Vermont Summer Camps for Kids & Teens
What’s New
The Campers Are Alright: 8 Ways To Prepare For Overnight Camp At F&W
Sending your child to overnight camp can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, especially if it’s their first time – and yours! At Farm & Wilderness, we believe in joyful play, purposeful work, and rugged outdoor living. Our camps in Vermont offer a unique opportunity for children to unplug from their screens and connect with nature, themselves, and their peers. If you’re sending your child to camp for the first time, we’ve got eight tips to prepare them (and maybe you) for the summer.
1. Start talking About Camp!
It’s important to prepare the whole family for time away at camp. Talk to them about what to expect, the activities they’ll be doing, and the friends they’ll make. If you have great stories about your own camp experiences, share them! Encourage your child to ask questions and express any concerns they may have.
2. Familiarize them (and you!) with Farm & Wilderness.
Take advantage of a pre-summer video call with our fabulous camp directors, check out our Fall Walkthrough videos, and look at the maps on each camp’s page. Scroll through the Instagram together to see photos of activities and get a sense of the daily life at our camps. Getting familiar with F&W can help alleviate anxiety by making camp feel more familiar and less intimidating.
3. Prepare for Homesickness
Most everyone feels it at camp at some point, especially if it’s their first summer. Encourage your child to talk to their camp counselor or another staff member when they feel homesick. Remind them that it’s normal to miss home and that it will pass, even if it doesn’t feel like it in the moment. Sending a small, familiar item from home, like a favorite stuffed animal or family photo, can also help ease homesickness. Homesickness tends to hit hardest in the quieter moments, and if you get a letter, don’t panic – reach out to your camp. It’s possible that your kiddo is already over their homesickness by the time you get the letter!
4. Involve Your Camper in the Packing Process
Giving your child some control over what they bring to camp can help ease any anxieties they may have. Review the packing list together and let them choose which clothes, toys, and books they want to bring. Remind them to pack for the activities they’ll be doing and the weather they’ll be experiencing. This also helps on arrival, as they know what they need to set up their sleeping area. Counselors will guide campers in unpacking but won’t do it for them upon arrival. For more detail on packing for camp, check out our podcast episode where our Director of Enrollment breaks down the process!
5. Prepare Them for the Rustic Living
Our camps in Vermont offer a rustic, outdoor living experience. This means no phones, no TVs, and no electricity in the cabins. Encourage your child to embrace the simplicity of camp life and enjoy being disconnected from technology. They’ll have plenty of opportunities for adventure, creativity, and connection with nature and their peers. Yes, they might feel like they miss the screens the first few days, but we have so much going on all the time they’ll soon realize they don’t even need them!
6. Practice Separation
If your camper hasn’t been away from home for extended periods, it can be helpful to practice separation beforehand. Arrange sleepovers with friends or family members, gradually increasing the duration of time they spend away from home. This can help your child build resilience and adjust to being away from you. If you can, have them sleep outside for a night before camp so they know what it’s like.
7. Encourage participation
There is so much going on each day, and we believe in the value of trying new things. Encourage your camper to participate in all of the camp activities, even if they’re unsure or nervous. Our experienced staff will provide a supportive and safe environment for them to explore and grow. This even goes for trying new foods and making new friends, so encourage them to stay open!
8. Celebrate their independence
Overnight camp offers an excellent opportunity for your child to develop independence and self-reliance. Encourage them to take on age-appropriate responsibilities at home in the weeks leading up to camp, such as packing their own bags or making simple decisions. This will build their confidence and make them feel more prepared to handle new experiences.
Sending your child to overnight camp at Farm & Wilderness is a big decision! With our supportive community, expert staff, and amazing activities, your child is sure to have an unforgettable experience. Just remember to keep an open mind, communicate with your child and their camp staff, and trust in the magic of camp. We hope these tips have been helpful, and we look forward to seeing your child at Farm & Wilderness this summer!
Remember, Camp Magic is real y’all!
