Stories & Testimonials
The camper and parent testimonials below are taken directly from feedback forms that are filled out at the end of each summer. The creative spelling and grammar have been left intact, edited only for clarity.
From Campers…
What is the most fun thing that happened for you?
“EVERYTHING – BEST SUMMER OF MY LIFE OH THIS SUMMER WAS AMAZING! I LOVE TAMARACK FARM! I CAN’T WAIT TO GO BACK! The most fun thing? The lake, the garden, my friends, the staff, the kitchen, work projects, SINGING, late night, Postum House, trips, hanging out.. GARDEN HEAR!!, Naming Ceremonies, FAIR, FAIR FAIR!!!”
“The rock climbing trip because it really pushed my limits and because of that everything I did was worth it.”
What’s the most difficult thing that happened to you?
“The most difficult thing was coming to camp in a strange place for the whole summer where I only knew one person. The other hardest thing was leaving all of the friends I had made.”
What do you miss most about camp?
“The accepting atmosphere, and the closeness between me and the friends I made at camp.
I miss everything. I really miss living closely with other people and being outside and feeling happy to be around such amazing people. I miss being away from school and I miss not being.”
If you wanted your friend to come to camp, what would you tell his/her parents to convince them to send your friend?
“It’s life changing and amazing.”
“Tamarack Farm doesn’t just teach you how to use a shovel or clean up after the chickens. It teaches you the importance of everything you do and how one person can affect their surroundings. To learn this is something to be carried with you throughout life and not just over the summer.”
“I would tell them it’s safe and that my friends will never get to be friends with so many people in one summer and learn so many things and do so many things ever again.”
Tell us about the most memorable thing you learned.
“I learned a lot about living with other people, and I became more comfortable with the opposite sex, I learned how to relax more and have fun.”
“That my body is something that is not only for show and beauty, but a tool and a useful part of me. I learned to LOVE and to RESPECT those around me.”
What are you most looking forward to next summer at camp?
“Next summer at camp I am looking forward to meeting more new people and seeing the old ones again as a different person with a whole school year gone by and working and playing again in the whole camp feeling.”
“Town Meeting! And the people.”
From Parents…
What has changed in your child’s behavior? Do you like the changes?
“I like the changes: more cheery, loving chores (was anyway but improved), general maturation, happier at school than I remember him at this stage last year, more self-assured.”
“My son has more self confidence and appreciation of his own value. He also seems to have a greater awareness of others. He seems more willing to stand up for himself against his father – to a certain extent.”
Were you satisfied with the quality of the care, counseling, and teaching demonstrated by the counselors and senior staff this summer? Please explain.
“Fabulous. Counselors were welcoming to parents – He loved his counselors.”
“Yes – she had a very good experience, she liked her counselors and the staff in general, it seemed to be a very positive and nurturing experience.”
What in-camp activities did your child report to you? Was s/he satisfied with the in-camp program? Are you?
“In camp – farm duties. Sewing, photography, knitting, building - She was satisfied w/all – they seemed to fit the setting.”
“She particularly enjoyed and learned from the chance to do carpentry and design work.”
“She loves gardening and the trip. She loves the opportunity to be independent and a working part of a community.”
OVERALL EXPERIENCE - How did it all add up for your child? Please make any additional comments on your child’s experience not covered by the above questions.
“I think the camps live the Quaker ethic. Between meeting for worship, programmed discussions and just living with people who are living that ethic, the Quaker piece is strong.”
“I think the Farm does a great job, music, respect for nature.”
“I think the Quaker ethic is consistent with our family ethic and his seeing others sharing these values, strengthens them for him. I think the 5th freedom strengthened his confidence & security and loosened him up some.”
“Tamarack Farm is a place where campers can
- thrive because they feel safe;
- let themselves grow like vines in the garden, feeling all the crevices and cracks
- sweat freely, with their feet in the mud and the sun on their arched backs until they feel just right mingling with the lake and drying on the raft
- find moments to feel completely themselves, letting even some of the scary parts come out, while they lose themselves in the unusual groupness of it all
- not feel that they’ve gone to a new place, but that they’ve come home to an old one
- feel each other with tender hearts, instead of fragile heads and loins
- risk a piece of these gentle hearts to kindle a warmth that they can wrap in the sweet ache of parting and carry it safely with them as they go on adventures to other places that don’t make nearly so much sense.”
