Summer Farm & Nature Camp

Registration Now Open!

Join us on the farm each summer to learn about our animals, gardens, and surrounding nature! We’ll learn how to farm while spending time outdoors, forging new friendships, and building confidence in ourselves.

A registered skills camp through NH DHHS.

We are hiring a summer educator - learn more and apply!
A young girl with curly hair and a pink hoodie sitting on the ground, holding a turkey in her lap inside a wooden enclosure.
Children sitting outdoors on red and wooden benches listening to an adult man talking next to a campfire on a grassy area with green trees in the background.
A young brown horse with a blonde mane is resting on the ground with eyes closed, in a fenced outdoor area on a sunny day.

Grades K-5

Monday - Friday 9-3

$255-$375/session

Summer Camp 2026

Session 1: July 6-10

Session 2: July 13-17

Session 3: July 20-24

Session 4: July 27-31

Session 5: August 3-7

Session 6: August 10-14

Registration Instructions

  1. Fill out the registration form for each participant you are registering

  2. Pay the $100 deposit to reserve your camp spot(s). Please submit a $100 deposit for each child and each session you are registering for. You may opt to pay the full amount or just the deposit at registration. Deposit may be paid by Venmo, cash, check, or online by card.

  3. Once we receive your registration form and deposit you will receive a confirmation email within 1-3 days.

  4. Reach out to Julia at dancingbearfarmnh@gmail.com with any questions!

Registration Form
Farm & Nature Camp - $100 Deposit
$100.00

To complete your registration we ask for a $100 deposit to reserve each spot in camp. Click “add to cart” below if you would like to pay your deposit online.

If you are registering for multiple sessions, please note that it is a $100 deposit per session per participant.

Farm & Nature Camp - Tier 1 (Pay in Full)
$255.00
Farm & Nature Camp - Tier 2 (Pay in Full)
$325.00
Farm & Nature Camp - Tier 3 (Pay in Full)
$375.00
Children walking goats on a farm with green grass, trees, and a white barn in the background.
Two young girls, wearing pink shirts and jeans, are walking with goats in a grassy field with yellow flowers. The girls are smiling and appear to be enjoying themselves. In the background, there are farm buildings, trees, and a fence.
Two kids standing outdoors, holding fresh vegetables from a garden, smiling at the camera.
Sample daily schedule with illustrations of a rooster, wheat, and a brown dog. The schedule lists activities from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, including drop off, morning circle, farm chores, snack, activity blocks, lunch, free play, reflection, and pickup.

At Dancing Bear Farm Camp we’re building a connection to ourselves, each other, and the world around us all while having summer fun! Each day will begin with a group gathering to go over the day’s schedule at the pavilion before farm chores. After we take care of the animals we take care of ourselves with a snack break. Each week is filled with farm and nature-based activities, harvested snacks, art, forest exploration, and group games.

Farm Chores

Each morning we split into small groups to take care of the farm animals. This includes giving the animals hay, water, feed, and love. We have goats, horses, chickens, and a farm dog year round. In the summer we often add pigs and turkeys to the farm as well.

Daily Choice Time

After lunch we offer an hour long choice time where campers are able to choose their preferred activity. There is always a quiet time option, with coloring, books to browse, and often a story podcast. Other choice time options may include a short hike, pond edge exploration, animal time, a group game, construction projects, and more!

About Tiered Pricing

We offer this pricing structure for our summer camps in recognition of varying financial resources. This is a self-selecting process. We do not ask for evidence or proof of income and participants are never treated differently based on tier choice.

Tier 1 - $255 - lower income or experiencing unemployment, or other financial challenges

Tier 2 - $335 - represents the cost of running the program

Tier 3 - $375 - households with abundant financial resources help us support the longevity of this program, offer tiered pricing, and build our scholarship fund

You may find it helpful to use The Green Bottle Scale pictured. We encourage you to choose the tier that is right for you at this point in time.

We have one full camp scholarship (no cost) available each session. Offered on a first come, first served basis. The scholarship is self-selecting and we do not ask for proof of need. Email Julia at dancingbearfarmnh@gmail.com to inquire about a camp scholarship.

  • Closed-toed shoes (boots are best!)

  • Reusable water bottle

  • Layers - we will be outside each day, so dress for the weather!

