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View our 2018 Summer Camp Information below:
Summer Camp on the Farm! allows children to experience the farm and surrounding creek and woodlands through active, creative, and fun activities. The program nurtures an understanding of and deep reverence for our land and the food that it provides, and incorporates the arts to allow us to imagine how the plants, animals, and elements of the farm and wilderness shape and strengthen us, even giving us superpowers!
Staff and participants work and learn together, as an extended farm family does, to accomplish basic daily farm tasks such as feeding the sheep, collecting the chickens' eggs, planting and harvesting herbs and vegetables and flowers, building structures, and cooking and eating together. Surrounding these activities, we explore and celebrate the wondrous nature around us, learn some of the sustainable ways of the area's earlier inhabitants, and process these experiences through games and the arts to transform ourselves into superheroes with special powers drawn from the land.
"...weaving information, history, insight, hands on activity, and song truly engaged our children which will inevitably spark future stewards of the land. We look forward to many more collaborative experiences with Seed Song Farm!"
-Holly Heppner, teacher and volunteer at the AJ Williams Library, Kingston NY
"Joey my 11-year old grandson absolutely loves Seed Song Farm!!! All the way home after an afternoon spent singing, exploring, planting, and learning about and collecting and cooking maple syrup, he just kept saying can we go back, I had so much fun and everyone is so nice there! Thanks, Seed Song Farm!"
-Carol Warren, grandparent
Please register for our programs early, as the size of the program will be limited.
Please note that prior to attending one-week camps, parents will need to submit the immunization records and other medical/dietary/behavior treatment plans requested on the camp registration form, prior to the child(ren)'s first day of camp.
NYS laws regarding Summer Camps:
https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/3601.pdf
| summer_on_the_farm_day_program_registration_form_only_6-2018.pdf |
Ages 5 and older:
One-Week SUMMER ON THE FARM! Summer Camp programs (Ages 5 and up, see below for younger ages): Cost: We have received funding to make our camp programs available to all income levels, please don't let cost prevent your child from attending-- contact us. Unassisted Cost $325 per week, $275 each additional child.
Times: 9am-3pm, Before & After care available from 8am-5pm or longer by arrangement. Exception: Wednesdays last until 4:30, when family and friends may visit the camp from 3:30 to 4:30 (optional). Half Day 9am-12 for 5-6 yr olds available.
After/ Before Care: available 8am-5pm or longer by arrangement: $15/hr (24 hour advance notice)
What to Bring: Brown bag lunch and two snacks, sunscreen and/or long sleeved clothing, a hat with a brim, shoes and clothes that can get wet or dirty, bathing suit, towel, and a water bottle.
First Time visitor? Parent/Guardian please stay until child feels secure and be available for lunchtime pickup on the first day if needed.
Ages 13 and older: inquire about special opportunities for teens and adults.
Week 2: Monday, July 2 to Friday, July 6 – FIRE wind water WORKS
Explore each of the four elements – earth, fire, wind, and water – and their special powers. Build a model boat, make a windmill, cook and dry with the sun, build an earth stove. Taste vegetables grown with earth, water and sun, feed your body and imagination with their powers. Build a fire in our brick oven to make your own pizza at our 4th of July Fire wind water Works celebration.
Week 3: Monday, July 9 to Friday, July 13 – SuperPlants of the Farm & Forest
Learn about and taste how the wild and cultivated plants at Seed Song Farm can give you super powers including strong muscles, day and night vision, and fast healing. Walk in the woods to find secret wild plants. Use seeds, leaves, and petals to create works of art. Seed, plant, care for, harvest, and eat the vegetables, herbs, flowers, and berries that give us super powers.
Week 4: Monday, July 16 to Friday, July 20 – Esopus Village Back in Time
Travel back in time and explore the lifeways and wisdom of the Esopus People of the 1500's that lived on and farmed this land. Work in the wicwam, play traditional games, meet around the fire pit, and cultivate the field of corn, beans, squash, and other heritage crops. Explore the woods and creek, find signs of wildlife. Make tools and art from natural materials, sing songs, and tell stories.