Jarod “W” Wunneburger
Director of Timberlake & Director of Camps
Behind the Scenes: How We Prepare for a Summer Like No Other
Are you ready for an epic summer at Farm and Wilderness? The trees are turning green in Vermont, and summer feels so close. The staff of F&W is already hard at work preparing to make this summer the best one yet. For those who have never been to a summer camp in Vermont, you’re in for a treat. A summer with us is filled with joyful play, purposeful work, rugged outdoor living, beautiful scenery, and endless incredible activities. TF Director Kate has been deep in the land of Excel prepping for the summer: “I have been having so much fun with the TF leadership team building out our camp calendar, planning camp magic for our campers, but also for our staff! There’s a lot of laughter for three people looking at spreadsheets.” In this blog post, we’ll share seven things that Farm & Wilderness has been up to in preparation for the summer.
Preparing the Grounds
One of the essential things the team is doing is getting the grounds ready for the summer. This includes mowing the grass, cleaning up fallen branches, and preparing the cabins for new campers. Led by Jay Kullman, Director of Sustainable Resources, the team is taking advantage of the snow finally melting to get our nearly 104,000 square feet of buildings ready to receive folks this summer. In fact, the entire Farm & Wilderness Year-Round staff will be helping clean those Kybos out!
Hiring Excellent Staff
Another crucial part of preparing for the summer is hiring nearly 250 staff across all our camps. We’re looking for enthusiastic and responsible staff members who can lead activities, mentor campers, and create a fun and safe environment. We’re searching for individuals who are passionate about working with children and who have experience in areas such as arts, trips, construction, and more. We have an incredible team coming together this summer ready to champion each of our campers. BDC Director Emily said it best: “I am excited for the Barn Day Camp staff to share all of their unique skills and talents with campers this summer; we’ve got musicians, artists, rock climbers, storytellers, boaters, tinkerers, and more!”
Developing our Camp Programs
We’ve also been working on developing our diverse programs for the summer. Farm and Wilderness provides incredible experiences for our campers, and the Camp Directors have been focused on intentionally building those experiences to incorporate teamwork, leadership, and communication skills. “We’re planning some awesome updates to the camp program, including the return of Wilderness Adventurers, and, for the first time in about 5 years, bringing back our low ropes course!” SAM Camp Director Adair told us. We know how important it is for our campers to unplug for a bit, and we’ve been working hard to create spaces where campers feel safe, learn, and grow, all while having fun.
Planning Legendary Events
There are so many big events across our camps! From Topsy Turvy Tuesday to Harvest Day to Banquets, Camp Directors are planning special events that will make the summer unforgettable. We want our campers to create memories that will last a lifetime, and each camp has its list of traditional events to do just that. These events might only last a few hours, but they take weeks of planning, even in the off-season, to pull off. Remember, the big events are all about the little details!
Ensuring Safety
Safety is always a top priority for us, especially as we play in the woods. Camp directors are working hard to minimize risk in everything we do, including long hiking trips, lake swimming, fire building, and animal work. The entire F&W staff recently underwent training on our Emergency Action Plan and all levels of support within the organization to respond when needed. With 85 years of experience, F&W knows how to keep campers safe while allowing them to explore and build new skills.
Communicating with Families
Camp directors and our admissions team have been reaching out to families to keep them informed about preparing for summer. We’re ready to answer all your questions! We’ve created podcasts, packing lists, camp walkthroughs, and more to ensure our campers (and their families!) are ready for the summer. Feel free to reach out to us with any needs you have.
Training Staff
Training staff members is another critical part of preparing for summer camp. Camp directors provide training sessions to ensure staff members are prepared to lead activities, mentor campers, and create a safe and fun environment. These sessions cover topics such as conflict resolution, communication skills, and emergency procedures. We provide an industry-leading 20 days of training for our staff, during which they get to know each other, set up camp, and learn everything needed to make the summer great.
We are thrilled for the summer! So much will be happening in the next few weeks to make this an unplugged and unforgettable experience. Directors have been dreaming and planning since staff left last fall, and we can’t wait to do it all again. We are incredibly honored to create experiences for your kids and hope you’ll continue to be part of Farm & Wilderness for years to come.
Remember, Camp Magic is real y’all!
Jarod “W” Wunneburger
Director of Timberlake & Director of Camps
F&W Upcoming Board of Trustees Meeting
Dear Farm & Wilderness Community,
The F&W Board of Trustees is entering an exciting new phase of board development. Over the next year, we will be undertaking intentional development work to become a better governing board. This work will begin at our upcoming May meeting.
