The Ayers Foundation has been supporting summer learning initiatives for the children of Westerly, RI, for over a decade. 

Hands-on is how we grow best!

Ayers-sponsored learning camps allow for student participation in a variety of hands-on STEM activities including culinary arts & nutritional science, plant care & soil management, aquaculture, animal husbandry, and music/art.
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On the Farm 

Some examples of on-farm camp activities include helping to weed and harvest ripe produce from the farm’s gardens and greenhouses, planting and nurturing seeds of their choice, experimenting with plant growth and health under variable conditions, and creating new compost on the farm. Students learn the basics of animal life cycles and husbandry by helping to feed the farm’s laying hens, care for baby chickens, and collect eggs. Campers learn about soil fertility, soil management, and disease/pest/herb control. 

In the Greenhouses

Campers learn so much from visiting the three long greenhouses at Hillandale Farm.
They laugh as ticklish lady beetles crawl out of their hands and onto the leaves of tomato plants; these beneficial insects play a helpful role in natural pest management.
Students seed down and nurture seeds of their choice, which are then taken back to plant in their home gardens. 
They search the greenhouses and garden beds for beneficial insects (incl. natural pollinators like butterflies and bumble bees), pests, and snakes.

• You can grow food all year in the greenhouse."​

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

Campers discuss different aspects of nutrition and health every week with a chef and nutrition expert. They participate in creating and sampling foods such as smoothies and tacos using local, farm-fresh ingredients. They also learn how to make fast and easy healthy snacks using whole foods.

Farm Fresh Expertise

Campers discuss ways to make healthy and nutritious food choices every week with Chef Patrick Strauss. A mainstay of Ayers Foundation summer programming, Chef Patrick has taught hundreds of campers how to make fast and easy healthy snacks such as smoothies, tacos and brick-oven pizza using locally-sourced, farm-fresh ingredients. 
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I want more pizza. Chef Patrick makes the best pizza ever!”

“We learned about ‘go,’ ‘slow’ and ‘whoa’ foods.

Delicious and Local

Food and beverages that students sample while on the farm are about as local as one can get! Whenever possible, ingredients are sourced from Hillandale or one of her local partner farms, allowing students to understand the difference in appearance, texture, taste and nutritional value between farm-fresh ingredients and conventional store-bought materials.

Collaborative Community

​Over the years, many local farms and nonprofit entities have partnered with the Ayers Foundation to bring a well-rounded learning experience to local children at low cost. 

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The Hives are Abuzzzz

Campers discuss honey bee behavior with local apiarists, observe the farm’s resident hive activity and sample Hillandale honey. 

Partner Farms & Special Guests

Farmers and subject area experts from Silk Tree Farm, Watch Hill Oyster Farm, Fresh Harvest Kitchen, Southern Rhode Island Conservation District, Ocean Breeze Farm, Lazy K Ranch, and so many more have contributed to the success of our summer learning experiences over the years!

Major Contributors

This Summer Learning camp model has a great history of success, and have served as an exemplary service learning model for the state of Rhode Island. Over the years, major contributors, collaborators and community partners have included The United Way, Southern Rhode Island Conservation District’s Education Department, Mystic Aquarium STEM Mentoring Program, the Ayers Foundation (AF) of Westerly, Opening Doors, Westerly Education Center, Westerly Public Schools, Westerly Recreation Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, New England Science & Sailing, Save the Bay, Water Wonderers, and more. This camp is offered each year to more than sixty Westerly elementary- and middle-school students at a minimal cost.

Looking Forward

Throughout all of our learning experiences, campers are encouraged to engage in asking thoughtful questions and thinking constructively, as well as proposing solutions and practical steps that they can take to be agents of change in their community. ​The Ayers Foundation, in collaboration with camp sponsors and community partners, aim to expand/enhance this program in the future to add additional campers across a wider range of age groups and demographics, and to meet new and important learning objectives.