Farmhands Programs
Summer 2010

Join Farmhands Education staff for one or many of these fun, hands-on learning opportunities. Designed for children ages 5 an up, all programs are an interactive, educational, and exciting way to experience a working farm or ranch, meet the resident animals, assist with projects and explore the surrounding natural habitat.  Teaching locations include Weathervane Farm and Cottonwood Creek Dairy at The Meadows in Buena Vista and the historic Hutchinson Homestead in Salida.

Pre-registration is required for all programs.  Please contact Farmhands Director Andrea Earley Coen at (970)309-3175 or email FarmhandsED@gmail.com to register or for more information.

Weathervane Farm and Cottonwood Creek

Hutchinson Homestead



Weathervane Farm and Cottonwood Creek Dairy at The Meadows in Buena Vista

Farm Camp
Ages: 5 and up
Dates: June 8-10, July 6-8, July 27-29
Times: 9am-3pm each day
Cost: $120 per camp/ 10% discount if you register for all three

Join Farmhands for this unique and exceptionally fun 3-day program.  Each day begins with farm chores and a snack. Then it really gets exciting!  Days will be filled with teambuilding, nature exploration, aquatic ecology, farm projects, art, journaling, music and possibly even a hint of magic….  We will conclude the camp with a farm feast, harvested and prepared by the campers for their families.

Nature Detectives
Ages: 5 and up
Dates: June 15 & July 22
Times: 9am-12pm
Cost: $20

Let’s put on our detective hats and go!  Explore the woodlands and meadows surrounding Weathervane Farm to learn more about the wild animals that call this place home.  Tracks, bones, eat marks and even scat will be our clues to unravel the mysteries of these animals’ homes and habits. A farm-grown snack will be provided.

Junior Farmer
Ages: 5 and up
Dates: June 29
Times: 9am-12pm
Cost: $20

Don your overalls and come on out to the farm for a day of good-ole, down home farm work and fun.  We will help work on some projects for Weathervane Farm, and the day will conclude with a special, tasty frozen treat thanks to the cows at Cottonwood Creek Dairy! A farm-grown snack will be provided.

Diggin’ for Decomposers
Ages: 5 and up
Dates: July 20
Times: 9am-12pm
Cost: $20

Get ready to go hunting for the small and squirmy!  Through exploration both on the farm and in the surrounding woodlands, learn how the creepiest, crawliest critters are the key to both a forest and our food. A farm-grown snack will be provided.

Family Farm Days
Open to all ages - Great for families with children 4 and under!
Dates: June 26, July 10, July 24, Aug. 7
Times: 9-11:30am
Cost: $20 for a family of 4/$3 each additional person

Want to come to camp, too?  Here’s your chance!  Spend a morning on the farm with the whole family.  Meet and feed the animals, tour the farm, assist in a farm project and create a farm-inspired craft to take home.  A farm-grown snack will be provided, and you are invited to bring a picnic lunch and stay as long as you like!

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Hutchinson Homestead, Salida

Ranch Camp
Ages: 5 and up
Dates: June 22-24, July 13-15, Aug. 3-5
Times: 9am-3pm each day
Cost: $120 per camp/ 10% discount if you register for all three

Spend three fun-filled days on a historic ranch! Each day will begin with ranch chores, and participants will get to assist in a variety of ranch projects, learn some animal husbandry skills, explore the pastures and creek, learn about the Hutchinson’s family and general ranching history and practice several traditional art skills, like spinning, candle making, butter making or making jam. There may even be a hint of magic that arises from the past…. The camp will conclude with a ranch-inspired feast and a square dance for campers and their families.

Annabel’s Garden
Ages: 5 and up
Dates: Wednesday afternoons, ongoing May through October
Times: 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Cost: $5 per child, each week

Gardens were an important part of any homestead, and this weekly series will celebrate the efforts and role of gardening on a ranch.  Initially offered as an after-school program, this group of students will meet weekly from early May through the summer to develop, maintain and harvest a children’s garden.  Topics will include garden design, seed choice, planting, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, seed saving and food preservation.  Many vegetables will be historically and geographically accurate to a high altitude garden of the late 1800-early 1900’s.  Edible flowers, herbs, sunflowers and fun, kid-friendly planting designs will be incorporated into the garden as well.


Traditional Arts Series
Ages: 5 and up
Dates: Mondays June 7, 14, 21, 28 & July 12,19, 26
Times: 10am-2pm
Cost: $25/day or $150 for all 7

Traditional arts are skills that were once a necessary part of daily life and a meaningful way to connect to place and home.  In this Series, children will get a chance to learn and have fun practicing these skills in a setting that evokes the spirit of these traditions. All projects will be able to be taken home.  The series will include spinning, butter making, candle making, soap making, food preservation, woodworking and blacksmithing.  Sign up for one or all 7!.

Learn more about the Traditional Arts Series.

For more information and scheduling, please contact Andrea Earley Coen at 970.309.3175 or email FarmhandsED@gmail.com.

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