Our work dovetails with the completion of F&W/Farm & Wilderness Conservation’s 2023-2026 strategy: Growing for Good, which you will be hearing more about soon! In addition to initiatives such as Affordable for All and the expansion of our conservation work as Farm & Wilderness Conservation, the strategy recognizes the critical work the Board of Trustees began in 2021 and will continue to do to become the visionary, inclusive governing body that effectively partners with the leadership of F&W/FWC to ensure the organization thrives for decades to come.
This is truly an exciting time for us.
It is also a time to celebrate the contributions of two Trustees, Carolyn Rouse and Kristi Webb, whose terms end this month. Carolyn has been a valuable member of the Conservation Committee, Governance Committee, and Clerk of the HR Committee for the past three years.
Kristi, a grand daughter of the founders of F&W, has served on almost every committee and working group during her 20-year tenure on the board. She has been Clerk of the Board, Clerk of the Development Committee, Member of the Governance Committee, and Recording Clerk. Her term as Clerk of the Board coincided with the COVID pandemic and the arrival of a new Executive Director. Over that time Kristi provided steady and sure leadership. She has truly left her mark on the Board, and we are so grateful for her decades of service. While Kristi will be leaving the board, she has generously agreed to work with Frances and our Development team.
As part of our May meeting, the Board Stewardship Committee will present two prospective Trustees to the Board for acceptance.
As is customary, we will also receive an update on the progress toward our 2023 goals for both F&W and FWC.
Sincerely,
Ann-Marie White
Clerk, Farm & Wilderness Board of Trustees
VIEW ALL BLOG POSTS
2023 Summer Camp Information | Shelburne Farms
Watch below to see some fun-filled moments from Summer Camp at Shelburne Farms!
(Images from 2022)
vimeo.com/video/785994436?h=727b0eaff8″>
Immersed in the daily cycles of our farm community, campers experience the stories of the Land as they play, explore, and discover the wonders of the natural world. Our camps are designed to meet the developmental needs of each age group. Whether you have a younger camper excited to see the animals and search for eggs, or you have an older camper ready to cook and help the farmers, our camps offer age-appropriate experiences for curious campers of all ages.
All campers can expect a full week of adventures as they explore the many habitats and agricultural spaces around the Farm. Throughout the camp day, we offer lots of choices and often split up into smaller groups based on interest or ages. Some examples of camp choices include, but are not limited to visiting and caring for our farm animals, exploring the pond to dip for critters, meeting a newborn calf at the dairy, taking a tractor wagon ride to pick blueberries in the field, washing and spinning our sheep’s wool into yarn, baking bread and making butter, building forts and animal homes in the forest, picking kale to roast over a fire, digging, chopping, dicing, and tasting our way through the garden, etc.
We feel it is essential for all campers to be immersed in real farm experiences that engage campers in the daily cycles and rhythm of farm happenings and foster the development of a supportive community. All of our camps strive to encourage youth voice, nurture curiosity, and strengthen the connection between children, our food systems, and the natural world.
Opportunities for Teens
There are many ways for older campers to engage with the complexity of farm life, explore the forests and lake, build strong relationships with the land and each other, and have fun! All of our teen programs work to prioritize youth voice, leadership, and genuine engagement with each other and our ecosystem. We offer three programs over the course of the summer ranging from day camps, overnight experiences, and leadership roles.
- Market Garden (ages 11-13, 13-15): Our Market Garden camp is a week-long day program focused on all things food.
Campers will participate in farm chores, prepare meals and snacks to share, and have the opportunity to enjoy the surrounding forests, fields, and lakes. This camp connects us to our food system and builds community through sharing meals, playing games, and exploring the farm.
- Beyond the Barn (overnight) (ages 14-17): Beyond the Barn is an overnight, week-long camp that invites high school aged campers to engage in building essential farm and life skills through authentic farm-based projects and community connection. This overnight camp is a combination of traditional camping activities and unique farm experiences that immerses campers in the daily cycles and rhythm of the farm. Learn alongside our farmers, gardeners, and naturalists as we build a relationship with the land around us. The joy of preparing and sharing all meals together, group discussions, personal reflection, games, and farm chores lead to the development of a tight-knit supportive crew.
