Parents Send Kids to Summer Farm Camp
Kids loving going to summer camp. Whether it’s church camp, baseball camp, or Camp Ayntnocissy, kids look forward to them each summer. Valley farmer, John Farmer, has created a unique camp on his farm this summer. Most summer camps are about fun and games, but Farmer’s camp is different. His camp is about teaching kids how to work, and parents are sending their kids in droves.
Families are super busy these days- school, sports, church, vacation, etc. This causes problems with many kids, because their parents don’t have time to teach them how to work and how to do basic stuff around the house. So, a lot of kids these days don’t have a good work ethic, and they’re as soft as tissue paper. Farmer’s summer camp is designed to help parents solve these problems for their kids.
Farmer said, “I thought about this summer work camp a few years ago, but I didn’t do anything about it. But, I had trouble finding help last year on the farm, and I didn’t get some stuff done because of it. My wife told me to start that summer camp so I could get some extra help on the farm, and she said that parents would probably pay you to teach them stuff. I decided to give it a go this summer, and parents are actually paying me a lot of money for them to come work on the farm. It’s free labor, and I get paid instead of having to pay them. It’s crazy.”
Farmer has a large farm with cattle, chickens, pigs, and he also has many acres of pine trees as well. His camp is one week long; parents drop their kids off on Monday and pick them up on Friday. Many kids aren’t happy when they’re dropped off, but most don’t want to leave on Friday. Farmer only has enough room for 10 kids at a time, and kids must be at least age 10. They learn a plethora of things, but the #1 aim for Farmer is to teach the kids to have a good work ethic. They have to get up at 6:00 am each morning, and they all eat breakfast together. Then, they get to work.
Farmer said, “Those first couple days are normally pretty rough for the kids, but they generally start to turn the corner on day 3. We talk about the importance of a good work ethic and a good attitude every day. I’m pretty tough on them, but they also learn how to think. On a farm, you learn how to get stuff done; you can’t always call someone to help, you just have to figure it out. Many kids struggle with that these days. I tell them Mom or Dad ain’t here to do it for you. You gotta figure it out. Normally, by day 3, they don’t want any help; they gain confidence and independence to do it themselves.”
Kids at Farmer’s camp learn how to do a plethora of things including cutting grass, feeding the animals, taking care of the animals, fixing fences, using a chainsaw, driving a vehicle, construction, cooking, and much more. Farmer’s favorite thing for the kids is hauling square bales of hay. Farmer said, “I love watching the kids handle the square bales. They absolutely hate it, but it teaches them grit and toughness. That’s what these kids need.”
You might think having these kids on the farm would hinder Farmer getting his work done, and it does at times. But, overall having the kids at camp helps him with many things that he wouldn’t get to otherwise. It also helps him with income. 10 kids per week at $300 a pop adds up over 10-11 weeks.
One parent said, “I was a little reluctant to send my son to Farmer’s camp, but I’m glad I did. He learned so much just in a week’s time, and his attitude at home is much better. Plus, he wants to go outside more instead of staying inside and playing games or watching tv. We’ll be sending him back next summer.”
One mom said, “I just didn’t know if my 11 year old son could cut it at farm camp. He’s a momma’s boy, and he lacks mental and physical toughness. Farmer is tough on the kids, and my son responded to it well. Plus, he learned a lot. He knows how to cut grass now, and he can even drive a vehicle now. He can’t wait to go back next summer.”
Farmer wants to have even more kids to his camp next summer. Parents love it, and the kids love it too. We’ll update you next summer on Farmer’s Farm Camp.