conservation, caretaking, collaboration, composting, & calisthenics for ages 6-12 #thisisfarmcamp

Campers, prepare to sweat, get dirty, and slog it out while you contribute to the work of a local producer of clean food in the Triad! Bottomline, get ready for the most rewarding week of your lives!  Learn how NOMAD Farms works with nature to produce clean beef, pork, chicken, turkey, rabbit, and lamb. Befriend NOMAD animals: feed, water, assist in pasture rotation, collect eggs, and protect from predators. Tend the farm garden: plant seeds, cultivate compost, identify local species of trees and help expand forest areas. Collect and study wild herbs. Create farm-inspired art and practice your own storytelling. Make forts and build character. Play old-fashioned games. Keep Field Notes and practice asking questions, generating ideas, and solving problems. Explore this museum of God’s creation and understand your role in the stewardship of it.

Mark Nicholson is lead-caretaker of our livestock and land. As Director of NOMAD’s staff and Manager of Sales, his degrees are in Psychology (UNC-Chapel Hill) and Leadership (MA, Columbia International University). Dana Nicholson is Engineer of NOMAD Farms camp curriculum with a BA in Education (UNC-Chapel Hill) and an MA in Education (Wake Forest University). Scottie Nicholson is our Farm Camp Manager with degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill (BA) and Oxford University of England (MA).  These three bring their life experiences to cultivate love for learning and regenerative farming!

2025 DATES

Session 1: June 2-6 FULL

Session 2: June 16-20 FULL

Session 3: June 23-27 FULL

*Session 4: June 30-July 4 (International Week)

Session 5: July 14-18

Session 6: July 28-August 1

Drop-off at 9:00 and pick-up at 2:00. Age range for campers: 6-12 years old. *

FARM CAMP DEPOSIT is $100 (non-refundable) and FARM CAMP FULL TUITION (including deposit) is $325.

Beginning January 15, 2025, scroll down, press CAMPER REGISTRATION FORM, fill out, and pay deposit online. If you can click on the session then the session is still open. If the session you need is already full, you may use the CAMPER WAITLIST FORM to waitlist any session.  Registration opens at midnight. 

*Note that Session 4 is International Week during which our focus will be on campers who are not necessarily fluent in English.  If you are a newcomer to the United States and have landed in North Carolina as your new and/or temporary home, we are excited to cater to a possible variety of learning and cultural needs during this particular week: Session 4.  If you would like to see a family or individual receive an invitation for this experience, please email ([email protected]) or call the farm (336-816-9831).  Transportation and scholarships may be provided.  

HOW DOES NOMAD ASSEMBLE SMALL GROUPS? WE don't divide Works Crews according to homogenous grade levels or abilities — instead we carefully diversify to include young farmers of every age so that the crew operates more like a family with the older kids leading and helping the younger ones. We usually place siblings in separate work groups so that they have the best chance to interact with new people. Please remember that while we accept requests for young farmers to be paired with up to one other person, we cannot guarantee placements and WE DO NOT ACCEPT requests on the first day of farm camp. The first day of each session is a precious time for establishing rapport with counselors and your young farmer’s fellow crew members and since each group is built around so many variables (including gender, age, food allergies, special needs, and advance requests), we do not have the capacity to make same-day switches. As a consolation, we can say that getting to make and work with new friends will surely enhance your camper’s experience and allow for more growth. While we encourage parents to trust our judgment in carefully placing your child with the right group, we understand extenuating circumstances and will try to honor your requests when made in advance. If you’re curious about our long-standing philosophy regarding age divisions, HERE'S AN INTERESTING ARTICLE.

Volunteer Counselor Applications (ages 13-22) go live February 1, 2025. One of the most valuable components of our program is the caliber of leadership our Farm Camp Counselors provide. Thanks to a tall wave of interest, this season we will favor Counselor applications of teenagers who are at least 15. Since we still LOVE and appreciate our 13 and 14 year olds, we will happily accept applications from these teens who are willing to invest $80 for the leadership training experience (required for first week only if volunteer is serving for more than one session in a single summer). A Volunteer Counselor makes a one week commitment (sign up  according to preferred dates with no upper limit for number of sessions).

Paid Staff Applications (ages 16 and up) go live February 1, 2025.  This is a ten-week stretch commitment (May 24 - August 2) with full-stop time off during the weeks in-between farm camp sessions.  In other words, you can examine the dates above and plan other jobs, activities, and/or travel during the in-between weeks (excluding Sundays preceding Farm Camp Sessions, reserved for Counselor Orientations). We look forward to hiring THE BEST STAFF EVER, choosing from among applicants who are 16 years old and up who have their drivers licenses in hand when the summer begins.   We cannot make exceptions for missing Farm Camp weeks so plan your summer accordingly. With your application you agree to be here for all six sessions.