Each day will have scheduled downtime, choice activities, and the opportunity to cool off, swim, and enjoy Lake Champlain. Campers are not required to own any outdoor gear such as tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads, gear is available for campers to borrow as needed.
- Camp Youth Leader (ages 14-17): Camp Youth Leaders, under the mentorship of our education team, will learn how to facilitate hands-on activities in an agricultural and natural outdoor setting, build leadership skills, and gain place-based teaching experience while exploring the Farm with our youngest campers ages 4-8.
Camp Goals
- Provide camp programs that: are accessible to all children regardless of financial barriers, highlight the role farms play in providing our food and fiber, and inspire deep connections to community and a commitment to a sustainable future.
- Develop and sustain an inclusive and multicultural camp community that reflects and engages Vermont’s increasingly diverse populations.
- Build relationships with campers and families to encourage lifelong learning and sustained engagement with Shelburne Farms beyond summer camp through family programs, workshops, outreach, and community partnerships.
Accessibility & Inclusion
We strive to make summer camp on our working farm as accessible, safe, and inclusive as possible. We welcome campers who are emerging multilinguals, queer and questioning, as well as campers with social, emotional, physical, cognitive, or behavioral challenges, along with their 1:1 assistant or a personal care assistants. In many cases we are able to make modifications or adjustments to our program and are open to feedback or ideas. If you have questions or concerns about how we can best support your camper, please contact Jed Norris, Director of Farm-Based Youth Programs, at [email protected].
Program Accessibility & Scholarship Fund
Shelburne Farms is committed to ensuring that finances are not a barrier to children experiencing our summer youth programs. We offer need-based financial assistance in an effort to make camp accessible to all children regardless of financial barriers. Applicants enrolled in summer camp will be able to select financial assistance using a need-based sliding scale. For those able, your donation to the Accessibility & Scholarship Fund is greatly appreciated. Thank you for helping all children to experience the joys of summer on the Farm.
COVID-19 Information
Before applying or visiting the Farm, please read our COVID Policies & Information.
Before & After Care
Campers may be dropped off as early as 8am and picked up as late as 5pm for all full-day camps. Before Care is available for all half-day morning camps and After Care is available for all half-day afternoon camps. Fee: $3/half hour per family.
Camp Drop off & Pick up Locations
We have assigned a drop off/pick up location for each camp, but all camps will spend their days exploring all over the farm. We’ll meet the farmers, animals, and get to know our meadows, fields, pastures, pond, dairy, farmyard, and gardens as we deepen our relationships with the food and natural systems of our farm community.
- Outdoor Classroom at Farm Barn (FB): Located in the forest behind the Farm Barn. The Outdoor Classroom has a campfire circle, the old sugarhouse for cubby space, work tables, running water, and an enclosed composting toilet.
- Farm Barn (side lawn): Located in the lawn on the North side of the Farm Barn. The location offers lots of space for gathering and easy access to a kitchen work space, bathrooms, the farmyard, gardens, campfire circle, and trails.
- Market Garden: Located at the Market Garden, a mixed vegetable and flower garden with fields and greenhouses. The Market Garden has a covered pavilion, campfire circle, outdoor kitchen, running water, and an enclosed composting toilet.
- Outdoor Classroom at Coach Barn (CB): Located in the forest behind the Coach Barn. The Outdoor Classroom has a campfire circle, outdoor kitchen, sheltered lean-tos, running water, and an enclosed composting toilet with an accessibility ramp and sink for hand washing.
2023 Summer Program Dates (Ages 4 – 17)
- 2023 Camps by Dates
- 2023 Camps by Ages (4 – 17)
- Work and Learn Opportunities (Ages 14–17)
2023 Application & Enrollment Information
Summer Camp & Camp Youth Leader Application Dates:
- Initial placement process (January 15 – 18, 2023) has ended. We encourage you to still submit an online application.
- Summer Camp Youth Leader program currently has openings. Applications will continue to be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis.
- Camp Openings and Short Waitlists: We currently have camp openings in our Beyond the Barn (overnight) Camp for ages 14-17, and short waitlists in our Teen Camps for ages 11-13 and 13-15.
- Placement Notifications sent via email January 31st: Accepted and Waitlist Notifications were sent to all applications received between January 15 – 18. 2023.
- January 19 – August 14, 2023: First come, first served applications continue to be considered for remaining openings or for the waitlist.
