If for any reason a change to your child(ren)'s registration (i.e. withdrawal, session change, addition of transportation) is necessary, you can make alterations to your registration online by using the login information you created at registration. You can navigate to your login page by clicking “Online Account” on the confirmation email you receive immediately after completing registration. If you are having difficulties making your desired changes, please contact our Farm Camp Director at FarmCamp@arcadiafood.org for assistance.

Learn more about Arcadia Farm Camp by exploring further information through the pages listed below. If after you have read through all of the information provided, you still have remaining questions, you may contact the Farm Camp Director at FarmCamp@Arcadiafood.org.

We ask that all campers should come with a morning snack and optional bagged lunch. Breakfast is not provided at Farm Camp so please ensure your camper has had a filling breakfast before they start their camp day. All children are welcome to take part in our free-lunch program through the Capital Area Food Bank, or you can send your child with a bagged lunch. Vegetarian options are available and all meals through CAFB are free of pork and peanuts. Menus are available at the beginning of each week. For those bringing a bagged lunch: Refrigeration is not available. If packing a lunch that needs to be refrigerated, please use an insulated lunch bag with an ice-pack. Many activities will involve cooking and tasting of produce from the farm- all allergies will be communicated to camp staff. However, not all dietary restrictions and preferences can be accommodated in every activity, but we will make sure your camper can enjoy something every day.

The Groundhog Garden, an interactive garden space designed specifically for kids, will be the center of activities at Arcadia Farm Camp. It has 10 raised beds and 12 rotating vegetable plots, and includes a pollinator garden, and 50 varieties of fruits and vegetables. When campers are not in Groundhog Garden, campers use our outdoor chef’s counter for developing their culinary skills and preparing healthy snacks. They also explore our other spaces such as the compost pile, chicken coop, beehives, and the Natural Play Space. Our Natural Play Space is our version of a playground. It is designed using natural, found objects and functions to provide a space for creative play. Shade Structure is provided by our industrial sized tent. Our picnic tables for snack, lunch, and activities are positioned under the tent. Campers can get out of the sun under the tent or the trees on the Farm. Indoor Space is something we use in case of emergencies or harsh weather conditions. Our focus is to be an outdoor camp. We use several rooms inside Woodlawn’s historic house as our indoor refuge from the rain or the heat. See weather questions below.

During a day at Farm Camp our activities could range from bug races and making fresh pesto, to time with Visiting Educators who share their passion for topics like bees and goats! The activities vary according to theme week but we keep a similar schedule for each day throughout all four weeks. The following is an example of a normal Daily Schedule at Farm Camp: Check-in Morning Farm Chores: watering, harvesting, collecting eggs, bug squishing, etc. Morning Snack and Active Play time: independent play and games led by Counselors Morning Group Activities Lunch followed by Camper Rest Time Afternoon Group Activities Counselor-led cool downs and pick-up preparation Pick up and Table Activities, group/free play, and farm chores available while campers wait for transportation.

Sure! You are welcome to stop by Arcadia Farm, located at the Woodlawn Estate, anytime while Woodlawn is open. We cannot guarantee that an Arcadia staff member will be present but you are welcome to take a look around. Hours and directions can be found here.

If you cancel your registration by April 12th 2025, you will receive a full refund. If you cancel your registration between April 12th and May 24th 2025 you will receive a partial refund, minus the deposit. Cancellations after May 24th 2025, are not eligible to be refunded.

On extremely hot days, we’ll take every precaution to keep campers safe and happy. We’ll always have water available, and we’ll take frequent water breaks throughout the day. Camp staff will take into account the temperature, the humidity index, and air quality when planning daily activities. We will make greater use of the Tent and the shady spots on the Farm. We will take mandatory breaks, extend rest period, and plan shade and water activities as necessary. If necessary, we will go to the Woodlawn estate house to take a break from the heat. We follow this guidance: Summer Camp and Rec-PAC Hot Weather Procedures Adjustments to the camp schedule, including cancellations, are made with full consideration of planned activities, available facilities, and the heat index (not air temperature alone).

No, but if you opt into our transportation services, travel time to and from camp will extend your child’s camp day.

There is a limited waitlist available for each week of Farm Camp. No payment or deposit is required to add your child to the waitlist. If your registration is moved from off of the waitlist and onto the official registration list, the system will prompt you via email to complete the registration process in full (including the $100 non-refundable deposit). You will have three business days to do so and then the system will automatically move on to prompt the next registrant in queue.

Our Farm Camp Staff is dedicated, diverse in skills, and, most of all, loves being outdoors with kids on the farm! Every staff member has been CPR certified, and has prior education experience. They have each participated in an extensive training specific to our unique Farm Camp. Our full week of training covers topics including outdoor education techniques, inquiry-based learning, facilitating an open learning environment based on choice and free play, conflict resolution, handling issues of heat and inclement weather, emergency procedures, cooking with kids, and much more.