Week 5: Booked
Week 6: Monday, July 30 to Friday, August 3 – Tentative theme: Sheep, Chickens & Wild Animals
Care for the animals of the farm and forest and learn about them. Choose a mammal, reptile, amphibian, insect, bird, fish, or microorganism animal spirit guide, and explore how its gifts may change you. Make an animal mask, listen to animal stories from the many past and present cultural traditions of Kingston. Create a song, dance, costume, or sculpture. At Friday's Council of All Beings, share with the group your animal spirit and the work that it inspired.
Week 7: Booked
Week 8: August 13 through August 17- Young Seed Song Farmers Week
A whole week of plants, pollinating insects, preparing farm snacks, and exploring the work and play of a Seed Song Sustainable Farmer. Learn permacultural techniques, help staff a farmstand and prepare for CSA distribution, sing songs of food and farming, play in the dirt, and participate in the all aspects of bringing food from seed and soil to table and market.
Week 9: August 20 through August 24- Best of Seed Song Summer Camp!
A week full of the most popular activities from the previous camp weeks. Campers will help decide-- will it be the waterslide? harvesting berries for the solar oven fruitcake? studying insects? Art with special guests? making flower bouquets? The chicken and fox game? playing a song with the band? Whichever we choose, its a guaranteed week of fun!
Week 10: August 27 through August 31: Esopus Village Back in Time part 2
Travel back in time and explore the lifeways and wisdom of the Esopus People of the 1500's that lived on and farmed this land. Work in the wicwam, play traditional games, meet around the fire pit, and cultivate the field of corn, beans, squash, and other heritage crops. Explore the woods and creek, find signs of wildlife. Make tools and art from natural materials, sing songs, and tell stories. Special visit from members of Neetopk Keetopk, our local group of indigenous people and allies.
Ages 3-4:
2-hour programs for Ages 3-4 and younger with parent or guardian
Wednesdays from July 4 to August 1, 2:30 to 4:30pm. (inquire about informal visits after August 1).
Cost: We have received funding to make our camp programs available to all income levels, please don't let cost prevent your child from attending-- contact us. Unassisted Cost $20 per child, each additional child $15.
Wednesday, July 4 FIRE wind water WORKS
Wednesday, July 11 SuperPlants of the Farm and Forest
Wednesday, July 18 Esopus Village Back in Time
Wednesday, August 1 Sheep, Chickens, and Wild Animals
After August 1, please inquire about informally visiting the camp with your child during the morning or afternoon.
Programs each week for children ages 3-4 and younger mirror the program themes for the older children that week. As a short part of each Wednesday afternoon program, older children will share their work of the week with the younger children. Songs, a themed activity, picking and/or tasting farm products, and often a short haywagon ride round out the afternoon. Feel free to stay on after 4:30 to visit Seed Song Farm's CSA distribution, at which fresh chemical-free produce can be purchased including you-pick activities.
Location: Seed Song Farm, 160 Esopus Avenue, Kingston, NY
Espanol: Si, nosotros hablamos espanol
Frequently Asked Questions:
Training, CPR and background checks of the staff:
What is the age range of the camp staff? Currently 1 x 50's, 1 x 40's, 1 x 30's, 4 x 20's, teen Counsellors-in-Training (CIT's) & helpers.
What is the ratio of staff:campers? It ranges between 1:6 and 1:12, with a minimum of 2 staff on hand.
How do you prepare for medical emergencies and health issues? Our staff is trained and certified in First Aid by the Red Cross. The training teaches when it is appropriate to call 911. One of Seed Song Center's board members is highly active with, and travels widely as a volunteer for, Red Cross and has put together our emergency plan. Another board member is a Registered Nurse and serves as our Medical Director.
