Farm Stay: a 15-Day Rural Experience for Adolescents
The Farm Stay is an integral part of the Lake Country School Junior High program. Students spend time working, learning, and living at our Wisconsin Land School. The program is a combination of project-based work, hands-on activities, time spent outdoors, scientific exploration, community formation, and self-expression.
Background
In Dr. Maria Montessori’s essay “Erdkinder” (“children of the soil”), she prescribed a rural center of study and work for adolescents where they could prepare for their roles in society through practical experience living in community and participating in the essential work of production and exchange on a working farm. She believed that to undergo a transformation to a more peaceful world requires a fundamental shift in the way teenagers are educated. The Land School offers a center of study and work that Dr. Montessori envisioned. The goal of the Farm Stay is to facilitate an interdependent farm community of adolescents and adults, and to help adolescents connect the work of the hand with the work of the head in meaningful ways.
History
In 1996, Lake Country School purchased 160 acres of farm and woods in rural Wisconsin, 75 miles east of the Twin Cities. The beautiful site includes a farmstead, forests, fields, ravines, and ponds. We have developed an extensive trail system, thriving beehives, a sugar shack for maple sugaring, and an apple orchard. In 2004 we built a homestead (shown in photo at top of page) that serves as classroom, kitchen, dining hall, living space, and dorm rooms. Over the last five years, we created a residency program where small groups of our Junior High students live and study together at our rural campus. In 2009 we modified that program to open up the Land School to other levels of the school and to ensure the long-term sustainability and ongoing development of this amazing resource.
Features of the Farm Stay
The focus of the Farm Stay is on the practical work and seasonal rhythm of the farm. The students engage in the following aspects of study, work, and daily living during their stay.
Occupations and Microeconomy: Students do meaningful work such as organic farming and maple sugaring, learn the background of the work, and participate in the economy of the ongoing farm businesses at the Land School. In addition, they host seasonal community events, including a harvest festival, a craft fair, a pancake breakfast and a spring planting day. Each event forms the basis for concurrent academic inquiry and hands-on learning.
Self-Expression: The Farm Stay includes many unique opportunities for creative and physical expression. In addition to the various options presented by the staff, there is also a weekly “Gallery Night,” where students share their joyful selves. Students also have daily writing activities and produce a Farm Stay anthology of their combined writings.
Community Life: Intentional community life is at the heart of the Farm Stay experience. Each person has a necessary interdependent role in the community. There are daily chores, cook crews, mentor groups, group challenges, community meetings, and group games. Each day there are opportunities for individuals to show small and large acts of leadership within the community.
Science: The Farm Stay has a strong science focus rooted in seasonal ecological exploration of the land. The diverse habitats of western Wisconsin provide the ideal place for hands-on scientific discovery.
Outdoors and Rural Experience: As Dr. Montessori expressed, students have a daily opportunity to truly be “children of the soil.” We nurture a true sense of kinship with the farm, the outdoors, and the rural people and places of food production.
A Typical Day
| Morning | Farm chores & breakfast Morning lessons and work period (project-based occupations and microeconomy, science, math, meal preparation) |
| Afternoon | Lunch Indoor activities (such as book club, woodworking, crafts, yoga) Outdoor activities (such as hiking, bird-watching, farm work, and other physical activities) Clean-up and chores Dinner preparation or free time |
| Evening | Dinner Study time End-of-day gathering Bedtime |
Schedule & Cost
Each student may choose one of the following Farm Stays:
Fall Harvesting:
Sept. 29–Oct 13, 2010
Harvest Festival - Sat., Oct. 9Winter Activities & Crafts:
Dec. 1–Dec. 15, 2010
Craft Fair - Sat., Dec. 11Maple Sugaring:
March 2–March 16, 2011
Pancake Breakfast - Sat., March 12Spring Planting:
April 20–May 4, 2011
Planting Festival - Sat., April 30Cost of the Farm Stay: $250 per student