Farm Summer Camps for Fairfield County Kids

5/5/15 - By Jacqueline Miller

As the locavore and farm-to-table food movements continue to grow, it's no surprise that kids are increasingly interested in farming. Luckily, Fairfield County is home to quite a variety of small (and not-so-small) farms, some raising animals, others growing vegetables and fruit, and a handful doing a little of both. The programs we've collected here include a few that spend the entire summer focused on farming, along with more traditional camps that offer special farm-themed sessions. Take particular note of the age restrictions: older kids tend to have more opportunities for hands-on work than younger children. For more enriching summer programs, check out our Camp Guide.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Western Connecticut Youth Volunteer Corps Summer of Service – Danbury and Stamford
Kids ages 11-18 work with an adult leader on 3-day service projects each week. The 2015 schedule has not been published yet, but in 2014, groups spent time working with the Shared Harvest Program at New Pond Farm in Redding, the vegetable garden at Pratt Nature Center in New Milford, and the gardens at Green Chimneys in Brewster, among other locations.

Farm Camp at Unquowa School – Fairfield
Kids from pre-k through grade 6 are welcome at this fabulous camp where they explore the relationship between the foods we eat and the places they come from. Younger kids meet on the campus at the Unquowa school, while kids in grade 1 and above spend three mornings a week at the lovely Sport Hill Farm where they can experience first hand what it is like to work on an organic farm. Afternoons are spent on art, science, and cooking classes.

981 Stratfield Road, (203) 336-3801 ext. 123

Zenko's Family Farm – Monroe
This personable family farm offers kids the opportunity to experience life on a horse farm. Kids will have the opportunity to ride and receive lessons in horsemanship and grooming. They will also visit with the animals on the farm: rabbits, goats, and chickens.

181 Bagburn Hill Road, 203-261-7162

Housatonic Valley Waldorf School – Newtown
There are two camps offered on the grounds of this progressive school in Newtown, where each week follows a different theme, several of which will appeal to children interested in farms and gardening. Younger campers (age 3-7), will enjoy the "Farm Fun" and "Hoes, Hands, and Harvests" weeks, where they will make their own butter and jam and share in the chores of tending to some farm animals.

40 Dodgingtown Road, 203-364-1113.

Garden of Ideas – Ridgefield
This wonderful open space in Ridgefield is offering two different summer camp options. Kids ages 5-8 can register for a two week program called Play at the Garden Table, where they will focus on what they see, taste, smell, feel, and hear while gardening, cooking, and doing arts-and-crafts. The program ends with a Family Luncheon prepared by the campers that showcases all the discoveries they have made. Campers age 7 and up and register for the 4-H Worker Bees program which promotes a connection between scientific education, agricultural literacy, creative expression and life skills.

653 North Salem Road, 203-431-9914

Garden Farm Art Camp – Rowayton
The Potting Shed and Rowayton Arts Center team up for this 3-week long, early summer mini-camp for kids ages 6 and up. After school on Thursdays and Fridays from 3:30 to 5:00pm, kids will explore a farm-fun garden topic one day and then artistically experience it the next!  Eco Farm on Wheels will be stopping by with animals. 

33 Highland Avenue, rowaytongardenersclub@gmail.com

Stamford Nature Center – Stamford
The Stamford Museum and Nature Center offers six weeks of camp programs, some of which are devoted to the crops and animals at Hecksher Farm. The "Our Fabulous Farm" program for 4 and 5 year olds will explore
the growing garden, visit the chicken coop, and drop in on the other animals in their barns and fields. Older camps (grades 2-6) can register for the "Food, Fibers, and Farm" program where they will help the farmers with some chores such as collecting eggs, and grooming goats. 

39 Scofieldtown Rd, 203-322-1646

Ambler Farm – Wilton
Ambler Farm offers two different farm-focused programs, one for kids in grades 1-7 and the other for kids in grades 8-11. Younger campers have "Adventures at the Farm" where they learn about the plants in the educational gardens but have opportunities to work in the gardens and spend time with sheep, goats, and chickens. Older kids have the "Farm to Kitchen" program where they work with farmer Jonathan Kirschner and culinary arts teacher Heather Priest (a former "Chopped" contestant) to learn about growing and cooking freshly-harvested foods. Campers will work in the production garden and then use the harvested foods in a culinary experience. 

257 Hurlbutt Street, 203-834-1143

Places featured in this article: