Learning about Agriculture is fun! Farm Camp offers a unique hands-on learning experience teaching kids about agriculture and farm life. Camps were hosted by local libraries and an arts academy. Camps included hands-on activities, crafts, games, reading opportunities and field trips. Field trips included farms/ag-related businesses; beef, dairy, pig, sheep, goat, horse, vegetable, alpaca, grain, an apiary and an implement dealership.
Monday-Thursday, campers visited a different farm. Campers returned to the library/arts academy and participated in activities that corresponded with that day's field trip. A book barn was built and stocked with ag-related books that campers could read during camp or check out and take home to read. |
Need, Goals & Objectives
NEED
Most kids do not understand how agriculture impacts their lives.
GOALS
OBJECTIVES
Most kids do not understand how agriculture impacts their lives.
GOALS
- Provide hands-on learning experiences that expose kids to different segments of agriculture such as livestock, grain and specialty farms, and ag-related businesses.
- Reach 120 kids through five Farm Camps.
- Develop an evaluation process that provides feedback for future camp activities.
OBJECTIVES
- Visit four different farms/ag businesses during each camp (Monday-Thursday). Incorporate hands-on activities that reinforce the information learned and experiences gained from that day's farm field trip.
- Schedule camps throughout the county to reach a larger audience and maximize attendance opportunities.
- Utilize an online evaluation form for parents to complete at the conclusion of camp. Evaluation results will assist in planning future camps.
Planning Process
Our County Farm Bureau Foundation is responsible for the county's Agriculture in the Classroom program. In December 2014, the Foundation's Executive Director and Agriculture Literacy Coordinator presented the Farm Camp concept to the Foundation board. They agreed to support the camps. In February 2015, a meeting was held with representatives from Woodlawn Arts Academy and four library districts. The Farm Camp concept was shared and discussed amongst the group. All parties were excited about the program and agreed to participate. The five groups scheduled their respective camp week (Monday-Friday). Two camps were scheduled for June and three in July. Hours for all five camps were set from 8:00am to noon.
A list of potential farms in proximity to each camp site was developed. Farms were contacted to explain the program and gauge their interest in hosting a field trip. Once all farm field trip sites were secured, more detailed information was sent to each farm, including the camp itinerary.
Registration forms and promotional materials were created and distributed to each camp site.
A list of potential farms in proximity to each camp site was developed. Farms were contacted to explain the program and gauge their interest in hosting a field trip. Once all farm field trip sites were secured, more detailed information was sent to each farm, including the camp itinerary.
Registration forms and promotional materials were created and distributed to each camp site.
Implementation
The Foundation hired two summer interns that were responsible for developing daily activities that coincided with each day's farm field trip. The interns played an integral role in the coordination and success of this program.
Each camp site promoted the camps to their patrons. Camps were also promoted on the County Farm Bureau's website, Facebook page, newspaper, school websites and fliers, and on library websites/social media sites.
Enrollment for the four library camps was coordinated through the County Farm Bureau office with the arts academy coordinating their own enrollment. When a registration was received, the parents/guardians were sent a confirmation email along with a camp itinerary.
Transportation for each camp was contracted through local school districts that provided the use of a school bus.
Camp evaluations were emailed to parents/guardians at the conclusion of each camp. Results were tallied and will be used to assist in future planning.
Each camp site promoted the camps to their patrons. Camps were also promoted on the County Farm Bureau's website, Facebook page, newspaper, school websites and fliers, and on library websites/social media sites.
Enrollment for the four library camps was coordinated through the County Farm Bureau office with the arts academy coordinating their own enrollment. When a registration was received, the parents/guardians were sent a confirmation email along with a camp itinerary.
Transportation for each camp was contracted through local school districts that provided the use of a school bus.
Camp evaluations were emailed to parents/guardians at the conclusion of each camp. Results were tallied and will be used to assist in future planning.
