Summer Day Camp July 31-Aug 4, 2023 ages 8+ at Prairie Winds Nature Farm

Summer Day Camp

Do you have fond memories of your childhood? Relaxed days spent in (mostly) unstructured outdoor play; the freedom to discover things on your own; taking your time to explore the world around you?

Our children are so often overscheduled and surrounded by stress in today's busy,hectic world. Prairie Winds Nature Farm offers an alternative: a safe haven, a relaxed atmosphere and a space to let them learn naturally. Here, they can: run around in the woods, ride a pony, take prairie hikes, lie on their backs and watch the clouds, and just be kids. A variety of activities are available: you and your child decide or let us guide them.

Please fill out a separate registration for each child participating. Ages 8+ farm camp is 9 AM - 3 PM, Monday through Thursday, and the cost is $175 for non-horseback riding; $90 for young teens. Horseback riding camp ages 8+ is Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM-3 PM, and Friday 9:00 AM -noon, and the cost is $300. Please complete our waiver online. Only one waiver per family need be filled out. Access the waiver: http://bit.ly/PWNFwaiverform2

For an extra $5/hour, children can be dropped off earlier and/or stay later. Scholarships are also available if needed.  All donations to the farm go to our scholarship fund and are tax deductible. We are a 501(c) 3 not for profit educational organization.  If you need financial assistance and/or your child(ren) can only attend certain days please email us at [email protected] and we will figure it out!  Please consider volunteering to transport additional children along with your own.  And let us know if you are in need of transportation! Email us at [email protected] for any transportation offers or needs.

Background check available via: Girl Scouts of America, Good Shepherd Montessori School and St. Joseph County 4-H.

 Camp days will have farm and nature activities 9 am- 2:30 pm. We will practice our circle (community) work and leadership skills from 2:30-3.  Please allow circle time to finish before taking your child or teen.

We encourage teens to register and help out. We especially have games and scavenger hunt setup that we hope teens will assist us with!

Activities are dependent on weather and children's choices. Indoor spaces include greenhouse, barns, and a small classroom. So no matter the weather we will have fun! In addition to Robert and Charlotte, we welcome parents that have outdoor skills and nature knowledge. Our list so far includes, but is not limited to:

Care and feeding of farm animals including chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits, goats, sheep, ponies

Nature walks & hanging around in the woods building shelters 

Swimming & wading in the pond & marshes

Blacksmithing, replacing tool handles, caring for tools

Nature art, beading, crafts, spinning wool into yarn

Firewood chopping, trail clearing, spreading wood chips

Horseback riding and/or driving; lead-line pony ride for ages 4-7

Nature and animal photography

Fun auction to build math skills

Scavenger hunt/orienteering

Campfire building, roast marshmallows and/or hotdogs

Before camp: complete the online permission/liability/emergency form at:  https://bit.ly/PWNFwaiverform2

What to bring: sack lunch; water bottle in a non-disposable container with your name on it; hat; swimsuit; boots & jeans if riding; water shoes if you have any. No electronic devices. Please dress appropriate to weather!!

Carpooling is encouraged, if you don't have a carpool email me at [email protected] and I'll share your email addresses with others who request.

Charlotte aka "Farmer Charlotte" !!

Host or Publisher Prairie Winds Nature Farm