In their own words…
More from campers about their experience at Tamarack Farm.
What do you think is important for new campers to know about Tamarack Farm?
That there is a lot of emphasis on the community and that by the end of the summer you will feel comfortable with the opposite sex if you are not already.
I came to Tamarack Farm without knowing anything about it or having been to an F&W camp in a previous summer. I did not find it difficult to adapt to the new community. ...I would have liked to know that it is okay to just be myself and pretty much no matter how silly I act, people are still accepting of everyone.
That there is a focus on work… respect… love…
There is an adjustment at first, but it gets better.
The fact that the camp is co-ed is not a big deal.
Be kind. Open up and step out of your comfort zones.
It is important for new campers to know that work is a major part of TF.
Tell them that they have choices at this camp.
People will always be trying to expand your knowledge, so try to be open-minded.
Motivate yourself. Know about all your resources here. Tell them that boundaries are fine and in fact encouraged. You always have the option to be private.
That they are completely welcome by all the other campers and not to feel afraid or anything.
Don’t forget to do things. Don’t while away the hours, they will go by like that (snap).
That WORK IS LOVE MADE VISIBLE. Need I say more?
How have you changed this summer?
I have had a chance to step out of my life and re-examine my relationships at home from the outside as well as create a new idea of where I am in the world.
Not even explicable. I know so much more about myself.
I’ve become more aware of myself. I’ve just learned sooo much I don’t know where to start. I’m a lot more comfortable with my body. I’ve learned a lot of crafty skills. Overcome fears.
Wow. I have changed so much. This camp has made me more comfortable with myself, my body, other people, new ideas, etc. I have learned so much! Everything from gardening to power saws. I love that the staff here is so knowledgeable and willing to share it.
I learned about respect. Cycles. The earth. COMFORTABLE WITH MY BODY! How to face my problems. How to reach out, and search in uncommon places.
I feel more confident in myself. I learned about organic gardening, how to knit, new paths in life, besides just going to college and getting 9-5 job. I learned a lot about how everyone feels the same things. By living with people I found that others have weaknesses too.
I feel extremely recognized and honored here. I’ve grown to truly understand repercussions of actions and my impact on our small world and the larger outside.
I think I have become more of my own person and have strengthened many friendships and made other ones.
I learned how to be a plumber, how to knit, how to throw a football and that if I don’t volunteer, no one will. Oh yes, and that I have to motivate myself because nobody can do it for me.
I feel much stronger physically and mentally and much better about myself. My confidence in leadership has grown. I have learned more about the goals I have in my life and how to use my F&W morals to live.
My attitude about work, I think, has changed. Before this summer, work was something I looked at as burdensome, no fun, etc. I think now it’s more something that I feel good about doing. For some reason, being at this camp has made me feel eager to work and think about as a good thing for myself and others (i.e. the community).
I hope I can better spot society’s evils and have the courage to point them out and speak up for what I believe.
What have you learned in the process of building a community?
I’ve learned to do instead of say. I’ve learned respect and how to teach by example. I’ve learned commitment and implementation.
Generosity. Sacrifice. Motivation to work, give. Selflessness. How to discuss. Accept that problems are going to occur and, subsequently, how to approach/deal with them.
That it is definitely a process and it’s work. The process is long and hard but it is so incredible. Building a community is intense work and this place does a good job of it.
Tolerance is a necessity. Everyone’s opinion must be accepted.
I’ve learned about trusting people, loving people and dealing with people I don’t particularly love.
That people have to trust one another.
It is important to face your problems.
I have learned that RESPECT is an essential part of a community formed and growing. I have also learned that I can be an individual and a part of a whole simultaneously.
This year, the importance of community actually hit me. I realized how important it is to not just be individual, but always remember that you’re in a community. Everyone experiences repercussions of my actions.
A community can be created with any group of people.
I’ve learned how much every person’s actions affect everyone. And also, that it takes awhile as people learn as much about themselves as they do about the foreign people they’re getting to know.
Patience, patience, patience… Rewards.
