessions
FARM CAMP
Youth entering Grades 4 - 8
Donkeys and chickens and alpacas, oh my! From feeding to grooming to cleaning up, campers will get a crash course in everything involved in our herd's daily care. Your camper will thrive outside, exploring nature, making new friends, and getting creative.
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A typical day involves time with our farm animal herd, groundwork with the horses, an animal or plant science learning activity, a farm-related craft, and more.
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$525/week (Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm)
HORSE CAMP
Youth entering Grades 4 - 8
Camp for the horse-crazy kid! Learn the ins and outs of horse life, from riding and groundwork to equine science and care. Your camper will develop confidence on and off the horse, leaving camp with a better understanding what it takes to responsibly care for these amazing animals.
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A typical day involves a riding lesson, groundwork with the horses, practicing barn chores, an equine learning activity, a farm-related craft, and more.
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$675/week (Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm)
JUNIOR
CAMP
Youth entering Grades 1 - 3
If you have a blossoming animal lover, they'll love hanging out with our friendly herd. Over the course of Junior Camp, they'll collect eggs, groom donkeys, hold chickens, explore fiber arts, and so much more.
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A typical day involves time with our farm animal herd, a farm-related craft, a game or learning activity.
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$300/week (Monday through Friday, 9am-1pm)
THE DETAILS
Below is more information about our 2024 camp season.
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Camp Hours:
Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm
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Weeks of Operation:
Jun 24 - Jun 28: Farm / Horse** / Junior
Jul 1 - Jul 5: Farm / Horse / Junior
Jul 8 - Jul 12: Farm / Horse** / Junior
Jul 15 - 19: Farm / Horse / Junior
Jul 29 - Aug 2: Farm / Horse** / Junior
Aug 5 - Aug 9: Farm / Horse / Junior
Aug 12 - Aug 16: Farm / Horse** / Junior
Aug 19 - Aug 23: Farm / Junior
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**These weeks of Horse Camp are reserved for Holly Farm students (who have taken at least 3 months of lessons within one year of starting camp)
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Cost:
Farm Camp: $525 ($150 deposit)
Horse Camp: $675 ($200 deposit)
Junior Camp: $300 ($100 deposit)
Deposit is required at the time of registration to hold your camper's spot;
all camp fees must be paid in full by May 31st.
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Cancellation Policy
Cancellations before April 15 will be refunded in full. Cancellations between April 15 and May 31 will be refunded, excluding your deposit. After May 31, we cannot provide refunds, but will offer alternative weeks, if space is available, or limited credit towards future programs.
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Financial Aid
Limited financial aid is available for youth who would not otherwise be able to participate in camps. If this applies to your child, please reach out for more information.
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My child has a learning disability or challenging behaviors - will they have fun at camp?We strive to maintain an atmosphere that is safe for animals and kids alike, and know that many campers need some support to help us uphold that expectation. We mostly work in small groups with high adult/camper ratios. However, we are working around large animals and in an outdoor farm setting with some physical hazards. If your child has significant challenges (relative to age-appropriate norms) in group settings, following rules, or respecting physical boundaries, this may not be the right environment for them. If your child is repeatedly unable to meet group expectations for their safety or others', whether peer or animal, we will ask a parent/guardian to pick them up and they may not be able to return to camp. Refunds may not be given in these situations. If you have questions about your child’s ability to thrive, feel free to reach out!
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Do you have camps for teens?Currently, we do not offer camps for teens.
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What are your Covid precautions?In line with state guidelines, campers are not required to mask at camp, but are free to wear a mask if they choose. The majority of camp time will be spent outside. If your child has unexplained symptoms attributable to COVID, we ask that they stay home until they test negative. As summer approaches, we will update our policies as needed, to reflect guidance provided to schools and other childcare facilities.
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Will my camper have fun if they sign up for multiple weeks?Absolutely, whether repeating the same type of camp or trying a new one! While some activities will repeat week-to-week, there will be lots of opportunities to explore deeper, practice new skills, and act as a leader within the group.
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What is the time window for pick-up and drop-off?Camp starts at 9am and ends at 4pm (or 1pm). Daily drop off is between 8:45am and 9am, and pick-up is between 4pm and 4:15pm (or 1pm and 1:15pm). We don’t currently have a late pick-up option - fees may apply if you arrive after the pick-up window.
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What should my child bring?Lunch + snack Water bottle Extra sunscreen for reapplication during the day Bug spray Riding helmet** Rain jacket, on wet days Hat (recommended) Towel (we like to run through sprinklers…) Any medications you've alerted us about **If your child doesn't have a riding helmet, we will provide one.
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What should my child wear?Clothing: Jeans, breeches, riding tights, or other pants that allow for free range of movement. Short- or long-sleeved shirt that covers the entire torso (tank tops okay). Shoes: Riding boots are strongly recommended, but any sturdy closed-toed shoe is okay. Campers will be handling horses, mucking stalls, etc., so shoes should offer camper’s feet protection from dirt and being stepped on by a rogue hoof (no sneakers). Jewelry: No loose jewelry (studded jewelry is fine). Hair: Hair tied or clipped away from face. Sunscreen: Come with it applied, every day!
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Does my child need to have riding experience?No experience needed! Our lessons are in small groups according to experience and we often have novice riders join. Note: Please make sure to register for an open horse camp if they are not taking or haven't recently taken lessons here at the farm.
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What if my child has experience riding somewhere else?Great! We work hard to match them with a group that will reflect their level of experience. Please be aware that students who are walking, trotting, cantering, and beyond in other programs may not be doing the same type of activities at camp - learning to ride in a bareback pad is a new type of challenge!
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What style of riding do you do in camp?Our campers ride in the same style as the lesson program, focused on developing a balanced seat, predominantly in bareback pads. We teach our students to be soft, centered, and strong, which will make them a more confident rider in any discipline.
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Do campers get to ride every day?Campers are scheduled to ride every day. We only adjust when weather is prohibitive (e.g. extreme heat, smoke). On those days, we do a different horse-centric activity instead.
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What should my child wear?Clothing: Long pants or shorts and a short- or long-sleeved shirt that covers the entire torso (tank tops okay). Shoes: Riding boots are strongly recommended, but any sturdy closed-toed shoe is okay. Campers will be handling horses, mucking stalls, etc., so shoes should offer your camper’s feet protection from dirt or being stepped on by a rogue hoof… Jewelry: No loose jewelry (studded jewelry is fine). Sunscreen: Come with it applied, every day!
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What should my child bring?Lunch + snack Water bottle Extra sunscreen for reapplication during the day Bug spray Rain jacket, on wet days Hat (recommended) Towel (we run through sprinklers…) Any medications you've alerted us about
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Do Farm and Junior campers get to work with the horses?Farm campers do daily groundwork with the horses, practicing skills like leading, grooming, and more. Our Junior campers are focused on time with the farm animals, but will get to have horse experiences throughout the week!
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Why is Junior Camp a half-day program?We've found that, for our youngest campers, four hours is a full day! Camp is fun, creative, and active, but can leave some kids pretty tired by the end of the day, both physically and mentally. In such a new and stimulating environment, a half-day is the sweet spot for most Junior Campers.