- Review full Application and Placement process here
- Review Frequently Asked Questions here
APPLY NOW
Login to Your Account
Questions:
- If you have any questions regarding specific camps and programming, please email Christine Lutters, Assistant Camp Director, at [email protected].
- If you have any questions regarding the application process, login information or using our CampBrain registration system, or financial assistance, please email Delanté Keys, Camp Registrar, at [email protected].
Children’s camps in Samara
Cashback 2023 Early booking Summer camps 2023
- recommended
- cheaper
9 0008 more expensive
Academy
5+
Russia Samara region
Samara 2023 | Summer holidays with benefit and without gadgets in the company of active counselors and new friends. Master classes, games, walks, competitions, team building, hiking and an unforgettable holiday! 5-14 years old.
Prices from
18,000
More
TOP Academy Camp Togliatti
8+
Russia Samara region
City IT camp in Togliatti 2023 | 8-15 years | Modern promising IT areas, creative intellectual environment, bright and useful holidays.
Prices from
20,000
11,000
Read more
Englishburgh
7+
Russia Samara region
Language camp in the Samara region WITH SPEAKERS! The camp is held on the basis of DOL “Tsiolkovsky”. An unforgettable vacation in a pine forest, with a 24-hour medical center and five meals a day.
Read more
Comedy Kids
10+
Russia Samara region health-improving center “Tsiolkovsky”.
More details
Fox-club (urban)
7+
Russia Samara region
“Fox-club” invites children to have fun in a linguistic day camp. Children will improve their knowledge of English, will be able to learn a lot of new and interesting things about English-speaking countries!
Read more
Language Assistant
7+
Russia Samara region
consolidate your knowledge directly practicing language skills with experienced teachers and peers.
More details
Magic English
7+
Russia Samara region
Language camp “Magic English” invites all children to the language program! “Magic English” is an outdoor activity with the practice of English.
More details
Magic English
7+
Russia Samara region
The English club “MAGIC English” together with the boarding house “Health” invites children 7-15 years old to a linguistic camp . This is a unique opportunity for a child to combine business with pleasure, not only to relax, but also to improve their knowledge of a foreign language!
More details
Magic English First
7+
Russia Samara region
Summer-2017! Children’s club Magic English First invites all children to combine active recreation and learning with the practice of English during the summer holidays!
Read more
Milliclub
7+
Russia Samara region
Introducing the day camp from the Samara club of young millionaires. Over the course of 10 days, we are waiting for lessons in leadership, entrepreneurship, financial literacy using unique author’s methods!
More details
Winter Camp
7+
Russia Samara region
A camp where a child will not only take the course of a young fighter, but also have fun and have a great rest!
More details
ABVGDeyka
7+
Russia Samara region us! We guarantee exciting adventures, a lot of joy, games, developing creative activities! A unique entertainment program, attentive counselors, an individual approach to each child are far from all the advantages that our camp offers!
Read more
Alliance Francaise Samara
6+
Russia Samara region
Alliance language camp invites all children to spend fun and interesting holidays with us! We will learn languages, have active rest and have fun!
Read more
Alliance Française Togliatti
7+
Russia Samara region
We invite all-all-all children to the Franco-English-German linguistic camp, where bright adventures and unforgettable entertainment await us! We guarantee complete immersion in the language environment, interesting outdoor activities and a great mood!
More
Beryozka
7+
Russia Samara region
Children’s camp “Beryozka” is located near Tolyatti (Samara region), in an ecologically clean place, in a picturesque forest nom array. The territory of the camp is large and well-organized.
More
Beryozki
6+
Russia Samara region
forested area on the shore of the lake. Fresh air, beautiful nature create wonderful conditions for treatment, recreation, educational and self-educational work.
More details
VOIN
10+
Russia Samara Region
For many years we have been organizing outreach camps, the main purpose of which is to teach children the skills of building relationships with each other, enjoying communication, and the ability to work in a team , effectively achieving your goals and respecting your rivals!
More details
Volzhanka
7+
Russia Samara region
Children’s recreation camp Volzhanka is waiting for girls and boys who dream of spending the summer in a fun and interesting company of peers and counselors! We have prepared a rich program, come up with a lot of entertainment and events that will turn summer days into a sunny fairy tale!
