Sheep Camp for Teens

 

An in-depth exploration of the world of sheep,
 for boys and girls ages 12-17

Join us for a week of field trips and farm activities, centered around our flock of 100-plus sheep and lambs. We'll go behind the scenes at a woolen mill, a feed store, and a rare breed sheep farm. We'll learn about keeping sheep and lambs healthy from a veterinarian. We’ll cook and enjoy a delicious lamb banquet with all farm fresh ingredients. We’ll make beautiful hand-painted yarn, a felted wall hanging, and a needle-felted animal.  Here are the highlights:

2012 TEEN SHEEP CAMP
Program Highlights

MONDAY
Meet The Woolly Wonders
We’ll tour the farm and get to know each other today, using the dog to bring in all sheep. We’ll learn safe handling techniques and run the flock through the raceways for close inspection. After lunch, we’ll trim feet, hand-paint some yarn and learn the basics of sheep nutrition. 

TUESDAY
 Field Trip Day

We’ll travel up to Turbotville to take a behind-the-scenes tour of Clark’s Feed Store . Then it’s on to see a flock of rare CVM/Romeldale sheep. We’ll end the day at Worthington Alpaca Farm who has their own wool processing mill.  Lunch will be a picnic at a scenic spot.

    WEDNESDAY
    Lamb Banquet

The kids will be cooking a feast of two lamb dishes, fresh bread, and seasonal vegetables picked that morning.  In between kitchen tasks, we’ll learn about getting lambs off to a good start at birth and for the first three critical days of life. 

    THURSDAY
    Vet Day
    In the morning, we’ll make Felt Wall Hangings. After lunch, we’ll have a visit from     Dr. Jackie Rapp, a large animal vet who owns her own vet clinic AND raises sheep.  She’ll show us her mobile vet clinic and diagnostic lab, and discuss skills every sheep owner should know. Afterwards, we’ll check out the computer program which tracks individual health records on each sheep. .

FRIDAY
Farm Fun

We’ll go for a wagon ride, learn about the honeybees and taste their honey, check the growing lambs, and put the finishing touches on our wall hangings. Then we’ll use felting needles to create an animal to take home as a souvenir. 

 

CLICK FOR 2011 PHOTOS!

Teen Camp Day 4 052
TeenCampDay1 043
2012 DAILY PROGRAM
Click for Registration Form

Pay Deposit Online
2012 RATES AND DATES Teen Week is Mon. July 30 to August 3 Tuition: $265 per week, $50 deposit at registration, $215 due May 1 Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Limited to 14 students

   Who We Are
   Owens Farm is home to David and Caroline with their three children Kyle, Kevin, and Melissa.  The farm boasts 112 acres of rolling pasture with lovely views in all directions. A traditional red Pennsylvania Bank barn, pond, and classic white farmhouse complete the picture. 
   Caroline is a former Vocational Agriculture teacher who worked in marketing communications and the equestrian travel business before starting her family. She holds a B.S. in Animal Science/Agricultural Education from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from Boston University. She welcomes the chance to return to her teaching roots during Sheep Camp! David is an engineer now running his own database and software consulting business. He earned his B.S. in Engineering from the University of Lowell and a M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University.  
        Who We Are Not
 We are not a big, commercialized camp facility. We are a family who welcomes the chance to give kids a taste of the farming lifestyle and enjoy a week of good, ol'-fashioned , non-electronic fun.  We limit the group size to 14, to keep things personal, safe, and fun.
   This is a working farm. not a petting zoo or an idealized display of farm animals. Thus, Sheep Camp is a rare opportunity for animal-loving kids to get behind the scenes of a real farm. They will see real equipment in action, learn handling and control techniques for sheep, and come to understand the priorities, values and challenges of raising animals.