Child 1 Age 11 - 12 (Female)
Program(s) focused in Adventure (multi), Survival skills, Wilderness Skills
(5) Overall experience
My daughter attended the week-long, overnight Explorers Camp at Wildflower Community Farm last summer and it was hands down the best camp she has ever been to. She came home a more peaceful, confident and independent child than she was before she left. In today's fast-paced, screen-surrounding world, this camp reminded us all that spending time outside both day and night, keeping things simple and focusing on just our basic needs, is one of the best things we can do for our well-being. We would return to this camp again and again.
(5) Reason for choosing the camp
For her first stay-away camp, we were looking for a community where she felt comfortable and capable, where she could learn some survival skills and also form some new friendships in a simple, natural environment. Wildflower was the obvious choice given all our previous experiences there. And of course, horses :) The balance between learning survival skills such as cooking outdoors and building a shelter, horsemanship, caring for other animals around the farm and spending lots of time outdoors checked all the boxes for us.
(5) Program quality and activities
The experience was exactly as advertised. The packing list was clear and thorough, the instructors were kind and caring, and there were lots of opportunities to have fun while also learning how to care for yourself outdoors. There was a small change in the itinerary due to a big downpour on the day they were supposed to hike out into the woods and build a shelter, so they went back to the farm for other activities while they dried clothes and headed out the next day instead. Nothing was lost in terms of teaching—this change provided an opportunity for a different kind of fun and a lesson in re-evaluating and adjusting when things don't go as planned.
(5) Social dynamics and experience
She attended the camp with a friend and also made new friends over the course of the week. The group seemed like a tight-knit family where everyone had a role and purpose. Lots of inside jokes and "remember when...?" went on for days after, with an equal amount of kudos given to each instructor and attendee. With everyone working towards the common cause of food, shelter, and caring for animals, there didn't seem to be any room for anyone to be left out.
(5) Skills and growth
The peace she felt when returning home undoubtedly came from living a simpler life over the course of the week. With fewer belongings and distractions, she learned to be at ease with what she had. The group learned how to scope out a good campsite, how to build a good shelter, how to pack and prepare meals outdoors, and how to care for animals around the farm—all of this was new to her.
(5) Staff/Instructors/Counsellors
The camp was very well planned out; all the gear, meals and instructions were communicated well in advance. The staff is clearly knowledgeable in their field, and outstanding at instilling confidence in kids at an age when that tends to drop. Our daughter has always felt encouraged and capable in the Wildflower community because she is given just the right amount of responsibility for where she is developmentally—enough to challenge her to rise beyond her comfort level, but not so much that she can't perform the tasks asked of her. There was no technology at this camp, so it was nice to hear from the instructors mid-week about how things were going.
(5) Preparation and packing
We brought exactly what was specified on the list, nothing more, nothing less. We found she used everything she brought and she did not wish she had brought something other than what she had. My only recommendation would be to follow the packing list and instructions given; nothing else is necessary.
(5) Advice and tips
For anyone considering an overnight camp for the first time, this is the perfect one: it was a great balance of staying at the farm, close to a kitchen and plumbing, while still getting the camp experience (sleeping outside in a tent), and a couple of nights out in the "wild" to get a true natural experience. The only piece to really consider is whether your child is ready to sleep away from home.
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