This summer I joined with FarmHer Leah, a school-based occupational therapist, FarmHer Dawn and FarmHer Kate, both paraprofessionals, and Cowgirl Kat, our riding instructor, to create a new kind of camp:
"My Senses and Me, On the Farm" Integrated Farm Camp
Our integrated farm experience aims to help children develop and improve their social-emotional skills, independent living skills, and sensory regulation skills by learning through a sensory-rich environment where kids can experience the sights, sounds, smells, feel, and work of farm life! Children will be able to explore the many wonders of farm life. Whether taking care of the animals by engaging in heavy work opportunities, exploring the garden to make a healthy snack, climbing the hay bales or swinging on the tire swing in the play barn, children will learn responsibility for other living things and work on engaging with others or trying something new for the first time.
It's hard for me to put into words how much I enjoyed this experience. FarmHer Dawn captured the mood and the details in her latest blog post so settle in and enjoy.
~FarmHer Rosemary
"My Senses and Me, On the Farm" Integrated Farm Camp
Our integrated farm experience aims to help children develop and improve their social-emotional skills, independent living skills, and sensory regulation skills by learning through a sensory-rich environment where kids can experience the sights, sounds, smells, feel, and work of farm life! Children will be able to explore the many wonders of farm life. Whether taking care of the animals by engaging in heavy work opportunities, exploring the garden to make a healthy snack, climbing the hay bales or swinging on the tire swing in the play barn, children will learn responsibility for other living things and work on engaging with others or trying something new for the first time.
It's hard for me to put into words how much I enjoyed this experience. FarmHer Dawn captured the mood and the details in her latest blog post so settle in and enjoy.
~FarmHer Rosemary
I pull up in my golden chariot of transportation and there it is, the usual welcome sign with a message that is written in chalk and in a pretty personalized style — Welcome to Laughing Buck Farm. My heart beats a little faster with anticipation. Mind you, I’ve driven by this sign for years, though today, I see it through the eyes of a new visitor. I ::pause:: then drive through to enter between the two tall wooden poles that are like giant arms opening wide to greet me. “Come in, it’s all inside. We can’t wait to see you.” Did I just hear that whisper in my ear? Was it a message that this magical farm just sent to my heart? Hmm, that was interesting. I smile. It’s starting.
I exit my chariot and place my foot upon the dirt parking lot. Dust swirls around my feet like a magical spell that was just bequeathed onto me from the earth and I hear a bird trill with delight above in the tree. I look up. I can’t see it. It sings to me again. I feel as if it’s saying, “You don’t have to see me. You know I’m here. I’m glad you are here. Listen. Close your eyes. Now, do it. Breathe it in.” I do and yes, I’m here. I’m transported into the fairytale land of make believe, right in my own little Ft. Collins town and in my best friend’s driveway! Yes, even for grown ups, imagination is real and a healthy escape from reality sometimes. Wait, this IS reality. It’s another element of living, of existing in life that can sometimes be overwhelming — that element of daily living that can at times feel too chaotic and fast. We can feel like we’re being pulled apart by all of the pressures of what or who is needing us in every moment, like pieces of a puzzle that are spread all over the place. It doesn’t matter whether we are adults or children, we need places and tools that we can go to when we need to gain a sense of equilibrium, a place of calm, a feeling of wholeness.
Segue into why I have arrived at the farm on this day. To personally welcome 8 inquisitive and charming children to the 2-Day Integrated Farm Camp for Senses. Together, with four teachers (Farmher Rosemary, Farmher Leah, Farmher Kate and myself Farmher Dawn) we created a class of enrichment by teaching through experiential learning that we can use our senses as tools to assist us to connect to our emotions, to others and within our environments to help guide us.
The days of discovery begin with us gathering. To gather: ‘to infer; understand. to collect. to come together.’ This is a common theme on the farm, in our community. We teach it to children, to visitors and those of us who have been here, who are inhabitants of this village, we know it. And yes, the kids have become members of this village because all who enter are united. We share the rules of safety, boundaries and respect because the animals, the land, the farm and each of us are important. We matter. All of it matters. Stop and listen. Stop and feel it. Stop and look at it. Stop and remember. Close your eyes. What are you experiencing? Breathe in slowly and breath out. We share our flexible plan of enrichment for the day and we begin. Let the discoveries of learning and paying attention to our surroundings, begin.
Try to guess through these sensory inquiries and exclamations where the children were and what they were experiencing!:
• “Ew, the mud is thick.” “It makes a slurping and sloshing sound.” “What’s that smell?” “They eat THAT? Why?” “I can help you with that.”
• “They’re so soft.” “Awe, it sounds like she’s purring.” “Can I go under there?” “Will she be okay with me doing that?” “Ooo, look, their different colors!” “They feel smooth and warm.” “I’ll be gentle and walk slow.” “Why is that branch off of the ground like that?” “Does that hurt them?” “How long does it take?” “I think they are decedents from the dinosaurs. I’ll tell you why.”
• “It sounds like she’s laughing.” “This poop looks different than the other poop.” “Why is he so small but he has a beard?” “Why is she pushing her head on my leg?” “They play like we do!”