Do you have a typical daily schedule? We have a default schedule. We adapt it as each week progresses based on camper excitement:
9:00 morning hands-on task and play
9:15 morning circle and farm care activities
10:00 learning theme activity
10:45 snack
11:00 game or arts/crafts/building activities
12:00 lunch and play
1:00 learning theme and/or multi-arts and building activities
2:30 singing/ game/ closure
3:00 pickup
Are lunch/snacks provided, or should we send the child with lunch and snacks? There will be fresh farm snacks but lunch and 2 snacks need to be provided (see registration info on website). Please pack lunches that do not need to be refrigerated.
Questions? Please contact us at info@seedsongfarm.org or leave a message at 845-383-1528 and we'll call you back.
One-Week SUMMER ON THE FARM! Summer Camp programs (Ages 5 and up, see below for younger ages): Cost: We have received funding to make our camp programs available to all income levels, please don't let cost prevent your child from attending-- contact us. Unassisted Cost $325 per week, $275 each additional child.
Times: 9am-3pm, Before & After care available from 8am-5pm or longer by arrangement. Exception: Wednesdays last until 4:30, when family and friends may visit the camp from 3:30 to 4:30 (optional). Half Day 9am-12 for 5-6 yr olds available.
After/ Before Care: available 8am-5pm or longer by arrangement: $15/hr (24 hour advance notice)
What to Bring: Brown bag lunch and two snacks, sunscreen and/or long sleeved clothing, a hat with a brim, shoes and clothes that can get wet or dirty, bathing suit, towel, and a water bottle.
First Time visitor? Parent/Guardian please stay until child feels secure and be available for lunchtime pickup on the first day if needed.
Ages 13 and older: inquire about special opportunities for teens and adults.
Week 2: Monday, July 2 to Friday, July 6 – FIRE wind water WORKS
Explore each of the four elements – earth, fire, wind, and water – and their special powers. Build a model boat, make a windmill, cook and dry with the sun, build an earth stove. Taste vegetables grown with earth, water and sun, feed your body and imagination with their powers. Build a fire in our brick oven to make your own pizza at our 4th of July Fire wind water Works celebration.
Week 3: Monday, July 9 to Friday, July 13 – SuperPlants of the Farm & Forest
Learn about and taste how the wild and cultivated plants at Seed Song Farm can give you super powers including strong muscles, day and night vision, and fast healing. Walk in the woods to find secret wild plants. Use seeds, leaves, and petals to create works of art. Seed, plant, care for, harvest, and eat the vegetables, herbs, flowers, and berries that give us super powers.
Week 4: Monday, July 16 to Friday, July 20 – Esopus Village Back in Time
Travel back in time and explore the lifeways and wisdom of the Esopus People of the 1500's that lived on and farmed this land. Work in the wicwam, play traditional games, meet around the fire pit, and cultivate the field of corn, beans, squash, and other heritage crops. Explore the woods and creek, find signs of wildlife. Make tools and art from natural materials, sing songs, and tell stories.
Week 5: Booked
Week 6: Monday, July 30 to Friday, August 3 – Tentative theme: Sheep, Chickens & Wild Animals
Care for the animals of the farm and forest and learn about them. Choose a mammal, reptile, amphibian, insect, bird, fish, or microorganism animal spirit guide, and explore how its gifts may change you. Make an animal mask, listen to animal stories from the many past and present cultural traditions of Kingston. Create a song, dance, costume, or sculpture. At Friday's Council of All Beings, share with the group your animal spirit and the work that it inspired.
Week 7: Booked
Week 8: August 13 through August 17- Young Seed Song Farmers Week
A whole week of plants, pollinating insects, preparing farm snacks, and exploring the work and play of a Seed Song Sustainable Farmer. Learn permacultural techniques, help staff a farmstand and prepare for CSA distribution, sing songs of food and farming, play in the dirt, and participate in the all aspects of bringing food from seed and soil to table and market.
