2022 Farm Camp Recap - Week 5 (July 5-8)
Tuesday - Welcome & Orientation
Willows (Mr. Kyle)
We learned each others names through a game of animal changes, where the students acted out the movements of a particular animal in the center of the circle, while the others guessed. Students made animal names from their chosen animal.
Discussed agreements, tool safety, farm protocol, listening to guide/teacher, etc.
Went on scavenger hunt and learned more about the layout of the farm.
Told story of the two wolves and discussed the power of choice in being "good or bad".
Read the story of Ms Rumphius and made seed balls to make the world more beautiful.
Learned how to slip ‘n slide!
Oaks (Ms. Nora)
We started off the week feeling energized from the Independence Day weekends celebrations and jumped right in with a game of palm tag in the morning, when we got back to our classroom, we played a name game and a game of metamorphosis to break the ice. Afterwards, we went over some agreements that help keep our farm camp students safe and happy all week long. Our farm activity was a scavenger hunt, and farm tour where we learned about composting toilets, pollinators and got to take a closer look at the different crops growing in our fields. As the day got hotter, we took a quick break for snack and talked about the difference between trash and compost and the importance of having a breakfast with plenty of protein rather than carbs and sugars, some of us were already feeling pretty tired by then. After refueling, we harvested herbs to make sun tea including mint, lemon balm, lavender and calendula, we also learned how to identify plants in the mint family with their square stem, opposite leaves and fragrant smell. We headed up to the tasting room for lunch, stopping to see the chickens on our way. After lunch, we played a game of Bob the Weasel and read the story of Ms. Rumphius before heading outside to make seed balls, ending the day with a water relay game and some time on the slip n' slide.
Wednesday - Bug Day
Willows (Mr. Kyle)
Repeated animal changes game, however this time with new animals.
Talked about helpful and harmful bugs on the farm, with emphasis on spiders and honeybees. In order to consider the latter insect, we played our first game of buzzing bee, hiding the honeycomb from the beekeeper and buzzing the give him or her clues of proximity.
Went on a bug quest and caught an array of non-threatening bugs. Released them in the center of the circle to watch where each one ran. Played a game of Blind Samurai.
After lunch read the story of the grouchy ladybug.
Oaks (Ms. Nora)
Bug day started off with a game of blob tag that ended in lots of running, laughing and squealing, oh how much fun it is to be chased. When we got to our shady tree we played a game of poison dart frog to help us sharpen our awareness skills. Afterwards, we took a moment to have a chat about inclusivity and making sure everyone in the group felt a sense of belonging and safety before going into snack. After that, we took to the fields on a mission to capture some interesting looking bugs, and try to identify them with our field guides for helpful and harmful garden insects. After some observation, we let them loose for a race! As the sun became more intense, we talked for a while about compost, learning about why it's so important to keep food scraps out of the trash and learning the 'recipe' for success: 1 part green, 2 parts brown, keep it covered, turn it over. For some extra entertainment we guessed the Green Glass Door riddle while hiking up to the tasting room for lunch. After filling our bellies, we played a couple games of cat and rat, and pass the clap to exercise our focusing mind. In the afternoon, we made garlic bread from farm fresh garlic and homemade butter, and got to snack on it in between playing in the water.
Thursday - Harvest Day
Willows (Mr. Kyle)
Played What Time is it Mr. Wolf? to much enjoyment and delight.
Explored the farm further going on a flower-picking walk and then crafted flower bracelets. Took a walk to the creek and found sit spots where the students sat in listening silence for two minutes unbroken!
Had some spray bottle time and found out that boundaries need to be in place and respected in order for all to have a good time.
At lunch, told a version of Native American earth diver myth "The Woman Who Fell From the Sky", including the students in the telling, casting them in various roles (the dolphin, the muskrat, the turtle, etc.)
Made masa balls and pressed them for tortilla grilling. Ate with and without salsa and savored the freshness.
Oaks (Ms. Nora)
On Thursday, we focused more on awareness skills, beginning with a game of Big Wind Blows to get us moving. Before it got too hot, we moved into harvesting tomatoes for our afternoon activity, looking for the reddest of the crop, we also harvested some smaller ones to snack on. After our harvest, we took a break for snack and talked about what it means to be in a drought, and how we can be more conscious of our water usage, and take actions to conserve. Since our afternoon involved a hike, we made a stop for some ice cold bandanas before heading off. Once we got across the creek, to the meadow, we did an activity called Meet A Tree where the students were partnered off and one was led blindfolded to a tree. After observing carefully with our other senses, we headed back to the starting point, took the blindfold off, and then tried to find the tree we met previously. The success rate is astonishing! After that, we played a game of Nutty Squirrels, followed by several rounds of One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish. After plenty of running around, we headed to the tasting room for lunch to cool off and recharge. In the afternoon, we made salsa with the tomatoes and onions harvested earlier, and pressed and cooked our own tortillas after mixing the dough. What a tasty treat! At the end of the day we saved just enough time to cool down in the water before parent pick up.
Friday - Color Day
Willows (Mr. Kyle)
Played Buzzing Bee and what time is it Mr Wolf. Went on a flower and natural object harvesting walk for flower pounding exercise. Sang songs as we pounded pigment into white cloth! Some students "made salad" with their mallets and cloth.
Discussed compost tea and helped to water farm crops with tea.
Harvested carrots on the way to lunch.
Read story of Tops and Bottoms after eating and then used edible flowers to decorate crackers.
Oaks (Ms. Nora)
Our last day of farm camp started and ended bittersweet. We began with a game of fire in the forest, before moving to the fields to harvest marigolds for our afternoon project. After learning about ethical harvesting, we took the flowers back to our shady tree and heated up a pot of water to put them in. Meanwhile, we took cotton cloths and tied them with rubber bands to create a tie dye pattern. After we finished, the pot was boiling and the water was looking quite yellow, so we dropped them in to soak for a few hours. While our projects were developing, Ms. Nora lead a grounding meditation with a focus on presence, stillness and gratitude while playing a chime that makes the most angelic sounds! We came out of it feeling so relaxed and happy, and thinking of our love for the world, and the people in our lives. After that, it was time to go to lunch so we hiked up the hill to the tasting room. With full bellies, we took on another tactile project, spider weaving! After trying our hand at this one, we headed outside for water play. At the end of the day, we pulled our tie dye projects out of the marigold tea and marveled at their beauty! We also got to toss the seed balls we had made earlier in the week on the ground so that they could grow, coming full circle, we said our goodbyes and headed home.
Hope to see y’all back for more- we still have some openings for the last two weeks of July! We are also now registering for Nature & Farm School in the Fall.
