Farm Day Camp at Fireplace Farm in Springs, located in the Hamptons, offers an immersive and educational experience for children, blending farming activities, nature exploration, and artistic expression. Directed by Maggie Touchette, the camp has a rich history rooted in Waldorf-inspired principles, focusing on the holistic development of children while fostering a deep connection to nature and agriculture.
The camp’s mission is to engage children in the real work of farming while providing them with an enriching experience. Farm Day Camp, formerly an extension of Harbor Waldorf School, has evolved over its 17-year history, initially starting as a summer program at Ludlow Farm in Bridgehampton. It later found its home at Fireplace Farm in 2016, where Director Maggie Touchette and her team embraced the opportunity to collaborate with farmer Paul Hamilton and the Ryan family, owners of the farm.
Helping Young Children Connect With Farming and Nature
What sets Farm Day Camp apart is its Waldorf-inspired approach, which emphasizes intentional interactions, observation, and thoughtful guidance tailored to each child’s developmental stage. Touchette believes in the importance of exposing children to farming at a young age, fostering a connection to the source of their food, and providing them with hands-on experiences in physical work, which is often lacking in today’s digital age.
“The act of picking peas or pulling carrots can contain so much joy, and for me, this is reason enough at this age,” says Touchette. “That said, the learning that comes through the doing is an absolutely wonderful and essential byproduct. We need our kids to be connected to where their food comes from, more so now than ever, in a world that is becoming increasingly disconnected from that.”
The camp offers two mixed-age programs for children aged 3-4 and 5-9, with activities tailored to suit the developmental needs of each group. Children participate in farm chores, such as planting, harvesting, and caring for animals, under the guidance of Farmer Paul.
“This could be digging potatoes, laying compost, planting, feeding the chickens, weeding,” says Touchette. “We work with the natural cycle of the farm, so it depends on the farm’s needs of the day.” On top of that, they engage in artistic activities, storytelling, and self-directed play, all designed to stimulate creativity and imagination.
Education, Imagination, and Real Relationships
Touchette’s journey with Farm Day Camp began in its second year, shortly after completing her master’s in special education. She played a pivotal role in the establishment of Harbor Waldorf School before dedicating herself to the camp full-time.
Reflecting on the camp’s success, Touchette attributes it to the unique blend of farming experiences, nurturing relationships, and the imaginative environment created by the dedicated teachers. “I think families come for the farming,” she says, “But they stay for the relationships and the care that the teachers give to each child, and to create a nurturing, imaginative environment each day.”
Farm Day Camp continues to embody its mission of providing children with a holistic learning experience that celebrates the wonders of childhood, the beauty of nature, and the joys of farming. Through hands-on activities, meaningful connections, and imaginative play, the camp instills a lifelong appreciation for the earth and its resources in each child.