Campers are placed into mixed-gender, age appropriate groups during the week. Each group is guided by a Farm Camp staff member who will get to know the ins and outs of your child’s interests. Campers spend equal time in and out of groups; they are in groups for themed activities and together with all of the campers for all other activities. Additionally, parents will check-out at the end of the day with their camper’s staff person in order to allow for open communication between parents and Farm Camp staff about the fun that was had during the day, how the camper is developing throughout the week, and any concerns for either party. It is possible that your child can be paired with their friends, but not guaranteed. At Farm Camp it is important that we provide opportunities for campers to get to know new friends while on the Farm. We value the opportunity for campers to spend time in structured group activities so as to promote new friendships and communication skills, as well as make sure to provide ample unstructured time for reconnecting with old friends or exploring the farm with new friends.

Arcadia Farm is a place of wonder and discovery for people of all ages. Campers are surrounded by a bounty of vegetables and beautiful spaces. The Groundhog Garden, Arcadia’s educational youth space, is a plot in the middle of the four-acre Arcadia Farm. It is designed specifically to engage the elementary-aged audience-- to inspire them, to excite them, and to invoke questions and discoveries! Our approach to engaging kids on the farm sets us apart. Our techniques are guided by the principles of Farm Based Education. Each aspect of Arcadia Farm Camp is hands-on so that campers come away with a deep appreciation for the process of cultivating food in harmony with nature, and eating healthy. Each day, we prepare snacks and taste the fruits of our harvest, including a salad bar for students to experience once they’ve washed and prepared produce from the farm. Our farm provides the freshest of eating experiences to campers. When campers prepare snacks, they get to harvest their ingredient veggies right from the farm! We use seasonal veggies, from Arcadia Farm and other local Farmer partners! Arcadia Farm is on the site of the Woodlawn Estate. This historic property, once a part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, provides campers with the opportunity to learn about the history of the people, buildings, and agricultural traditions of this area, as well as sustainability and land conservation.

Dress to get dirty! Wear comfortable, cool clothes that can get wet or dirty. Bring the following: One snack and a healthy bag lunch (we do not have refrigeration on site). Water bottle Change of clothes kept in their backpack for the week Close-toed shoes Sunscreen labeled with your child’s name

If it’s raining, dress your child for the weather – we’ll still work and play outside! Rainy days are a great time to learn about how we use water on the farm and the ecosystem we’re a part of. In case of thunderstorms, we will go into the Woodlawn estate house for quiet lessons and activities.

Our ratio of staff to Farm Campers is about 1:5 each week. We have 5 experienced staff members during all weeks of camp. Our Farm Camp Director oversees the development and coordination of the program from start to finish. We then seasonally hire 6 counselors and 1 Farm Camp Manager to facilitate an open and exciting environment during the Farm Camp day. You’ll learn more about those fun-loving staff members in June!

During registration, you will be required to complete and/or acknowledge all required forms and waivers for your child to attend Farm Camp. This includes: -Release of Liability -Photo Release -Current Immunization Record -Medication Authorization Form (if applicable) -If this is your child’s first time attending Farm Camp, you are required to bring Proof of Identity (POI) on their first day of camp (this is not required on future camp days or in future seasons!). This is outlined by the Code of Virginia section 63.1-196.3 which requires all children under the age of 13 when first enrolled in a Virginia school or camp to present proof of identity and age. POI includes: Certified copy of a birth certificate
 Birth registration card Notification of birth (hospital, physician, or midwife record) Passport Copy of placement agreement or entrustment agreement from a child placing agency (foster care and adoption agencies) Record from a public school in Virginia Certification by a principal or his designee of a public school in the U.S. that a certified copy of the child’s birth record was previously presented Copy of the conferring temporary legal custody or entrustment agreement of a child to an independent foster parent.
 Child identification card issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Arcadia staff members are trained in CPR and first aid, and will provide first response in case of accidents or injury. All staff members also carry cell phones to be used in case of an emergency. In case of emergency, we will notify parents/guardians indicated on your registration forms as soon as possible. There’s more information about our health and safety policies in our Policies Handbook, which you will receive upon registering.

Round trip Transportation is available from Old Town Alexandria for an additional fee of $150. Drop-off will be from 8:10-8:20am and pick-up will be from 4:00-4:15pm. A Farm Camp Counselor will conduct check in/out, ride along on transportation to look after campers during the trip, and be available for questions from parents. This service extends the day from 8:10am-4:15pm. The location for drop-off and pick-up is Jones Point Park. Spaces are limited for transportation and are claimed quickly. We suggest that if you are interested in utilizing the Transportation Service you sign up when you register for Farm Camp online.

Stephen was Arcadia’s Farm Manager from 2012 to 2014 before pursuing his dreams of co-owning a distilling business (One eight Distilling in Washington, DC). Stephen re-joined Arcadia as a part-time Farmer Trainer in 2017 to support the Veteran Farmer Program, and in the Veteran Farmer Reserve in particular. Stephen has 9 years of farm management experience, and 10 years of experience in farmer training and curriculum development. Prior to joining Arcadia, he spent 2 years at the Farm School in Athol, MA, as Grower and Field Crop Educator. While Stephen is an expert grower of many vegetables, he especially loves growing potatoes.

