Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Unplugged Summer Camps in Vermont | Farm & Wilderness
Farm & Wilderness have been dedicated to fostering transformative experiences for youth since 1939. Our programs emphasize experiential education, outdoor adventure, and community living, rooted in Quaker values of simplicity, peace, and sustainability. We provide a space where campers develop self-reliance through hands-on activities like farming, carpentry, and wilderness exploration. Our gender-inclusive camps cater to diverse age groups, offering structured programs that balance structured learning with unstructured play. With over 80 years of experience, we prioritize creating an environment where campers build meaningful connections with nature and each other. Our staff, many of whom are alumni, bring deep expertise in outdoor education and youth development.We maintain rigorous safety standards while encouraging campers to step outside their comfort zones. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion ensures accessibility for families from all backgrounds. Through daily chores, silent meetings, and collaborative projects, we cultivate a sense of shared responsibility. Our Vermont-based camps operate on 4,800 acres of protected land, providing an immersive natural setting. We continually evolve our programs while preserving core principles that have shaped generations of campers. Our financial aid initiatives ensure socioeconomic diversity remains central to our mission.
Services
Summer Camp Programs
Family Camp
Adventure Activities
Experiential Education
Quaker Values Programs
Outdoor Skills Training
Community Building
Farm Experiences
Wilderness Exploration
Youth Development
Details
- Year established: 1939
Highlights and features
- We offer 85+ years of experience in outdoor experiential education
- Our programs integrate Quaker values with wilderness living principles
- We maintain a 3:1 camper-to-staff ratio for personalized attention
- Our gender-inclusive programs accommodate diverse family structures
- We operate on 4,800 acres of protected Vermont wilderness
What people say
Unforgettable experience
Community focus
Outdoor learning
Transformative growth
Joyful play
Services
Summer Camp Programs
Our summer camps provide immersive outdoor experiences for children aged 4-17. Programs combine wilderness exploration, farm work, and community living to develop life skills. Campers participate in structured activities like canoeing and carpentry while learning teamwork and environmental stewardship through hands-on experiences in Vermont's natural setting.
Family Camp
Family Camp offers multigenerational experiences at our Firefly Song location. Participants engage in collaborative activities like apple picking and boating while living in rustic cabins. The program emphasizes unplugged family time with opportunities for both guided adventures and self-directed exploration in a supportive community environment.
Adventure Activities
We offer wilderness-based activities including hiking, rock climbing, and water sports on Woodward Reservoir. Programs emphasize safety while challenging participants to build confidence through experiential learning. Activities are designed to develop outdoor skills and foster appreciation for natural environments through hands-on engagement.
Experiential Education
Our educational approach combines practical skills with character development through daily activities. Campers learn fire-building, farming, and construction while practicing Quaker principles of simplicity and community. The curriculum emphasizes learning through doing, with reflection components that reinforce personal growth and environmental awareness.
Quaker Values Programs
Programs integrate Quaker principles through daily silent meetings and community decision-making. Campers practice mutual respect and sustainability through shared responsibilities and reflective practices. Our approach emphasizes personal integrity, peaceful conflict resolution, and environmental stewardship as core components of the camp experience.
People
Jay Kullman
Executive Director
Jay Kullman brings 17 years of experience with Farm & Wilderness to his role as Executive Director. He has led farm and facilities development, conservation projects, and served as Interim Executive Director since 2023. His leadership focuses on maintaining the organization's mission while advancing sustainability initiatives.
Bill Schwarzschild
Alumnus
Bill Schwarzschild attended Farm & Wilderness in 1950 and credits the experience with shaping his life. He served as a Scoutmaster and Air Force officer, crediting camp skills with saving his life. He later supported the camp through library development and financial contributions during his business career.
John Porcino
Family Camp Co-Director
John Porcino has directed Family Camp for over twenty years and is a professional musician and educator with 40 years of experience. He specializes in engaging all ages through creative play and discovery, bringing decades of expertise in experiential education and community building to the program.
Questions
What age groups do your camps serve?
We offer programs for children aged 4-17 and multigenerational family camps. Specific programs have different age ranges as detailed on our website.
Are your camps gender-inclusive?
Yes, we offer gender-inclusive programs and specific camps for girls/gender non-binary and boys/gender non-binary participants.
What outdoor activities are available?
Activities include hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, organic farming, carpentry, and arts. Specific offerings vary by camp location and session.
How do you incorporate Quaker values?
Daily silent meetings, community decision-making, and sustainability practices integrate Quaker principles throughout our programs.
What accommodations are available?
We offer rustic cabins with shared facilities. Cabins have no electricity but include storage and sleeping areas with bedding provided.
Do you offer financial assistance?
Yes, we provide transparent financial aid options. Our Affordable for All program includes a Financial Aid Estimator tool for personalized assistance calculations.
Videos
Reviews (5)
Max Dowd
Dec 04, 2020
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I went to Timberlake camp for 2 full summers In the early 90s. This camp and the entire community that is farm and wilderness is amazing. I just recently visited with my family and it is still the same amazing place. The things I learned about myself and about life and nature those summers truly shaped me into the man I am today. I spent the ride home telling my girls all the great stories about my summers there and they cant wait to go to Indian Brook. This camp is amazing and any child would be incredibly fortunate to experience it.
Gabriel Rodriguez
Aug 12, 2020
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I remember coming here in 2016, and it was such an experience. I looked up this place after sitting here and getting nostalgic, but the sense of fraternity and brotherhood I felt among my peers and the staff as well is something I'll never forget.
Lyn Larrc
Dec 12, 2019
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This is a spectacular facility where nature connection and organic farming have been taught experiential for 70 years. It a working food producing farm, three residential summer camps set on a scenic forested mountainside on the shore of a pristine lake. The farm produces fruits, vegetables and herbs as well as dairy, beef, wool, pork, eggs, chicken and more. Not to be missed.
Tulio Browning
Oct 29, 2019
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I worked here five summers in the 80's, was inspired to start my own camps in Europe and then came back to work again as Director. I love the "Go Big or Go Bigger" camp culture mixed with moments of calm and reflection in Silent Meeting. Being outdoors all day in such a beautiful place with such great people is what keeps me connected.
Max Rameau
Jun 17, 2018
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Best camp ever. Amazing staff, great management team. If they did not have an age limit, I would go there instead of my child.
