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Youth Farm Camp

What is Youth Farm Camp?

The RCE Youth Farm Camp provides at-risk and special needs youth in grades 9-12 with true-to-life agriculture experiences. Youth participate in the daily activities of the host farm or ranch, and engage in experiential learning workshops taught by RCE faculty and staff. Weekend sessions run three (3) days and (2) nights per session with a maximum of 15 youth included per session. Only Youth Farmstand participants in good standing are selected to attend the Farm Camp. Youth from community organization and local schools may also participate depending upon funding and space availability.

Youth Farm Camp has four (4) primary objectives. Participants will increase their:

  • Knowledge of New Jersey agriculture industry
  • Knowledge of agriculture and food systems
  • Awareness of job, career & entrepreneurial opportunities
  • Desire to pursue post-secondary education and/or careers in agriculture

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2004 Youth Farm Camp

More than 20 students from New Jersey’s largest urban center, Newark, spent time visiting agricultural enterprises as part of a six-week program, with this portion being dubbed Farm Camp.

Despite the fact that most of these students had never spent much, if any, time exploring New Jersey’s agricultural industry, the participants had positive remarks for their experience. Bill Randolph, owner of Millstone Valley Nursery in Belle Mead, Pat Hilton of Neshanic Station, and Rutgers staff at the Snyder Research Farm in Pittstown opened their doors to share agricultural knowledge and information on careers.

Dr. Mary Nikola helped coordinate the effort on behalf of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, in conjunction with the Greater Newark Conservancy and Project USE. Several counselors from Project USE accompanied each Farm Camp group, including Linda Stanfield and Homer Horowitz who worked with the teens visiting Bill Randolph’s greenhouse operation. They pointed out that the participants, ranging in age from 14-17, had to apply to the program and be chosen to participate. Their role as counselors emphasized the team building nature of the program. It was also their hope that the teens would “take pride and ownership in the work they were doing since the purpose of the program was to better themselves.”

Pat Hilton couldn’t say enough about the students who traveled to her 326-acre horse farm in Neshanic Station. Hilton and Fred Van Doren own the farmland-preserved farm, which currently houses four horses, 25-30 dairy heifers, and chickens. Hay is also grown and they have the capacity to board horses.

During the time Farm Camp participants were onsite, Hilton worked right along with the students, who were typically given a variety of tasks to complete. Students assisted her in cutting down a dead maple tree, feeding the chickens, and helping to clean up a building where she will unveil a mural depicting her farm next month.

The freshmen science teacher at Hunterdon Central High School remarked, “I think people need to give of their time. By the end of the Farm Camp, the students respected my work ethic and they all remarked at how beautiful and clean the farm is. I was truly touched by them.”

The third Farm Camp was held at the Snyder Research Farm where students learned about horticulture, forestry, turfgrass, organic crop production, and fruit production. All three groups of participants had the chance to meet with Chip Shepherd, restaurant manager of the Ryland Inn in Whitehouse, who provided a tour of the restaurant’s organic gardens. The teens were treated to a look at the how food is grown, harvested, and then prepared for the table.

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Contact Information

Mary Nikola, Ph.D.
Director of Leadership and Organizational Development
88 Lipman Drive
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8525
Phone: 732-932-5000 x611
Fax: 732-932-6633
nikola@njaes.rutgers.edu

 

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