Stephanie and I are children of the 80s, of western North Carolina. No, we aren’t one of those marriages that fell in love in the second grade. Stephanie grew up outside of Hendersonville, which is truly western North Carolina, and I grew up in Winston-Salem, which usually isn’t consider to be west, but technically is more west than east. Anyway, my buddies and I believed we were the most western city in North Carolina, for whatever that’s worth. In my mind, everything “yonder” may as well have been the wild west. But that is another topic altogether.
I’m not sure when summer camps became a thing, which would be another interesting rabbit to chase, but they were in our younger years. I remember spending a few nights at Camp Grier while in elementary school. My most vivid memory was the pool and the warning of not to pee in it, lest the water turn red around you. Yes, I believed it. We both participated in sports camps, and I spent a number of years attending Boy Scout Camp representing the Old Hickory Council. One of Stephanie’s first jobs was working at a camp. As you know, in what is truly western North Carolina, there seems to be a summer camp on every mountain and in every holler.
Then you finish high school and unless you are in the camp business, summer camps become a distant reality, until you have growing children of your own… or you have a farm.
For the past few years, there has been a growing chorus, echoing the same refrain, “you guys should offer a farm camp. I’d send my kids”. The last few summers, we shrugged it off. But this year we believe the time is right. So, the Maier Farm Camp is officially on the calendar. We are excited to be offering two weeks of animal interaction, gardening know-how, fun and games, crafts, STEM activities, etc. The first week is already full, but we still have some openings for the second week.
So, God willing, our camp experience will come full circle. From campers as kids to organizing and running our own. We are eagerly anticipating spending time with your children exploring the wonders of God’s creation as found on the farm! Oh, and for those of you have inquired about the Farm Camp for adults, are you serious?
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