Summer Day Camp
Curiosity and wonder are all around us at Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center! Campers spend a week on a working organic farm connecting to their food, ecosystem, and community.
Our highly qualified educators believe that students learn best when their inquisitiveness is encouraged and empowered through real life experiences. Explorations through the kale rows, adventures along the riverbank, and games between the cedar trees will cultivate a true appreciation for our ecosystems here in the Upper Valley, as well as the farm-fresh food and the community connections fostered within this unique setting.
Experienced staff facilitate campers entering 1st through 6th grade (ages 6-11) through activities and learning opportunities in groups of no more than ten. In addition to daily farm chores, games, and sensory-based explorations, campers have the chance throughout the week to choose their own activities.
$375 per week, financial support is available*
Previous camp highlights include:
- harvesting vegetables to make “stone soup” for the whole camp, or to put on a farmers’ market for families at pick-up
- building fires after learning the science behind them
- learning from Cedar Circle’s farmers as they participate in the annual garlic harvest
- collecting macroinvertebrates from the Connecticut River and discovering what they can tell us about water quality
- playing a camp-wide game of “Predator versus Prey” to model relationships in a food chain
- constructing stick cabins as part of a nature design challenge
- picking flowers from the cut-flower garden to incorporate into art projects
Safety, fun, and community building are at the foundation of our education programs. Our program is designed to instill a strong sense of stewardship and belonging among our campers, the environment, and one another.
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2023 SUMMER CAMP INFORMATION
Camp days are 9am to 4pm, Monday through Friday
$375 per week, financial support is available*
To maximize accessibility and camper excitement, we recommend signing your camper up for no more than 4 weeks of camp throughout the summer.
Week 1: June 26– 30
Week 2: July 3–7 (in session July 4th)
Week 3: July 10–14
Week 4: July 17–21
Week 5: July 24–28
Week 6: July 31–August 4
Week 7: August 7–11
Week 8: August 14–18
*If camp tuition is cost prohibitive for your family, we have full and partial need-based financial support available. To apply for financial support, please fill out the “2023 Summer Camp Financial Support Registration” form in the next section.
Visit our FAQ page for more information about the program and read our camp policies!
Still have questions? Email us or call (802) 785-4737.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT OPTIONS
We strive to make our summer camp an experience that is accessible to all families. We have partial and full need-based financial support available to families for whom cost is a barrier to participation.
If you are requesting financial support, please fill out the camp registration form and this Financial Support Application.
We also can create a payment plan to split tuition into up to three payments, whether you are receiving financial support or not. If interested, please contact us. This information is confidential and not shared with any campers or instructors.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUND
Our community support fund is made possible through generous individual donations and community grants. This fund enables us to provide families in our community with financial support, increase equity in our programs, and create summer camp opportunities for more children in our community.
Previous donors include The Couch Family Foundation, which partners with organizations serving the Upper Valley Region of New Hampshire and Vermont. They support people and programs working to improve children’s health and well-being, early learning and development, family resiliency, and community vibrancy.
If you are able you can donate here.
Teen Counselor Program
Teen Counselors (TCs) are an integral part of the Cedar Circle Farm summer day camp experience. These volunteers work closely with our summer educational team to engage with campers throughout the day and assist camp instructors in running activities, setting up for lessons, and helping general group management.
The main responsibility of a TC is to be an exemplary role model. We are looking for excited, responsible, and mature young adults (entering 8th grade or above) who enjoy working with elementary-aged children and are eager to grow as a leader and mentor. While the TCs are guaranteed to have fun, it is important that they realize their role is different from being a camper.
Our Teen Counselor program runs all 8 weeks of Farm Camp (June 26-August 18). We are looking for TCs who are comfortable working outdoors in a farm environment and can commit to serving all five days of at least one camp week, from 9am-4pm.
We will have a mandatory* Teen Counselor training session on Thursday June 22nd, time to be determined. Teen Counselors must be able to attend this session, during which time we will orient the TCs to the space, meet the camp staff, and highlight the importance of their role and expectations during their camp week(s).
Candidates and their caregivers should take time to fill out the form together and reach out with any questions. After you complete the form, the Education Department will reach out to you for a phone interview and contact the reference provided on your application.
If you have any questions about the program, email us or call (802) 785-4737.
*If you are unable to attend this training, please contact us and we will make alternate accommodations.
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Testimonials
“Our kids were nervous for about ten seconds before arriving and feeling instantly welcomed and excited. The setting is ideal, and the counselors give the kids a sense of ownership and belonging right away. From naming the spaces, and laying out clear (but not rigid) daily plans, it’s the right mix of structure and open-ended-ness. Kids came home muddy, happy, and with LOTS of information to share.”
“My grandson… spent a wonderful week at your Camp in July and I wanted to thank you for providing such a gentle, accepting, and fascinating adventure for him. The counselors could not have been better!”
“I was very happy with the camp - he came home happy and excited every day, I really liked that he CHOSE to participate in harvesting and cooking projects, knot-tying, etc… It also warmed my heart to hear him singing camp songs in his bed at night - very very sweet.”
“[Our camper] loved summer farm camp. She liked the games, the songs, cooking, learning about insects, pests, animals, trees, etc. She likes to help in our home garden now and tell her brother about insects and the names of trees.”