More
Volzhsky Artek
6+
Russia Samara region built, ecologically clean and safe region. Four hectares of oak forest, excellent living conditions, an interesting program – this is what makes the rest in the camp unforgettable.
More
Zhigulevsky Artek
6+
Russia Samara region
knife of the Molodetsky mound, occupying an area of 22 hectares in the middle of the National Park “Samarskaya Luke”. We offer a truly healthy and vibrant holiday!
More
Sprocket
7+
Russia Samara region
Children’s health camp Zvezdochka is located on the right bank of the Kuibyshev reservoir, among the unique and beautiful nature of the Zhiguli Mountains, where ideal conditions are created for children of any age to relax and improve their health! Be sure to come and see for yourself!
More details
Zeleny Bereg
6+
Russia Samara region
We are waiting for children and teenagers in the recreation camp “Zeleny Bereg”! We have a lot of entertainment, creative, sports and recreational activities in our program!
More
Green suitcase
7+
Russia Samara region
Camp in Samara | Author’s program, photoart, animation, blogging, choreography, walks, discos and much more! Comfortable atmosphere of rest and a lot of pleasant impressions! 7-16 years old.
More details
Cosmos
7+
Russia Samara region
In the health-improving center “Cosmos” children are waiting for interesting and active holidays! Camp counselors organize theatrical performances for children, conduct military sports relay races, hikes, arrange checkers and chess tournaments and evenings of bard songs, discos.
More
Children’s camps in the Samara region 2022 – this is about fifty health camps, in which a total of about 7-10 thousand children aged 7 to 15 have a rest during the season.
The Samara region is a beautiful Volga, the Zhiguli mountains, picturesque places, as well as a temperate continental climate with rather warm summers, which makes it possible to organize children’s recreation in the region.
The average capacity of camps in Samara is 400-500 children per shift. This number includes not only children who travel on budget vouchers, but also children whose parents have purchased a voucher privately. Due to the implementation of such vouchers, the preparation and organization of children’s summer recreational holidays are mainly carried out.
Many camps in Samara hold profile shifts in the summer – spiritual and educational, theatrical, military and sports, language, music, etc.
In addition to Samara, the highest density of camps is also observed in the suburbs of Tolyatti.
Children’s health camps in the Samara region, prices for vouchers 2023
Camp sites
Hotels
Sanatoriums
Golden ring
river cruises
Saint Petersburg
Rest in Crimea
Ski tours
Event tours
Rest on the sea
Children’s rest
Leisure
Weekend tours
Knowledge Wagon
Probably, every parent has faced such a problem: the child should have a rest during the holidays, and work or business does not allow adults to go with their beloved child to a camp site, on a river cruise or to a resort. How to be in this situation? In 2023, children’s health camps, which operate not only in warm sea areas, but also in our native Samara region, can become an excellent solution for many families.
Children’s camps in the Samara region: conditions are excellent!
It should be noted that recently many of our children’s (former pioneer) camps have become noticeably prettier, having acquired both an external gloss and all the necessary attributes of modern health centers.
Corps in the camps are stationary, warm. The rooms where the children are accommodated are very comfortable and comfortable. Meals – 5 meals a day. Experienced teachers and doctors work with children.
We add that on the territory of many of our camps whole sports towns have grown up with numerous playgrounds for playing sports. A number of children’s health resorts now have their own swimming pools and very good medical complexes. In general, our young generation has a rest in very good conditions, which their parents could not even dream of at one time . ..
Vouchers to a children’s health camp in the season – 2023: both in summer and in winter!
It is also very important that children’s health camps in the Samara region are now ready to receive schoolchildren not only in the summer months, but also in the autumn-winter period. Living conditions and the material base of health resorts allows you to do this.
It should be noted that many of our children’s centers now regularly practice specialized races, within which various festivals, competitions, reviews, and master classes are held. It is also possible to combine studies in the camps with in-depth treatment.
So that parents can be calm: rest in a children’s health camp will definitely benefit your child.
Vouchers to DOL Samara region you can always buy in the travel company “Samaraintour”. We are always glad to communicate with you!
I want here!
Send an application for the selection of the tour
Your name: *
Phone: *
Email:
A comment:
Enter code: *
By checking the box, I give my consent to the processing of my personal data in accordance with the law No.