Welcome to Williams Farm Friends Summer Camp!
Williams Farm Friends is a small, intentional, relationship-based farm and nature program. Our days are rooted in caring for animals, tending the land, creative play, and building a respectful community. We believe children learn best through real experiences, responsibility, and connection. Our mission is to support children in becoming stewards of the land while making lasting summer memories.
This handbook is here to help you understand what you and your camper can expect at Farm Friends and how families and staff can create the best possible experience for every child. Our policies and practices are in place to keep safety a priority while allowing children the freedom to explore, take healthy risks, and learn through play.
Can’t Wait To See You On The Farm!
Staff and Contact Information
Mandy Williams is in her 17th year as a licensed teacher, and has professional teaching and daycare experience with every age from 3 months old to seniors in high school. She has her diploma in Montessori Education for Upper Elementary, and is an avid hobby farmer and nature enthusiast. Her two children, ages 8 and 6, will be attending camp daily! Her husband, Landon Williams, often manages behind the scenes as well!
To get in contact with Farm Friends, you can:
- Email: williamsfarmfriends@gmail.com
-Call or text: 651-334-0992
Visits before attending camp can be set up by contacting us above!
Our preferred ratio of campers to guide is 1:10, so there may be other teachers or student aides on site to support campers with their adventures. This includes Tina Duerkop, who is an experienced Montessori teacher and signed on to be a part time guide this summer. Staff also include Deanna Gehloff, who is an experienced Montessori assistant and paraprofessional who will also be a part time guide this summer. There may be other drop in staff or student aides on site to assist as well.
Registration and Necessary Forms
If you are new to Farm Friends, please visit the “New to Farm Friends” tab in order to connect with Williams Farm and ask any questions you have. Then, you can go to the “Registration” page in order to book your dates of attendance.
Before registering for your first day of camp, please complete the following forms online, which are located on the “child information and waiver” tab:
- Camp Waiver
-Emergency Contact and Medical Information Form
Every day will be new and have different activities planned, so there is no such thing as attending too often! If you and your child are interested in particular activities, please see the calendar page for more information on special activities and events as summer comes closer.
Planning for your Child's Day
Packing List of labeled items:
. • Backpack/ bag to carry all items.
• Lunch, snacks & refillable water bottle. We have a refrigerator and microwave on site for usage of lunches if needed, but cold lunches are preferred. We do not have ice available for water bottles.
. • Layers appropriate for the weather of the day. We go from wooded areas, to open fields, so plan accordingly- Your child should dress for a day of outdoor adventure! Please do not send your child’s best clothing/shoes, as camp activities are outside and rugged. We have had cases of poison ivy, so we recommend pants and boots for wooded areas. Footwear for water play, woods, play and traveling to animal pens is a struggle! We recommend muck boots or old sneakers for woods/animal pens, and sandals with straps for playground and water play.
• Insect repellent and sunscreen.
• Swimsuit & Towel.
Farm Friends should not bring:
• Electronics
• Personal sports equipment, games, trading cards (i.e. Pokémon & Magic Cards)
• Money
Lost and Found:
We do our best to help campers keep track of their belongings, but Farm Friends is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items. Please do not send valuables, irreplaceable items, jewelry, or favorite toys/stuffed animals to camp. We highly encourage families to label all their campers’ belongings. Lost and found items will be kept for about one week after each session, after which they may be donated or thrown away.
Program Structure
Camp runs Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM from June 15th – July 30th for students ages 4-12.
Outside of these 28 days, we will offer 3 hour courses with specific learning goals. Courses will be on topics such as farm science, woodworking, wool projects, watercolor painting, creative writing and more! Click on the “classes” tab in our email for more information.
Each week has a guiding theme that shapes activities, stories, and projects. Families may enroll campers day-by-day while still participating in the weekly theme.
Activities at Camp
At Farm Friends, we will have a wonderful balance of guided activities and free exploration/play, all with a nature focus!
Guided activities this summer will include the following:
Creation and management of gardens on site.
Caring for chickens, sheep, kittens, ducks, rabbits, pigs and Lloyd the farm pug.
Nature inspired crafts, snack creation, and games.
