Farmers Rising's mission is to support local, sustainable farmers and food systems. The organization also hosts day and overnight summer camps geared toward children ages 7 to 15. Campers help with farm chores, cook food they harvest, explore the outdoors, and take classes such as fire starting and herbalism. Trisha Wilks, the community programs director for the organization, said campers come from very different backgrounds.
"We have kids every week that have grown up on a farm, or their grandparents had a farm," she said. "Then we have other kids that come that had no idea that a carrot came out of the ground."
She said the main goal of farm camp is to help kids connect to the food they eat, and staff have seen picky eaters begin to enjoy vegetables and gardening. The camp is also technology-free.
"It gives them a chance to really truly be kids and permission to get muddy and climb over logs and splash in creeks and ask questions and take risks," she said, "and that builds their confidence. It really helps them discover what they're capable of."
Wilks said many children arrive at camp disliking vegetables, but once they experience farming firsthand, they become more excited about growing and eating new foods.
Camps run through early August, and Wilks said there's still space in every session. There are also scholarships available for campers who might not be able to access these programs.
Copy Edited by Eryn Lent
