-SUMMER FUNDAYS POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-
We're excited to be able to offer our summer kid's program, Summer Fundays on the Farm, for the second year in a row! This is our version of a farm summer day camp for children ages 6-11. This program creates the opportunity for kiddos in our community to be involved with the farm in an intentional and thoughtful way. Our curriculum incorporates guided participation, experiential learning and play!
Kids will be involved in all things farm. This includes but is not limited to activities like meeting our farm animals and learning how to help care for them through basic vet skills, scavenger hunts, growing plants and sowing seeds in our greenhouse and dedicated education garden, farm games, learning about the farms' bee hives, wool processing, making compost, using microscopes to examine our farm's smallest residents, and even learning how to harvest and prepare vegetables into simple dishes for an afternoon snack. Each day will include learning how to prepare and eat a small dish made from farm ingredients, making a take-home craft or project and adding to their own personal farm journal. At the end of the week, kids leave with a t-shirt.
Parents will receive a recipe from each day's culinary project and a link to all of the photos from the days' activities. On the last day of the program, kids will have an opportunity to walk their families around the farm to show them what they learned.
Please keep in mind: Good Stead Farm is a small, diverse, certified organic family-run production farm. We are not a petting zoo. All parts of our farm are directly or indirectly linked to food production for our community. Summer Fundays on the Farm is meant to give children an intentional yet fun look at food, food production, land stewardship and nature. (Please note that children will not be involved with tractors or other large equipment.) We can't wait to welcome you to our farm!
WHEN: Monday June 22 - Thursday June 25 from 9-2 p.m.
WHERE: Good Stead Farm, 6099 N. Meridian Road in Hope, 48628.
WHO: This program is for children ages 6-11.
WHAT: Fundays on the Farm will be taught and facilitated by Julia Kuhns, a fourth-year staff member here at Good Stead Farm. In Julia's former life, she was the camp activities coordinator at Camp Cherith, in Minnesota. Prior to that she studied Art Education for Elementary School aged children. She is CPR trained and certified. Along with co-counselors, they will be running the day-to-day operations. However, I am looking forward to joining the group each day to include them in on a lesson or a mini-project that I'm working on around the farm. (I look forward to channeling my time spent as a Farm Educator at Gale Woods Farm in Minnesota for my mini-sessions!) Kiddos need to come to camp with breakfast in their bellies, a paper bag lunch and a water bottle. We will be supplying them with a farm snack mid-morning. Walking around, getting dirty, paying attention, listening to farm rules (without exception) and being thoughtful are essential parts of being a good farm guest. Electronic devices will not be permitted to be carried around or used during the sessions except by the counselors and other farm staff. Please consider these terms before deciding whether this is the right activity for your child.
COST: Total program dues are $180 . We will have one scholarship placement available.
TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT: Please fill out the attached sign up form here. There is a non-refundable deposit of $50, which is credited towards your final total. This deposit can be paid with cash or check, or with credit card over the phone by calling Sarah at 989-492-4125. Please note there is a $2 convenience fee for credit card payment. Your spot is reserved once we receive your deposit. Once received, we will email you the necessary permission forms and waivers, to be filled out and sent back (via either email or mail) no later than June 1st. For your child to attend, all forms must be signed and returned. And finally, your remainder due can be brought to the first day of program.
If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to either Sarah or Julia at education.goodstead@gmail.com.
