Mission & Activities
Family Camp follows the traditions and values set forth by the rest of Farm & Wilderness, but with a distinct family flavor. Families of all constellations gather together at the end of the summer to enjoy each other and Farm & Wilderness. Family Camp is full of activity, fun and relaxation: hiking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, music, creative arts, performing arts, feeding farm animals, harvesting the bounty from the summer gardens and preparing meals. Campers may prefer to chat or read by the fireplace, under the trees on the lawn, or at the swimming area by the lake. Families have the option to participate in a day’s program or to pursue interests separately. (Families with infants and toddlers find that bringing additional adults as child-care helpers allows them to fully participate in the days’ activities, chores, and evening programs.)
Each family sleeps in a three-sided rustic cabin at Indian Brook or at nearby Tamarack Farm. Cabins are equipped with bunks for sleeping.
The lodge is the center of Family Camp life. Meals are made and eaten in the lodge, providing opportunities for shared work and relaxation. There, too, are lovely fireplaces around which we hold Silent Meeting on cold mornings or sing rounds at night. Before meals and throughout the day, campers can be found around the lodge making music, in conversation, or simply catnapping. After meals, each member of the community shares the exciting moments of his or her day, and together they make plans for the next day.
Family Campers who return year after year tell us how time seems suspended and how much they value the special atmosphere that helps create a loving extended family, nourishes the individual, relaxes tensions, deepens relationships, and invigorates them for the coming year.