Samantha@arcadiafood.org Samantha joined Arcadia in 2021 as Food Access Director where she oversees the Mobile Market Program and other DC-based food access initiatives. Samantha has been working in small food businesses since she was 16 years old. A graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and University of Cape Town, Samantha is passionate about food and food sovereignty. She brings to Arcadia many years of operations experience in the for-profit and an incredible amount of knowledge learned while launching a small-format grocery store in Washington, DC’s Ward 7. Samantha is excited to work in an organization that allows her to continue her passion.

juanpablo@arcadiafood.org Juan Pablo is responsible for expanding farm education programs, creating strategic partnerships, and building capacity for schools and communities in Fairfax County - Route 1 Corridor to grow their own food. He joined Arcadia in 2019 to address food system inequities in local communities with the intent of improving food access, reducing food insecurity, and fostering better nutrition. He has 12 years of experience in agriculture and nonprofit management. In Guatemala, his home country, Juan Pablo co-founded an urban sustainability organization, owned and managed an urban organic farm, owned a bar and restaurant and served as president for a Public Health nonprofit. He also completed a business management degree from Universidad Mesoamericana de Guatemala.

Shelby oversees all on-farm education programs including farm camp, field trips, small group visits and volunteer days. Shelby joined Arcadia in 2023 from a position as a group home case manager for adolescents in which she oversaw and advocated for the safety, treatment plans, and wellness of resident youths. Previously, Shelby worked as a program specialist with the Boys and Girls Club of America, teaching STEM and overseeing educational activities and youth development. Shelby also volunteered to support students with cognitive, physical and behavioral challenges in an equine therapy program. She came to Arcadia with a deep commitment to sustainability and mad pizza-making skills.

Andrea@arcadiafood.org Andrea Neal is the Mobile Market Operations Manager. She joined Arcadia in 2020 as a market manager and was promoted in 2021 to overseeing inventory and staff operations. She came to Arcadia with four years managing a DC farmer's market and 12 years of growing food and teaching farming and best growing practices. She has an MBA from University of Phoenix and is a master gardener.

Matt@arcadiafood.org Matt is Arcadia’s Director of Operations and Director of the Veteran Farmer Program. Matt has spent the last 25 years working on environmental and agricultural programs in the Washington, DC area. Matt currently serves as Co-chair of the Fairfax Food Council. His academic experience includes a Master’s degree in Biology, with scientific research in the fields of Ecology, Pollination Ecology, Ornithology, and Herpetology. Matt loves to garden and eat good food, and is excited to have a job that incorporates both of those loves.

A graduate of Arcadia’s Veteran Farmer Program – both the Reserve and the Veteran Farm Fellowship – Jessica puts her prodigious organizational and people skills to work supporting Arcadia’s development program and Live Eat Grow program. A veteran of the United States Air Force, Jessica worked on avionics on the F-16. Volunteering with an Air Force Pollution Prevention Office encouraged her to complete a BS degree in Sustainability Studies to pursue environmental work full time outside of the military. She has worked on multiple farm crews, volunteered with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut, and interned with Earth Sangha. Jessica spearheaded the cultivation of a thriving native meadow at Arcadia in 2019, knitting together her love of environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture.

Alinah is a recent George Mason graduate who earned a B.A. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a concentration in sustainable food systems and agriculture. She learned about Arcadia in college and started her work here at Farm Camp as a camp counselor. She joined the Mobile Market team after farm camp was over and eventually was entrusted with opening the Hybla Valley Community Market this year. While passionate about food justice and access, Alinah is quite happy to be moving Arcadia's food through the local community.

Regan joined Arcadia in 2021 to a newly created position responsible for both community and customer engagement and helping to create new programs and Mobile Market business models. She came to Arcadia from project management across multiple fields, including national security and the film industry, and fundraising for Food & Water Watch. Regan is passionate about the Zero Waste movement and gardening. She is an artist and founder of alteredeco.com, making art for sale from trash.

pam@arcadiafood.org Executive Director Pamela Hess has been with Arcadia since March 2013. She came to Arcadia from journalism. A career national security journalist, Pam covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the Pentagon and CIA with the Associated Press and United Press International. After a brief foray into national politics as a communications director on Capitol Hill, Pam returned to her first love: food and sustainable farms. In 2011, she took the helm of a local food and wine magazine that celebrated sustainable food and farming in the Capitol Foodshed, and in the course of it, met and fell in love with Arcadia. She brings to Arcadia a deep commitment to its mission, a large and expanding network of farmers and food advocates, and a great reputation within the sustainable food community.

Casandra became the Route 1 Community Farm Manager in November of 2023. She is responsible fo leading the effort to build community engagement, promote sustainable food production, and provide educational opportunities for underserved and military connected communities connected along the Route 1 corridor. She is also co-chair of the Fairfax Food Council's Urban Agriculture Working Group. She came to Arcadia from a job as a farm worker at Potomac Vegetable Farms where she planted, tended, harvested and packaged vegetables. Prior to that Casandra was a government contractor working in the national security sector. She is deeply nourished through her time spent in the garden and on her yoga mat.