New Half Season Option at Tamarack Farm - Farm & Wilderness

There are two eternal truths about Farm & Wilderness: we are always changing, and our essence remains the same. Every year brings change: new trips, new buildings, new friends, even new programs like Red Spruce Grove. And yet, from our founding nearly 80 years ago to the most recent summer, F&W campers still focus on fun, community, meaningful work and wilderness adventures.

Next summer, there will be change at Tamarack Farm (TF). TF has always been the one F&W camp that campers must attend for the whole summer. But teen summers have changed over the years. There are now many more teen summer programs than there were when TF was founded. Teens also face significant pressure to pursue their academic, athletic, and artistic interests year-round and to participate in internships. We have seen the effect of these changes at TF, where enrollment has declined over the last several years, with the last two summers having the fewest campers in 40 years.

Last year, we formed a committee of staff, campers, parents, and trustees to explore the future of TF. We discovered that many of our teens cannot commit to a 6 1/2-week program, due to cost, other interests and demands on their time, and family expectations.

We have therefore decided to offer a half-season option at TF. The full season program will still be the most robust option for teens who want to experience the full effect of TF’s opportunities for leadership development, counselor apprenticeships, and community building. But all campers, half-season and full, will have access to exceptional programming, including working together joyfully, learning to live closely with a diverse group of peers, exploring peace and justice issues, and apprenticeships in writing, music, farming, environmental stewardship, and more.

We know change can be hard. Campers and staff will miss the intense experience of all campers living together for the whole summer in an unchanging community. But Tamarack Farm will still be a life-changing, meaningful experience for teens, just as Farm & Wilderness is always Farm & Wilderness.