About F&W
Mission and Programs:
Guided by the Quaker belief that the Light of the Spirit is present in every person and the belief that people working together can create a more just and humane society, the Farm & Wilderness Foundation sponsors year-round experiences for children and adults that emphasize the building of community through the values of cooperation, simplicity, responsibility, empathy, spirituality, and service. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation.
During the summer, F&W operates five residential camps and a day-camp, serving children ages 4-17. Each camp has a slightly different program orientation, and serves a different population and age group. At the end of each summer, F&W offers a Family Camp so that all members of the family can experience the F&W magic.
From September to May, F&W operates as an organic farm, offering a variety of educational experiences for community groups, school groups and our residential interns (age 18 and up.)
Each of F&W’s programs share the following common programmatic themes:
Challenging Wilderness Experiences
Wilderness trips are an integral part of the Farm & Wilderness experience. In small groups, F&W youth explore New England’s mountains, rivers and rock faces in a spirit of adventure, cooperation and community. From local hikes to week-long canoe expeditions in Canada, trips are a vital and memorable part of the F&W experience.
Organic Farms and Gardens
Activities at F&W are rooted in our relationship to the land. Through interactions with animals and gardens, F&W seeks to expand awareness of the beauty and value of the natural world around us, as well as of a tangible connection to the food we eat.
Living in Community
The essence of F&W has always been about learning to live in groups, often made up of individuals different from ourselves. We practice listening skills, work productively together, and resolve conflict nonviolently.
Life of the Spirit
By offering time and space for quiet reflection and worship, we encourage campers and staff to build their spiritual life within their own traditions. Acknowledging and supporting the life of the spirit within each of us is central to our values and the health of our communities.
Homegrown Arts, Dance and Music
There are no televisions at F&W, no CD players and no MP3s-—only the sounds of voices joined in song and instruments from well-tuned fiddles to pots and pans. We make our own fun, from wacky art projects to old-time New England contra dances with our very own band of campers and staff. Here, children can learn to express themselves in ways often forgotten in this too-busy world.
