WHICH CAMP IS RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD?

It was an incredible season of unplugged and unforgettable fun at F&W! Each camp director was asked to share an extra special moment from this summer at their camp. Here's a round-up of this year's "sparkle moments"!

Tamarack Farm

TF partnered with Merck Forest and Farmland in Rupert, VT. Campers and staff did an overnight trip to their site, exploring and diving deeper into their immersion areas from a different perspective. It added so much to our curriculum and to their overall learning experience at camp. And it felt great to work with such a values-aligned organization in Vermont!

~ Kate Kyros, Tamarack Farm Director

Firefly Song

Senior Lodge Apprenticeships give our oldest campers a chance to dive deeply into one area.  At the end of the session, we had a chance to enjoy a meal prepared by campers who apprenticed in the kitchen. They created a pasta bar, sides and dessert, and the rest of us were in awe of their efforts and results.

The Waterfront apprentices learned a variety of canoeing and boating skills, and then turned it all on its head to perform for the whole camp a set of “Waterfront Olympics,”  using props and tools decidedly not well suited for each the task, all accompanied by hysterical commentary from a small group of counselors posing as former Olympic champions and experts. For example, they built their own paddles out of noodles, kickboards, buoys, and so on; they paddled backwards or tried to maneuver boats in nearly impossible ways (all with appropriate floatation devices on, of course!); and they had various crazy races made much more difficult by the tools they were required to use. The balance of narration, performance, and a nod to the Olympic tradition made for a wonderful event, celebrating the accomplishments of our oldest campers and their hard work throughout the session. 

~ Clarissa Thompson, Firefly Song Director

Timberlake

Saying goodbye to Timberlake as an outgoing director was hard, but the sendoff was epic. The whole Timberlake community surprised me with an incredibly heart-warming beading ceremony. It made me laugh, it made me cry--it was very TL. It was the most perfect parting gift, because now I'll take with me the memory of standing on stage, seeing the row of people in front of me, seeing their faces flickering in the campfire light, remembering one of our core ceremonies adapted to be the sweetest goodbye. I'll never forget that.  

~ Jarod "W" Wunneburger, Outgoing Timberlake Director

SAM Camp

It's so hard to pick a favorite moment, but the SAM Dance really sparkled this year! In second session, we hosted folks from Firefly Song, Tamarack Farm, and Barn Day Camp! Even better, many of the BDC'ers brought their parents and grandparents, many of whom were F&W alum. It felt like a huge family reunion! The SAM Jam Band played jigs and waltzes til the moon was out, and dancers went home home happy, tired, and full of chili. 

~ Adair Arbor, Saltash Mountain (SAM) Camp Director

Barn Day Camp

We had a fun, creative, adventurous, and playful summer at Barn Day Camp this year! Our talented and diverse group of staff shared their enthusiasm and skills with the fantastic campers and families. One great highlight was our adventure Days and overnights! A particularly enjoyable one was a long day hike over to Plymouth where campers got to learn about the art of making and tasting delicious cheeses at the Plymouth Cheese Factory. On this day trip, campers also learned about some traditional farming methods with Farmer Fred. We also had some pretty incredible camper creations, like the "Goat-a-Pult" - a camper designed invention to launch grasses to our beloved goats. Helpful and fun!

~ Emily Mathon, Barn Day Camp Director

At the end of each session at all F&W overnight camps, campers are asked to answer three questions in writing: 

1) What is one moment you were proud of?

2) What is one thing you'll tell people about your time at camp?

3) What is one moment that felt meaningful or impactful to you? 

In their own words, here's what F&W campers have to say about their experiences: 

Tamarack Farm

"When I leave TF this summer I am going to tell people about the relationships I've made and the self-discovery I've gained in ways I don't think I could anywhere else. This place feels more like home than mine back outside of camp due to the safety and strong community!"

"Singing in community, not just every morning but whenever we're inspired, and sharing a song I wrote while knowing I'm surrounded by a supportive community."

"I am proud of the chicken slaughter with the Agriculture Immersion. I feel like I did a competent job, as was owed to the animal. It really impacted how I look at food."

Firefly Song

"One moment I was proud of is when I did my 24-hour solo. I'll never EVER forget how I felt after it. The feeling is unforgettable."

"I will tell people about the skills I have acquired such as learning to build fires, shelters, to use an axe, and fell trees. I will also tell people about all the friends I have made, the ones from my cabin, trip, apprenticeship, and more."

"After we lit the Interdependence Day day fire. When all the pioneers and everyone stood in silence as the fire began to burn."

Timberlake

"I got two ratings, that I had to work hard for."

"All of the Foxes cabin were really welcoming and were extremely nice to me and I had a great time thanks to them."

"I'm proud of making it through trips. What was difficult was walking nine miles, which felt like more, but I'm still proud of myself for walking nine miles."

SAM Camp

"I'll definitely come back again, the food is great, and you get to see amazing views!"

"Getting to the top of Giant Mountain was amazing!"

"I'll tell people about Singing on the Hill every day and how much I enjoyed that."

Hear the interview on VPR: "Saying Goodbye to Summer Camp"

Watch the interview with BPR on YouTube - start at the 2 hr mark!

Farm & Wilderness made waves in regional media this summer, with outgoing Executive Director Frances McLaughlin and former camper/staff member Ollie Muz sharing insights about the transformative power of summer camp on both Vermont Public Radio and Boston Public Radio. 

The interviews highlighted how F&W's approach to youth development remains remarkably consistent with its 1939 founding principles, while evolving to meet modern challenges. As evidenced in our recently published Impact Report, "Decoding the Magic of Camp," F&W cultivates three key areas of growth in young people: self-efficacy, community-mindedness, and authentic identity development. 

Ollie offered a unique perspective as both a former camper and staff member. After spending five years as a full-summer camper and three years on staff, he reflected on discovering the intentional craft behind what campers experience as "camp magic." "You don't know how intentionally crafted the experience is as a camper," Muz shared. "Switching to a staff role, you're creating that camp magic and putting in a ton of work—facilitating the magic of camp." 

McLaughlin emphasized F&W's commitment to accessibility through initiatives like Affordable for All, which ensures camp is truly welcoming to children from all socioeconomic backgrounds. She also highlighted F&W's partnerships with organizations like the Vermont Migrant Education Program and SEIU 1199's Anne Shore program, which help introduce the uniquely American concept of summer camp to refugee families and provide scholarships to union members' children. 

The interviews also explored F&W's distinctive practices, like silent meeting—a Quaker tradition that helps build reverence for nature through mindful breathing and stillness. This practice exemplifies how F&W's traditional elements continue to serve modern needs, offering young people a rare opportunity to unplug and connect deeply with nature and community. 

For Ollie, this unplugged, community-focused environment felt like "the right way to live" compared to our increasingly individualistic world. His testimony reinforces what many families discover at F&W: the profound impact of experiencing a different way of living, even if just for a few weeks each summer. 

Jarod “W” Wunneburger, Director of Camps, says that this kind of research-backed storytelling is key to both showcasing and deepening our impact. “What’s exciting is that this feeling we’ve always had – that a summer at F&W is magical – can be backed up by research. With that research basis we can now tell the story in a way more people will hear it, and, in turn, help amplify our impact – through sending their kids to us, working for us, donating, or connecting us to others making an impact. It really feels in some ways like a coming out party. We’re taking our place in the education ecosystem among the network of other institutions working to make the world a better place at such a critical time.”