Week 9: August 20 through August 24- Best of Seed Song Summer Camp!
A week full of the most popular activities from the previous camp weeks. Campers will help decide-- will it be the waterslide? harvesting berries for the solar oven fruitcake? studying insects? Art with special guests? making flower bouquets? The chicken and fox game? playing a song with the band? Whichever we choose, its a guaranteed week of fun!
Week 10: August 27 through August 31: Esopus Village Back in Time part 2
Travel back in time and explore the lifeways and wisdom of the Esopus People of the 1500's that lived on and farmed this land. Work in the wicwam, play traditional games, meet around the fire pit, and cultivate the field of corn, beans, squash, and other heritage crops. Explore the woods and creek, find signs of wildlife. Make tools and art from natural materials, sing songs, and tell stories. Special visit from members of Neetopk Keetopk, our local group of indigenous people and allies.
Ages 3-4:
2-hour programs for Ages 3-4 and younger with parent or guardian
Wednesdays from July 4 to August 1, 2:30 to 4:30pm. (inquire about informal visits after August 1).
Cost: We have received funding to make our camp programs available to all income levels, please don't let cost prevent your child from attending-- contact us. Unassisted Cost $20 per child, each additional child $15.
Wednesday, July 4 FIRE wind water WORKS
Wednesday, July 11 SuperPlants of the Farm and Forest
Wednesday, July 18 Esopus Village Back in Time
Wednesday, August 1 Sheep, Chickens, and Wild Animals
After August 1, please inquire about informally visiting the camp with your child during the morning or afternoon.
Programs each week for children ages 3-4 and younger mirror the program themes for the older children that week. As a short part of each Wednesday afternoon program, older children will share their work of the week with the younger children. Songs, a themed activity, picking and/or tasting farm products, and often a short haywagon ride round out the afternoon. Feel free to stay on after 4:30 to visit Seed Song Farm's CSA distribution, at which fresh chemical-free produce can be purchased including you-pick activities.
Location: Seed Song Farm, 160 Esopus Avenue, Kingston, NY
Espanol: Si, nosotros hablamos espanol
Frequently Asked Questions:
Training, CPR and background checks of the staff:
- We received our official summer camp permit from the Ulster County Dept of Health!
- We have on-site staff trained and certified by the Red Cross in first aid, CPR, AED, and Waterfront Safety.
- All staff have undergone criminal / sexual offender background check through NYJD
What is the age range of the camp staff? Currently 1 x 50's, 1 x 40's, 1 x 30's, 4 x 20's, teen Counsellors-in-Training (CIT's) & helpers.
What is the ratio of staff:campers? It ranges between 1:6 and 1:12, with a minimum of 2 staff on hand.
How do you prepare for medical emergencies and health issues? Our staff is trained and certified in First Aid by the Red Cross. The training teaches when it is appropriate to call 911. One of Seed Song Center's board members is highly active with, and travels widely as a volunteer for, Red Cross and has put together our emergency plan. Another board member is a Registered Nurse and serves as our Medical Director.
Do you have a typical daily schedule? We have a default schedule. We adapt it as each week progresses based on camper excitement:
9:00 morning hands-on task and play
9:15 morning circle and farm care activities
10:00 learning theme activity
10:45 snack
11:00 game or arts/crafts/building activities
12:00 lunch and play
1:00 learning theme and/or multi-arts and building activities
2:30 singing/ game/ closure
3:00 pickup
Are lunch/snacks provided, or should we send the child with lunch and snacks? There will be fresh farm snacks but lunch and 2 snacks need to be provided (see registration info on website). Please pack lunches that do not need to be refrigerated.
Questions? Please contact us at info@seedsongfarm.org or leave a message at 845-383-1528 and we'll call you back.
| summer_on_the_farm_day_program_registration_form_only_6-2018.pdf |
