January 20th Farm and Wilderness recently attended the camp fair at Brooklyn PS 321, re-establishing connections with families and educational organizations.
The Value of In Person Connection
Dana Huges Moorhead and Tulio Browning attending the January 20th camp fair at Brooklyn Public School 321. Dana is committed to making diversity a matter of fact in organizations such as Farm and Wilderness. Tulio is the former director of Timberlake and current Marketing Director at F&W.
Many campers and staff have come from the Park Slope Brooklyn area and it was exciting to speak to a new generation of families. Many of the people they spoke with had 5-8 year-olds and Tulio and Dana could explain how over 70% of our Barn Day Camp families come from outside our local area. This was of interest to many families, as Park Slope Brooklyn has a fondness for all things Vermont, with many "Made in Vermont" products on local deli shelves.
What most resonated with everyone they spoke with is the Farm and Wilderness Mission: Joyful Play, Purposeful Work, and Rugged Outdoor Living. In a crowded field of summer programs the "Work Is Love Made Visible" spirit resonates with families.
Forging Strong Community Partnership
The camp fair features other educational groups running overnight camps and also local programs. A favorite of ours was a local arts camp run by "Booklyn" who make books and zines with kids. Other camps made a point to approach the F&W table to thank us for hosting an ACA (American Camp Association) site visit in the Fall, compliment us on conference workshops taught by Timberlake director Jarod Wunneburger (goes by W). Other camps had family members who have attended F&W in the past. Dana had lots of opportunities to share her recent experiences as a BDC parent. Overall it was a reminder of how deep the roots of Farm and Wilderness are set in the New England camp world.
Inspiring Environmental Stewardship
Farm and Wilderness is committed to inspiring environmental stewardship in children. Some children stopped and asked about chickens, proud that they themselves had taken care of an Aunt's chickens one summer. Tulio was impressed how one eleven year old was wowed by our 4,800 acres: "That's so much!". Many adults don't have a clear idea of how much an acre is! By attending the camp fair at Brooklyn PS 321, Farm and Wilderness had the opportunity to share their passion for sustainable practices, conservation, and the importance of protecting our planet.
Affordable For All
Many camps have taken note of our ambitious "Affordable For All" program. Farm & Wilderness is committed to make the F&W camp experience truly affordable for all families, starting with transparency in the range of rates our camper families actually pay to attend our camps. This isn't easy and can only be done with the generous support of our entire community, but it makes an enormous difference. At this camp fair it allowed Tulio and Dana to speak to everyone in the room, including the support staff of PS 321 with children who are working the event.
By connecting with families and educational organizations, Farm and Wilderness can continue to create a supportive community that values personal growth and empowers children to thrive.