3-5 age group
Belle Vie Farm is the perfect setting for young children to learn about farming, gardening and animal care. Our policy at Belle Vie is that children stay outside of all pastures, but that doesn't keep us from engaging fully with the farm animals.
Campers in our younger group will start the day caring for the Swingtopia bunnies and baby chicks - feeding, watering, cuddling the bunnies and giving them a little bit of fur brushing. After their morning breakfast, campers will take a couple of bunnies on a morning walk around the farm (yes, we actually have leashes for the bunnies now!). Of course, we will visit the donkeys, goats and chickens as well!
Campers will grow their own tray of microgreens. Microgreens are ready to harvest in 7-10 days and make a great growing project for younger children who don't have as much patience as the older campers. We have sunflower, sugar snap pea, radish, arugula and lemon balm microgreen seeds. We will visit the gardens each day (the younger age group have their own garden beds that other camp groups do not use) and learn how to weed, water, add nutrients and harvest our veggies. Campers will take home at least three vegetables grown from see that they can transplant at home (in a garden bed or a pot).
Learning how to cook with fresh food, hiking through the forest, water play, art, music, yoga and more will fill your child's days with wonder and fun!
6-11 age group
What are the best vegetables to grow? Our favorite is sorrel – a leafy green spinach-looking thing that tastes like lemonade and sour candy. So delicious. We also love tomatoes, sugar snap peas, cucumbers and microgreens! Our Farmer-For-A-Week camp lets your child get immersed in the daily adventures of farming.
Campers’ first task upon arrival is prepping the animal feed! Chickens need their grains and scratch (maybe a treat or two); donkeys and goats need their hay, a handful of peanuts in the shell and lots of sunflower seeds; bunnies need their timothy hay, grains and fresh veggies! Of course, everyone needs fresh water! After prepping, we head out to the pasture for feeding time. The donkeys and goats get a morning brushing, and the bunnies get their cuddles.
Next stop is the garden beds. Campers will have an opportunity in early May 2024 to visit the farm one Saturday and plant their favorite seeds so that once summer camp arrives, harvest time will be at hand! Campers will weed the gardens, mix in some vermicompost, water the veggies and harvest some treats. Campers will also grow their own tray of microgreens. Microgreens are ready to harvest in 7-10 days! We have sunflower, sugar snap pea, radish, arugula and lemon balm microgreen seeds.
During the camp week, kids will design and construct an animal playground for either the goats, donkeys, bunnies or chickens. Belle Vie Farm is skilled at helping youngsters work with kid-sized tools and offers close supervision throughout the construction process. Campers will also learn how to incubate and hatch chicken eggs and much more!
Throughout the week, campers will have an opportunity to create art, cook meals, make ice cream and popsicles, try their hand at soap and candle-making, create giant mosaics, tie-dye, and more.