• “I think I can do it.” “Look how high I am!” “My nose itches.” “That rectangle of hay looks different than that one.” “I was afraid to do that but I really wanted to learn how to do it, so I kept practicing like you said and guess what — I did it!” “Excuse me. Could you move please? I don’t want to accidently run into you.” “I’m trying to be patient.”
• “This smells like lemon!” “What’s that sound?! There’s something in the bushes. I see it moving! OH, it’s just Violet.” “Why are these red and those are green?” “Mmm, these are sweet!” “I’m nervous about what’s flying around me.” “This feels soft.” “This tastes like my chewing gum!” “I’m hungry. Can I eat this?” “Look! There’s a white butterfly on your shoulder. Don’t move.” “I’m itching. Really? If I squish that and rub it on my leg it will feel better?” “I’ll step over so that I don’t crush it.” “Hey, my leg doesn’t itch anymore!”
• “They’re SO BIG!” “Awe, he just kissed my arm.” “His nose feels like velvet.” “Her eyes look kind.” “Why did his ears go back?” “She is trying to be patient.” “He’s greedy.” “I like the way their feet sound on the dirt!” “Why do they swish their tails so much?” “Holding onto this makes me feel strong and safe.”
This camp was such a delight for everyone, the big and the little! All of us were in a state of exploration of ourselves, the land and our mini tribe. We gathered, we meandered and we wandered in wonderment…together. There was a plethora of action ~ Reflection, Chores, Sharing, Teamwork and FUN!
This is the magic of LBF. I was here, they were here and please, you too — come here. This is our place of calm. Our place of equilibrium. Our place of wholeness.
If you are interested in finding a place to create something special for a group of your own to experience please don’t hesitate to call the Jedel-Graff family at Laughing Buck Farm. They would love to hear what you have to say and hope to fulfill a little wish of yours to explore too.
Soak it up and Breathe it in,
~ Dawn Renée
www.sassafraselements.com
• “Ew, the mud is thick.” “It makes a slurping and sloshing sound.” “What’s that smell?” “They eat THAT? Why?” “I can help you with that.”
• “They’re so soft.” “Awe, it sounds like she’s purring.” “Can I go under there?” “Will she be okay with me doing that?” “Ooo, look, their different colors!” “They feel smooth and warm.” “I’ll be gentle and walk slow.” “Why is that branch off of the ground like that?” “Does that hurt them?” “How long does it take?” “I think they are decedents from the dinosaurs. I’ll tell you why.”
• “It sounds like she’s laughing.” “This poop looks different than the other poop.” “Why is he so small but he has a beard?” “Why is she pushing her head on my leg?” “They play like we do!”
• “I think I can do it.” “Look how high I am!” “My nose itches.” “That rectangle of hay looks different than that one.” “I was afraid to do that but I really wanted to learn how to do it, so I kept practicing like you said and guess what — I did it!” “Excuse me. Could you move please? I don’t want to accidently run into you.” “I’m trying to be patient.”
• “This smells like lemon!” “What’s that sound?! There’s something in the bushes. I see it moving! OH, it’s just Violet.” “Why are these red and those are green?” “Mmm, these are sweet!” “I’m nervous about what’s flying around me.” “This feels soft.” “This tastes like my chewing gum!” “I’m hungry. Can I eat this?” “Look! There’s a white butterfly on your shoulder. Don’t move.” “I’m itching. Really? If I squish that and rub it on my leg it will feel better?” “I’ll step over so that I don’t crush it.” “Hey, my leg doesn’t itch anymore!”
• “They’re SO BIG!” “Awe, he just kissed my arm.” “His nose feels like velvet.” “Her eyes look kind.” “Why did his ears go back?” “She is trying to be patient.” “He’s greedy.” “I like the way their feet sound on the dirt!” “Why do they swish their tails so much?” “Holding onto this makes me feel strong and safe.”
This camp was such a delight for everyone, the big and the little! All of us were in a state of exploration of ourselves, the land and our mini tribe. We gathered, we meandered and we wandered in wonderment…together. There was a plethora of action ~ Reflection, Chores, Sharing, Teamwork and FUN!
This is the magic of LBF. I was here, they were here and please, you too — come here. This is our place of calm. Our place of equilibrium. Our place of wholeness.
If you are interested in finding a place to create something special for a group of your own to experience please don’t hesitate to call the Jedel-Graff family at Laughing Buck Farm. They would love to hear what you have to say and hope to fulfill a little wish of yours to explore too.
Soak it up and Breathe it in,
~ Dawn Renée
www.sassafraselements.com
Dawn Renée Markley-Webster writes about the savory and sweet spices of life by finding beauty amidst the chaos of our world. She's a visionary of Possibility. Seeing challenges as opportunities to discover strengths, she seeks resources for turning yearnings into realities. Dawn is a soul whisperer who engages in listening to the voices of our hearts, encouraging us to nourish our souls with enriching bites of whatever makes us sigh blissfully or squeal with excitement. Reclaim what brings you contentment. A mother of 3 whose passions run deep for community, cooking, culture, teaching and rhythm making. You can follow along in her meanderings, where she dwells and within her own abode by going to:
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