Hawthorne Valley Farm offers two different overnight camp experiences for 1 to 3 weeks during the summer.

House Camp is for ages 8-12

Our Overnight Farm Camp offers hands-on farm experiences for children which help to create memories that last a lifetime! House Campers (ages 8-12) live together in our large farmhouse and spend their days in small groups taking care of the animals, crafting, gardening, and more. Swimming, hiking, meals and morning/evening gathering are moments we spend as a larger group, coming together to make new friends!

House Camp emphasizes fundamentals of animal care, such as cleaning up animal spaces, the basics of how to milk a cow, and horseback riding. Time is also spent in the Children’s Garden planting, weeding, harvesting and of course, tasting! Other activities such as cooking, food preservation and nature-based crafting occur throughout the summer, depending on the session of camp. Learn more about each individual session below!

The Field Camp is for ages 12 to 16

The Field Campers (ages 12 to 16), experience the farm from the viewpoint of a junior apprentice. In the mornings, they work alongside our professional staff and participate in the daily rhythms of the farm. This includes working more directly and intensively in our production gardens, with our livestock, and in various other food production enterprises at Hawthorne Valley. Field Campers should expect to be asked to do more demanding tasks on the farm, often supervised by a camp staff member or farmer. Campers are challenged and provided the opportunity to get unplugged from a high-tech world and reconnect to nature. During the afternoons, the campers enjoy swimming in our pond, focusing their attention on more artistic endeavors, playing games with counselors and fellow campers, singing songs, and taking off-campus field trips such as berry picking or a local folk festival.

Home for Field Campers will be a campsite with cabins in a wooded glen on the farm. Our Dining Hall menu includes delicious mostly vegetarian meals and snacks prepared from scratch using Biodynamic and organic ingredients. Campers and staff eat together family-style, fostering the community-building spirit of the camp.