Guest speakers from the community sharing their knowledge and special projects, on everything from tree house building to using a loom to weave wool!
Mini-lessons on foraging, insects, farm plants, farm animals, and much more (age dependent)!
Potential rides (guided by a licensed adult) in or on farm equipment.
A daily read aloud. (plug: join the Red Wing Public Library in logging your hours read on Beanstalk! This will add a fun twist to our read-aloud!)
Free play opportunities will include the following:
Water play with a multitude of sprinklers, splash pads, and slip and slides.
Trampoline and playground play.
Active games such as a gaga-ball pit, basketball hoop, and slack line.
Hiking, climbing, and fort building in the woods.
Indoor play with crafting supplies, cardboard creations, Legos, gymnastics equipment and more!
General Daily Routine:
Between 8:00- 9:00 am, children check into the main building with their adult, and engage in some table activities or with the indoor gym.
By 9:00, we always come together for a read aloud, games, and a whole-group welcome. Often, activities at this time invest us in our theme of the week.
After that, we are off to complete our farm chores. We think that it is very important to show students the level of responsibility needed to care for living things. And, students often develop chores that they prefer, whether it is collecting eggs, filling sheep water pails, collecting fresh grass treats for the rabbits, or watering the garden and flowers. Farm chores are often started with a sigh and ended with a smile, which we love to see!
Our mid-morning activities involve presenting students with options in particular areas of the farm, and allowing them to engage as they desire. Activities at this time include a wide range of projects and engagement opportunities, but in true Montessori fashion, they always involve a particular environment being prepared for the children, and child choice within that environment. Every day on the farm at this time is different and unique!
Lunch generally brings us all back to the main building at 11:30, and children eat outside on picnic tables in community, weather permitting.
After lunch, our afternoon between 12:00-2:30 focuses heavily on Pure Summer Fun and individual choice. Water play, including small pools, slip and slides, sprinklers, squirt toys, and water tables have helped us beat the heat for sure. Usually after cooling off, other types of play take shape- time at the park, gaga ball games, additional animal time and finishing crafts all lead to smiles.
At 2:30 we have a snack. We often have a “food work” snack that students prepare onsite for themselves or the group (parental approval to participate needed). Students are also encouraged to bring snacks from home as well.
3:20-3:40 is generally clean up time, where students gather their own belongings, and clean up items they utilized during our afternoon, and between 3:40-4:00 is pickup time!
Daily Arrival & Departure
Drop-Off: 8:00–9:00 AM
Pick-Up: 3:00–4:00 PM
If later drop off or earlier pick up is required, please contact Mandy Williams.
All campers must be signed in and out daily by an approved adult. Photo ID may be requested upon pick up..
If your child is not going to be in attendance for a scheduled session, please call/email Farm Friends. This does not change fees for the day, but does ensure our team knows your child is safe and accounted for!
Farm Safety & Animal Care
Children are taught how to safely and respectfully interact with animals. Animals may choose when and how to engage.
Animal-Specific Guidelines
Sheep: Calm walking, quiet voices. No entering pens without staff.
Pigs: Observe from outside fencing unless invited. Give pigs space.
Chickens & Ducks: Walk, never chase. Hold only with staff support.
Rabbits: Sit while petting or feeding; never pick up.
Kittens: Gentle hands. No picking up unless invited.
All children are required to wash hands thoroughly after handling animals.
Health, Safety & Minnesota Alignment
Farm Friends is not a licensed daycare facility, and satisfies license exemption under Minnesota Statute 142B.05 subdivision 2 chapter 10. However, we take the health and safety of our programming seriously in order to ensure a quality experience for all of our Farm Friends.
Illness
Children must stay home if they have had fever, vomiting, or diarrhea within the past 24 hours.
If your child becomes ill at camp, all efforts will be made to make your child as comfortable as possible. In some situations, the camp will communicate with parents or guardians to gather information and work together to make a decision in the child’s best interest. If a child exhibits any of the symptoms listed above, the child will be removed from their group, and the parent/guardian will be called to come and pick up the child. If a parent or guardian cannot be reached, the emergency contacts will be called.
