BALLENTINE FARM
Harvesting Young Minds
Ballentine Farm
38777 Old Wheatland Road
Waterford, VA 20197
ph: (703) 216 9727
debbie
Our summer session is run by Virginia certified teachers with an emphasis in special education. Additionally, young adults offer their time and services as counselors and junior counselors in exchange for an opportunity to learn about childhood education and sustainable farming. Our goal is for children to develop a respect for the importance of farming in a community, while experiencing self growth in knowledge, friendship, and spirit.
We only take a total of 30 elementary age children per week and have one counselor for every 5 campers, so our campers get a lot of individual support. This also allows us to provide a wide variety of activities to meet every child's needs.
Ready to sign up?
Visit our Contacts & Directions page!
Session 1 June 15 - June 19
Session 2 June 22 - June 26
Session 3 July 6 - June 10
Session 4 July 13 - July 17
Session 5 July 20 - July 24
Session 6 July 27 - July 31
Session 7 Aug 3 - Aug 7
Session 8 Aug 10 - Aug 14
~ Children ~
Summer camp is open to children ages 5–12 years. We encourage all types of learners to attend. Our facility is handicapped accessible.
The cost for the first week is $380.00 for everyone. If your child attends 2-5 additional weeks, the price goes down to $350.00 per week for the additional weeks. We do not offer individual days.
To register, please fill out the registration form and the health record and release form found below. Then mail both forms along with payment to the address on the top of the registration form. Payment can be made with a personal or cashier check. Also be sure to get a copy of the summer session supply checklist, which can be found below:
NOTE:
Summer Sesssion fills up very quickly after April 1,
so be sure to get your registration(s)
in ASAP to ensure your first pick.
Summer Session Registration Form
Health Record and Release Form
8:30 Arrival
After putting away their things, campers sign up for daily chores and activities. There may also be a morning activity for campers to complete so that they can share their work during Morning Meeting.
9:00 Morning Meeting
Children start each day by greeting their friends and fellow campers. With the help of teachers, counselors, and junior counselors, our campers participate in fun activities which are designed to promote good listening, practice cooperation, and build a sense of community within our group.
9:45 Morning Chores
Children tend to our farm animals by feeding and watering them, as well as walking them to their grazing areas. Through working with animals, children develop an understanding of the life cycles of the animal kingdom and how animals contribute to our food supply.
10:00 Activities
Children work on projects that will benefit themselves and the local community through guided activities led by our team of teachers, counselors and junior counselors. Children may choose between a Surprise, Science, Challenge, Cooking, Art, Craft, Canning, or Gardening activity. Children also make items which will be donated to local food banks, volunteer rescue squads, and senior citizens.
11:00 Snack
Campers enjoy a healthy snack provided by the farm, such as deviled eggs or Farm Pizza. Many of our snacks include produce from our farm and are made with our own recipes.
11:30 Game
Campers work and play together in games that challenge them to solve puzzling problems and use their cooperative learning skills as well as their physical and mental abilities.
12:00 Lunch
Lunch is brought from home. Children are free to eat together at the tables inside, on the front porch, or at the picnic tables outside.
12:30 Changing for Pool
Before Reading and Writing Time, children must change into their pool attire so they are ready to go when at last it's time to swim.
1:00 Reading and Writing Time
Reading
Children may listen to a storyteller in the barn or choose to read their own book while relaxing in the tree house, under the umbrella tree, or in our cozy hammock.
Writing
Childdren are free to expand their writing skills by keeping a diary, penning letters, or writing creative stories or plays.
2:00 Pool Time/ Free Activity
On hot summer days, our children love to play in the pool and cool off. If they would rather not swim, they may participate in games or other activities with a counselor or junior counselor.
3:00 Afternoon Chores
Once again, children work with and care for our animals as they learn more about them and how they contribute to our society.
3:20 Closing Meeting
Everyone gathers in the barn to discuss the day's highs and lows, their hopes for tomorrow, and any personal and group goals to set for the next day.
3:30 Parent Pick-Up
At the start of each day, children sign up for Morning Chores, Activities, Reading Locations, and Afternoon Chores.
After they sign up, children may be
asked to complete a Morning Activity that will help children and counselors get to know others better.
Morning Meeting is the official start to a day at Ballentine Farm Summer Session. Children and counselors participate in group games, challenges, and activities that encourage good listening skills, discussion, and critical thinking.
For Morning and Afternoon Chores, children may choose to tend to the chickens, horses, goats, pigs, or ducks.
Campers in a Science Activity group dissect owl pellets to learn more about food chains and food webs.
Children in an art activity group write secret messages in white crayon that can only be uncovered using a set of paints.
After Activities, campers enjoy a quick snack prepared by the Cooking group.
Sometimes our Game is a camp
favorite, like Kickball/Baseball...
...and other times, we challenge our children to work together and solve a puzzling problem as a team.
Lunch time!
One of our most popular Reading Locations is the cozy hammock.
Everybody loves the pool!
At the end of another day at camp,
Carter rests up for tomorrow.
Copy Link: www.facebook.com/BallentineFarmVA
Ballentine Farm
38777 Old Wheatland Road
Waterford, VA 20197
ph: (703) 216 9727
debbie