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Welcome to Farm & Wilderness
Farm & Wilderness summer camps are nestled on 4,800 secluded acres in Vermont. These beautiful woods, mountains and lakes are our playground, classroom and home. Each one of our camps features a unique program but all share a common theme for all our youth; creating an environment where we live in community with one another as we explore a life that is simple, rugged and exciting!
Explore activities from hiking, canoeing, rock climbing to organic farming, carpentry, and the arts, where our campers learn important life skills such as teamwork and problem solving in a supportive environment. From cabins to canvas structures tucked into the woods and along the lakes, these diverse and amazing settings provide the backdrop where our campers and teens will spend an unforgettable summer close to nature.
BEYOND TUITION ASSISTANCE: AFFORDABLE FOR ALL
Starting now, we are changing the way we provide financial assistance to be more transparent and timely.
Click below to find out more and see our Financial Aid Estimator.
Experience Our Summer Camps in the Wilderness of Vermont
THE POWER OF YOUTH
LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS
COMMUNITY
SIMPLY
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Farm & Wilderness By The Numbers
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What's New
In a fast-paced world, the importance of slowing down and embracing present moments is often overlooked. This blog explores the benefits of taking time to be present in our daily lives.
"You Can't Eat Steam"
For Mental Health Month, I wanted to share an analogy about the accelarating and often unfullfilling nature of modern life. For all the alumni and folks from my generation, I want to first establish the desire to "cut to the chase" and "skip to the good part" has always been with us. Author Seth Godin notes how "...ever since we've had High School, there has been the instinct to read the Cliff Notes." Yet as more of our time is spent in digital spaces, this process is reaching deeper into more and more aspects of our lives.
"We're at a rolling boil, and there’s a lot of pressure to turn our work and the work we consume to steam. The steam analogy is worthwhile: a thirsty person can’t subsist on steam."
Read the full blog article here, which includes a graph of "The Dopamine Culture" by Ted Gioia.
The Harmful Effects of Constant Busyness
In today's modern society, there is a constant pressure to do everything with less attention and in a shorter amount of time. This constant busyness can have harmful effects on our mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Firstly, constantly rushing from one task to another without taking breaks can lead to burnout. When we are always on the go, our bodies and minds do not have a chance to rest and recharge. This can result in chronic stress, fatigue, and decreased productivity.
Secondly, the constant busyness can also negatively impact our relationships. When we are always focused on the next task or deadline, we may neglect spending quality time with people we care about. This can lead to feelings of disconnect and strain in our personal connections.
Lastly, constantly being busy can prevent us from fully enjoying and appreciating the present moment. Life is meant to be experienced, but when we are always in a rush, we miss out on the beauty and joy that surrounds us.
How Farm & Wilderness Camps Can Help
At Farm and Wilderness, we can interrupt these patterns by:
- Seeing the people around us more clearly living without the distraction of screens and technology.
- Daily Silent Meeting. Taking stock of the trees and birdsong around us.
- Including appreciation and gratitude into our community habits.
- Making space for different voices to be heard. Noticing what perspectives are absent from a conversation.
- Enjoying a balance of daily routines alongside moments of surprise and wonder.
- Ackowledging that friendships and social connections are core pillars for mental health.
- Doing purposeful work together creates connection, allowing for people to contribute in different ways. We don't stop when we lose interest, we stop when the job is done - because the community depends on us.
- From the very first evening's "Cabin Contract", we are discussing boundaries. This is role-modeling and practice can be brought back home when camp is done.
- We practice "No Body Talk" to limit a deficit mindset around the gifts of our own unique bodies.
I hope you can join us this summer in the green mountains of Vermont.
It appears that Spring has finally arrived here in Vermont! As the flowers begin to open and bird activity picks up, you can feel that transformation and a fresh start is afoot. It’s fascinating to think about how humans, past and present, mark the changing of the seasons with cues from the natural world.
Because both our organizations are deeply rooted in immersing and connecting people of all ages with nature, we thought it would be interesting to ask our amazing staff at Farm & Wilderness and Farm & Wilderness Conservation about their favorite signs of spring. Follow the link to the full version of the blog to read the responses!
(Adapted from the Conservation Blog - Click here for the full version on fwcvt.org)
The Flood of 1973
This past summer F&W experienced a huge flash flood. On the day it happened I was at Flying Cloud finishing up at a staff mtg. When we hiked out and got in our cars it started to rain. We thought we were lucky to make it before we got a little rain. I learned quickly that Woodward was in bad shape. I headed home to Barre, made some not so smart decisions to get home but made it. Luckily I was in a big truck that may or may not have gone through moving water.
How many of you were around for the Flood of 1973? As I work on the archives, I would love to receive any photos from the Flood of that year. To expedite my organizing, please take a pic of the photo and send it to alumni@farmandwilderness.org. Below is some pictures of the flood and a historical account. The bridge at Brooks end has been through a lot lately!
1973 FLOOD
Date Location Event Details Extent of Damages 07/06/1973 Town of Plymouth, VT; Windsor County.
A west moving frontal system and a moist, southeasterly flow from the Atlantic Ocean joined to produce heavy precipitation in some parts of the state not seen since 1927.4 5-8” in Windsor County. Connecticut River at Wells River flowing at 57,100 cfs; Wells River flowing at 5970 cfs. Three people killed in Vermont. Damage estimated at $64 million— including extensive damage to crop land and $10 million in state highway damage.5 State declared disaster (DR397 VT)