Arcadia Farm Camp

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.

Morning Drop Off: 7:50-8:05am

Afternoon Pick Up: 2:30-3:00pm

For those who opt for Transportation Services upon registration:

Jones Point Park Morning Drop Off: 7:20-7:30

Jones Point Park Afternoon Pick Up: 3:15-3:30 pick up

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Round trip Transportation is available from Old Town Alexandria for an additional fee of $150. Drop-off will be from 7:20-7:30am and pick-up will be from 3:15-3:30pm. 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 7:20am-3:30pm. 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.

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.

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

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.

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).

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

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.