From a press release:
Art, creativity and sustainability at Echoview Farm’s day camp for girls
Echoview Farm’s popular Day Camp returns for two week-long sessions: July 7-11 and July 14-18th from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. Space is limited with early enrollment encouraged.
At Echoview Farm Day Camp girls ages six to 13 can befriend an angora goat, watch as its hair is carefully shorn, observe the process of turning the fibers into yarn or felt roving at Echoview Fiber Mill, and then use those materials to create art, all in the span of a day. The camp focuses on art, sustainability, and creativity, and puts the mission of Echoview Farm into action: showing how sustainable agriculture can work in Western North Carolina and beyond.
Stephanie Duncan is the Camp Director and a teacher at North Buncombe Elementary, where she’s taught Kindergarten for the past 20 years. She’ll be joined this summer by another veteran teacher, Barbara Ruehl, allowing for more girls to participate in the camp, which sold out quickly last year and had a long waiting list. This year, the girls will be split into two age groups under the direction of Duncan and Ruehl.
“I look forward to working with two age groups and providing them with experiences that will allow them to help one another and grow together. From egg collecting to creating culinary delights, the campers are provided with learning opportunities that take them outside of their day-to-day experience,” Duncan said.
“I love having the creative freedom to let the girls explore and experience a wide variety of activities,” she added.
The days at camp, which run from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, are divided into morning and afternoon sessions with a variety of activities including tours of Echoview Farm, interacting with a wide variety of animals, cooking activities, jewelry making, felting, weaving, T-shirt decorating, paint making, exploring plants and flowers, and learning from guest speakers.
Animals at the farm include an array of goats–including pygmy and fainting goats–angora bunnies, horses, mules, chickens, turkeys, and even two baby Scottish Highland cows, Fiona, a cream-colored Highland, and the cinnamon-colored Dara.
Campers get an up close and personal look at the work that goes into running a farm the size of Echoview, both when it comes to caring for the animals, and to growing food. A popular cooking activity includes gathering farm fresh eggs and then learning how to prepare a variety of recipes. The girls will also get to try their hand at making fresh ice cream in the current summer session.
Eleven-year-old Louise Comeau, an honors 6th grade student at North Windy Ridge School, attended Echoview Farm Day Camp last year and is excited to return again this summer.
“My favorite things at Echoview last summer were meeting different cute animals, like llamas, making soap and lip gloss from natural ingredients, learning how to crochet, and making new friends,” she said.
Louise’s mom, Carolyn, said she appreciates that it’s a camp just for girls.
“I believe it strengthens their self-esteem at a very pivotal age. They’re entering adolescence and really trying to figure lots of things out about who they are. Echoview supports this and is a wonderfully open and positive environment,” she said.
Campers can enroll in Echoview Farm Day Camp for $185 per week, with the option of attending one or both weeks. The camp hours are from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm with Week One running from July 7-11 and Week Two running July 14-18. Before and after camp care is also available upon request. To enroll in the camp, or for more information, contact Echoview Farm manager Stacy Wilson at 828-645-7667 or swilson@echoviewnc.com.
Me and Lily are so exited to come!!!!!