Westerly Summer Learning Camp Initiative 2021

The Ayers Foundation (AF) collaborated with Westerly Public Schools and community partners (Westerly Rec, United Way, Opening Doors, Southern Rhode Island Conservation District, New England Science & Sailing, and Save the Bay) to offer the Westerly Summer Learning Camp 2021 free of charge to fifty Westerly school-age (10-14) students. Campers participated in six weekly learning expeditions, spending five weeks with hands-on learning at Hillandale Farm (an AF sister company), culminating in an opportunity to practice what they had learned by revitalizing the Westerly Middle School garden. Leaders/educators on the farm included professional farmers, licensed teachers, Master Gardeners, nutrition experts, farm science undergraduate students, and a music teacher. 

    While on the farm each week, campers participated in a variety of hands-on STEM activities including animal husbandry, soil management, plant care, culinary arts, nutritional science, and music/art. Students learned the basics of animal life cycles and husbandry by helping to feed the farm’s laying hens, care for baby chickens, and collect eggs. A nearby alpaca farmer brought a stud (male), an Hembras (female), and a Tuis (yearling) to enhance the learning experience. Rabbits were also brought in to compare and contrast life cycles, habitats and natural diets of different domestic animals.

“Chickens have to sit on their eggs for 21 days in order for a baby chick to hatch.”

Campers discussed honey bee behavior with local apiarists, observed the farm’s resident hive activity and sampled Hillandale honey. They searched the greenhouses and garden beds for beneficial insects (incl. Natural pollinators like butterflies and bumble bees), pests, and snakes.

“Pollinating is when bees move pollen from one flower to another flower.”

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

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

Campers helped to weed and also to harvest ripe produce from the farm’s gardens and greenhouses. They researched and discussed seed types and the ways that plants reproduce, planted seeds of their choice, and observed plant growth patterns. Several students chose to transplant their seedlings into the Westerly Middle School’s garden at the end of camp. Students were sent home with a bin to transport food waste back to camp to help create new compost on the farm. Campers learned about soil fertility, soil management, and disease/pest/herb control.

“We learned that there is a type of squash that looks like a frisbee.”

Campers painted pictures of insects and flowers, played interactive games, created sunflower huts, and even sang along to Americana folk music during weekly music sessions.

This Summer Learning camp model has a history of success. This year's camp, as well as previous incarnations, served as an exemplary service learning model for the state of Rhode Island. The Ayers Foundation, in collaboration with The United Way, other 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.


(Note: Above image captions are quotations from 2021 campers.)