Wild Sprouts: Farm and Forest Camp

Wilderness Awareness School has partnered together with Oxbow Farm, and we are serving up something very special this summer!

During this week of daily adventures your child will explore the edge where Farm and Forest meet. In addition to Wilderness Awareness School's unique day camp experience learning about plants, mammals, tracking, birds and survival skills...we're down on the farm!

Kids will make their own sun tea, fresh fruit popsicles, and farm burritos. They will dig roots and pick fruits, save, sow, and snack on seeds. On the final day, we will harvest produce for an end-of-week Happy Camper Farmers Market! Each day we enjoy storytelling under the Maple Tree, as well as songs, crafts, and play surrounding food, farm and forest life.

Some planned camp activities:

• At the forest's edge we search for wild plants that can be used for food by humans and animals.
• In the hoop house we will explore such mysteries as: Why does a seed sprout?
• In the fields we will consider: How is a Chickadee like a Chicken?
• In the Living Playground we will explore the Vine Tunnel and the Runner Bean Teepee to experience what the world looks like from a caterpillar's point of view.
• In the garden we will discover the answer to the perplexing question: What do you feed your pet earthworms anyway?
• And much more!

We invite your child to come and experience the joy of having their hands in good clean dirt while learning how we can care for our environment and ourselves in a sustainable way.

Camp is held at Oxbow Farm in the Snoqualmie Valley (about 15 minutes from Redmond). It is on a 120-acre property, with 20 acres of certified organic vegetables, berries and tree fruit in cultivation for the fresh market.

Our Instructors

Shondell Kelley: I would like to offer your child the chance to make their own memories of connection and accomplishment at our Wild Sprouts: Farm and Forest camp this year. My roots are deeply grounded in a life long passion for organic gardening, which branched into my becoming a Master Gardener, studying herbalism and receiving training in Permacultur design as an adult. As a graduate of the Anake Outdoor School, I feel I am uniquely suited to introduce your child to the environment as it exists and help them travel the path of understanding how our place in the ecosystem has moved from Forest to Farm.

Along the way I will combine experience gained from previous summer camps in addition to my time spent as an Intern Bush Craft Instructor in Ireland with my sense of play, adventure, storytelling and joyful gratitude for the miracles evident in every leaf. I will use all of my training in these areas as well as that of Wilderness First Responder to do everything possible to see that your child has a safe, FUN and memorable week with us at Oxbow Farm. It is my hope to return your children at the end of the day grubby, content and accomplished.