Our Interns
The key to Farm Camp's success... awesome interns! We utilized an online internship application (a link to the 2016 application is listed under the "Forms" tab). Farm visits were arranged prior to the Michelle and Abbey starting work. They were responsible for developing each day's activities that corresponded with that day's farm field trip.
Michelle is a junior at the University of Illinois studying Ag Communications. Abbey is a sophomore at Illinois State University studying Ag Communications. |
Results
The goal for the five Farm Camps was 120 participants. With 135 campers, our goal was exceeded by 12.5%. The camps took agriculture to a segment of our county's population that, for most, had never been on a farm. The best measure of Farm Camp's success comes directly from the parents: 97% of parents rate the camps a 4 or higher on a 5-point scale; 96% of parents indicated their child would attend another camp.
The greatest impact/benefit for Farm Bureau was the public exposure and opportunity to partner with four local libraries and an Arts Academy. Their participation broadened Farm Bureau's reach to a population base that had little to no connection to agriculture. Our local partners were very accommodating and shared their own enthusiasm for the program with their patrons. That is evident by the number of kids that participated. Local media coverage also helped promote the camps and bring others audiences to Farm Bureau. Here are a few comments parent's provided on their evaluations:
"Mason was excited every morning to go to farm camp. Every afternoon he talked about all he did and the animals."
"Lola had so much fun every day at Farm Camp, she seemed to learn a lot about different kinds of farms and animal products. She will definitely be going again next year."
"Henry was a little hesitant to go before the first day but when I told him he would get to visit farms, he was all for it. He was excited to tell us at supper where they went each day and what they did and saw. Hope more kids get to do this in the future. A great learning experience. Thank you for organizing it!"
"Afton had a wonderful time and was so excited every day when he was picked up to tell us what he had done and learned during the day at camp! Will surely send him again and recommend to other parents. Thank you so much!"
"Wynn loved camp and came home each day eager to tell me all the new things she learned. Thank you so much for offering this camp to our community!"
"The boys had a great time and learned many things. They are even interested in being farmers when they grow up!"
"I am very impressed with Jacob's experience at Farm Camp. He learned new things every day! He enjoyed going to the different farms and meeting all different animals. He is still using and looking at all the things he made and brought home from camp. Loved the books that he got to borrow! Well worth the money and I think it is an experience that he won't soon forget! Thank You!"
The greatest impact/benefit for Farm Bureau was the public exposure and opportunity to partner with four local libraries and an Arts Academy. Their participation broadened Farm Bureau's reach to a population base that had little to no connection to agriculture. Our local partners were very accommodating and shared their own enthusiasm for the program with their patrons. That is evident by the number of kids that participated. Local media coverage also helped promote the camps and bring others audiences to Farm Bureau. Here are a few comments parent's provided on their evaluations:
"Mason was excited every morning to go to farm camp. Every afternoon he talked about all he did and the animals."
"Lola had so much fun every day at Farm Camp, she seemed to learn a lot about different kinds of farms and animal products. She will definitely be going again next year."
"Henry was a little hesitant to go before the first day but when I told him he would get to visit farms, he was all for it. He was excited to tell us at supper where they went each day and what they did and saw. Hope more kids get to do this in the future. A great learning experience. Thank you for organizing it!"
"Afton had a wonderful time and was so excited every day when he was picked up to tell us what he had done and learned during the day at camp! Will surely send him again and recommend to other parents. Thank you so much!"
"Wynn loved camp and came home each day eager to tell me all the new things she learned. Thank you so much for offering this camp to our community!"
"The boys had a great time and learned many things. They are even interested in being farmers when they grow up!"
"I am very impressed with Jacob's experience at Farm Camp. He learned new things every day! He enjoyed going to the different farms and meeting all different animals. He is still using and looking at all the things he made and brought home from camp. Loved the books that he got to borrow! Well worth the money and I think it is an experience that he won't soon forget! Thank You!"