Sunscreen
We ask parents/guardians to ensure sunscreen is applied before youth come to any day camp programs as participants will spend most of their time outside. We will remind participants to put on sunscreen periodically throughout the day, or support them in applying sunscreen for the afternoon.
Safety Precautions at Camp: Injury
Mandy, Tina, and Deanna have had full background checks and have all taken a CPR, AED, and First Aid course through the Creekstone Montessori, and will have a full first aid/CPR kit on site, including ice packs, thermometers, a choking rescue device, and wound cleaning solution. Children will be supervised at all times, and clear, age-appropriate guidelines will be given to children upon the introduction of each new activity.
If your child has a minor injury, team members will perform First Aid if necessary and notify you via note home, phone call, or in person during pick-up.
If a significant injury occurs, team members will administer immediate First Aid and contact emergency medical services (EMTs) if necessary. Parents or guardians will be notified right away and consulted regarding next steps, including whether to pick up the child and seek further medical attention. If we are unable to reach a parent or guardian and EMTs determine that transport is necessary, camp staff will authorize transportation to the nearest medical facility. All medical and transportation costs will be the responsibility of the parent or guardian.
In case of an emergency, team members will:
1. Call 911, perform immediate First Aid, and contact you. After 911 has been called, it is then up to the emergency response team to decide what actions will be taken.
2. In case the parents/guardians or designated person cannot be reached, a team member will accompany the child to the hospital and stay until the parent/guardian arrives. If a parent/guardian is not able to be reached, we will continue to call through your designated emergency contact list until contact is made.
Safety Precautions at Camp: Weather
Camp is held rain or shine. Please make sure your camper dresses for the weather, with appropriate rain gear. Remember, when it rains, our Plan B is Plan A with a raincoat! Your child may return home wet and muddy!
However, all activities are weather dependent, and children will be brought indoors if lightning or other dangerous conditions occur. If underground shelter is needed, students will be brought to a basement facility on site.
Safety Precautions at Camp: Camper Conduct
Campers are expected to:
Follow all staff instructions immediately and respectfully.
Always ensure an adult knows their location.
Use respectful language and behavior toward people and animals.
Follow all animal and farm equipment guidelines.
Report unsafe situations, injuries, or concerns to staff right away.
At Farm Friends, safety is our highest priority. Our expectations are in place to protect children, animals, staff, and the farm environment. If a child does not follow these expectations, they may place themselves or others at risk of injury or distress. When this occurs, staff will respond with guidance, reminders, and redirection to help the child make safe choices. If unsafe behavior continues, additional steps may be necessary, which can include closer supervision, removal from a specific activity, or contacting a parent or guardian. In rare cases, a child may be asked to leave camp if their behavior consistently compromises safety. Our goal is always to support each child’s success while maintaining a safe, respectful, and positive experience for everyone.
Insurance
The program has general liability coverage through Peters Insurance . However, if an injury does occur, the waiver that is signed at registration states that parents/guardians agree to use their own insurance first.
Parent/Guardian Communication
The goal is to communicate with provided cell numbers/emails at the end of the week to give an update of that week’s activities and to share photos from our time together. These updates are also shared on our weekly summer blog. Pick up and drop off times are also great moments of adult connection! Otherwise, you can always reach out via email, text, or phone call as questions, concerns, or comments arise.
We host two family events during the summer- one at the beginning of camp and one to capstone our time together.. These events are designed to involve your whole family in your child’s experience. Details regarding dates, times and activities will be given upon registration.
Payment & Cancellation Policy
Payment is completed online at registration.
1 child in attendance: $60 per day.
2 or more children in attendance: $50 per day, per child.
Add days and checkout in the registration tab online in order to register.
Cancelation & Changes
A refund of program fees is available if you cancel your registration two weeks before your Farm Friends visit. No adjustment to registration cost will be made for campers who are tardy, absent, are ill or are dismissed from the day’s experience.
Late Pick-Up Charge
We understand that delays sometimes happen, but late pick-up places added stress on children/staff. A late pick-up fee of $25 per child may be charged for the first 15 minutes after the scheduled pick-up time, and $5 for each additional 5-minute period (or portion thereof) until the child is picked up.