  • A change of clothes - We may get muddy or wet. On hot days we play water games to stay cool.

  • Bug Spray & Sunscreen

  • Packed lunch and snack

What to Bring/Wear to Camp

Diagram of three bottles labeled 'The Green Bottle' representing different levels of personal financial stability: Tier 3, Tier 2, and Tier 1, each with a list of financial characteristics

Meet the Counselors

  • A woman holding a rope attached to a large brown horse with a blonde mane, standing outdoors in a rural setting with trees and a barn in the background.

    Julia Lownie "Farmer Julia"

    Julia is a certified Nature-based educator with vast experience leading farm and nature classes for all ages. Julia has a degree in Environmental Conservation from Umass Amherst, a certificate in Nature-based Early Childhood Education from Antioch in Keene, and a North American Montessori Center ages 0-3 certification. Before moving to Dancing Bear Farm, Julia collaborated with the River Valley Coop in Easthampton, MA to develop and lead art and nature playgroups for families while also directing the Greenhouse and Garden Program at Leverett Elementary School. Prior to that, Julia worked at a Reggio-inspired after school and day care program and helped to build up and run the Farmers Helpers education program at Chip-in Farm in Bedford, MA.

  • A man lying on the grass holding a happy puppy with brown and white fur, with people and equipment in the background.

    Cameron Lownie "Farmer Lownie"

    Cam is a fourth grade teacher at Disnard Elementary in Claremont. He studied creative writing at St. Lawrence College in Upstate NY before getting a job as a copy editor. It wasn’t long before Cam realized a desk job wasn’t the right fit for him, and he ended up as a substitute teacher at Wayland Elementary School. From substitute teacher to Building Sub to Para-educator to fourth grade teacher in Springfield MA, Cam has found his calling working in public schools. Cam helps to run classes and camps at Dancing Bear Farm during the summers and school vacations. Fun fact: Julia and Cam first met while working as camp counselors at a Mass Audubon nature camp together!

  • A woman standing outdoors in a garden holding a small puppy. There are green trees and bushes, a flower basket hanging from a black metal plant stand, and a white archway in the background. A black dog is sitting on the grass in front of her.

    Mary Lownie "Farmer Mimi"

    Mary is our camp Garden Teacher and the Dancing Bear Farm vegetable gardener. She leads garden activities, teaching us how to plant, care for, and harvest fruits and veggies in the greenhouse and gardens each session.

    Mary is also a skilled crafter, and may join us for a craft project or to lead a choice time activity. If we’re lucky she might even bring out the friendly farm dogs, Cassie and Rosie, for a visit and a game of fetch!

  • A man wearing glasses, a gray cap, and an orange shirt leaning on a wooden railing in a rustic wooden building.

    Ken Lownie "Farmer Earl"

    In a former life, Ken was a software executive, but these days is Dancing Bear Farm’s lead builder. Day-to-day tasks for Ken include repairing the tractor, firing up the grill, working on furniture reupholstery, and fixing the many small things that break every day on a farm. If it involves manual labor or grease, Ken is there.

    During Summer Camp, Farmer Earl might join us to read a story, introduce us to the tractor, or to lead a construction project

Dancing Bear Farm Background Check Policy

All staff and volunteers of the Dancing Bear Farm Skills Camp must pass a background check prior to working with children. Dancing Bear Farm will obtain Background Checks of staff and volunteers each year through campbackgroundchecks.com (as recommended by the American Camp Association). 

Any staff or volunteers that do not pass a background check will not be permitted to work with children at Dancing Bear Farm. The Camp Director will further review any references, employment history, and volunteer history submitted by or for each camp staff member to determine whether to allow each individual to work directly with youths at the camp.

The Camp Director will maintain an up-to-date listing of all camp staff, together with the status of their background check, employment history, and references.

Dancing Bear Farm will make this policy available on the farm website, www.dancingbearfarmnh.com. DHHS and the public may request a copy of this policy at any time, which will be provided by the Camp Director. 

A completed certification form, background check policy, and $25 fee will be sent to NHDHHS prior to any youth arriving at the camp in each calendar year the camp operates. 

This background check policy will be reviewed and updated annually. The policy was last reviewed on December 11th, 2025.

Register for Camp