this summer I helped run a farm...

Overnight Program
ages 10 - 15 (our youngest students are at least 10 years and 10 months by July 1, 2027)

We love to farm, but more importantly, we love to farm with young people and share the goodness of living and learning on a farm. Summer programs are an opportunity for students to live on a farm, do meaningful work, and have a lot of fun with a supportive community.

Farm values guide our actions and define our community. Each session students and staff create a “farm compact” that helps build a community based on kindness and respect. We employ these values in everything we do, and they create a space where everyone feels valued, heard and appreciated.

Lodging is simple but comfortable. Students and summer staff all live together in the Roost - our student housing building. Each room has bunk beds complete with comfortable mattresses, windows that open onto the farm and plenty of spaces to put personal belongings. Full bathrooms with sinks, toilets and showers are just down the hall. The Roost is located conveniently near the program building and outdoor terrace.

Red Gate Farm works to accommodate our students who prefer gender neutral rooms. If your child is interested in gender neutral rooms or you have questions, we encourage you to reach out to registration@redgatefarm.org.

Delicious meals are prepared by the program chef each day. Students help by harvesting from the farm garden, working in the kitchen prepping food, and clearing tables after the meal. Our food is varied and made from fresh ingredients each day. Our menu options are often vegetarian, but occasionally have meat as a choice. We eat together family style for our meals in our beautiful dining hall.

helpful details to know…

Session Dates

• Session 1: July 20th - 24th

• Session 2: July 27th - 31st

• Two Week Session: August 3rd - 14th

Packing Information can be found in the Parent Portal or at this link.

Directions to the Farm are located here. Please drive slowly on our small back roads. This is a farming community and there are other children and families that walk on our roads, so your thoughtfulness will be greatly appreciated.

Arrival and Departure

Families should arrive at the farm on Monday between 9am and 11am. As the session draws near we will be providing families with detailed information about traffic patterns, parking, etc.

Families are reminded that dogs are not permitted on the farm (furry travelers must stay in cars).

Electronics

The farm's summer program thrives on community and a rustic way of life. In order to get the most out of our program experience, children should not bring any electronic devices including phones, cameras, tablets, smart watches, readers, or games. Non-digital cameras are permitted, but may only be used in public spaces and when they will not disrupt the program.

Medications

All medications must be presented at check-in, and this includes any over-the-counter medications, vitamins, cough-drops, etc.  All medications must be in their original container, and caregivers must fill out and sign this form.

Forms and Tuition

All student forms and payment must be received before a student can enter the program.  If you still have outstanding forms or payments please ensure they are delivered to the farm prior to your arrival.  We will not be able to accept students without completed paperwork or outstanding payments due.

Food & Food Allergies

The farm provides fresh home-cooked and nutritious food options. Our menu options sometimes include meat, but there is always a vegetarian option provided. We can also accommodate other diets (gluten free, dairy free), but cannot necessarily accommodate every type of food sensitivity or allergy. Our kitchen does not cook or serve nuts but sometimes serves prepared foods (e.g. brownie mix) that may have been produced in a facility that is not guaranteed nut-free. Please contact the Farm Director for any specific questions or concerns.

Student Overnight Accomodations

Students stay in our new housing facility called the Roost. Summer staff also reside in the same building. There are private toilets, wash sinks and showers for student daily use. In order to provide the best farm community experience, we do not accept requests for bunkmates or pairings. Room assignments will be provided upon student arrival.

Red Gate Farm works to accommodate our students who prefer all-gender rooms. Your student may be assigned to an all-gender room. All-gender rooms are prioritized for students who are non-binary, or transgender with a preference for all-gender housing. Farm policy requires that rooms contain a minimum of three students. For this reason, in some circumstances students who identify as female or male may also be placed in all-gender rooms. If your child is interested in an all-gender room or you have questions, we encourage you to reach out to registration@redgatefarm.org.

Phone Calls

Summer Program is a time to focus on our new commmunity and commitments to each other. Phone calls disrupt the farm routine and so only phone calls for student birthdays are allowed and must be arranged in advance with the farm office.

Letters and Packages

Students love getting written correspondence from family and friends. These letters create a meaningful and healthy connection to home, and become important keepsakes for years to come. We encourage families to share the farm's address with friends and family to send letters.

Please do not send anything other than letters. Well-meaning care packages of food, magazines, or other items can disrupt the community that we are building on the farm. This mail will be held safely at the Farm Office until the end of program and returned to the student upon departure.

If you have questions about what to send, please ask! We are happy to help provide guidance, and thank you for supporting our farm community building.

Please be sure share this information with grandparents and friends who might wish to share mail with your child. The address to send mail to is:

Student's Name
Red Gate Farm
4 Norman Road
Ashfield, MA 01330

Photos

We take pictures and some video throughout every summer session. These are password protected and posted every few days online for sharing with parents during the program session. The goal is to share some of the day to day farm experiences of the students with families at home. There is not an effort to photograph every student, and so we cannot guarantee that your child will be featured in a photograph.

Laundry

We do a mid-session laundry for the two-week session. Laundry service is not provided for the single one-week sessions. We do provide "emergency" laundry services in the case of a clothing mishap.

Last Day Logistics

On the last Friday of each session, families should arrive at 11am to join us for our Family Open Farm.  This is an opportunity for your young farmers to share the farm and their adventures with family and friends.  Our farm cooks have also prepared a lunch for you to enjoy in our dining hall.  Families should plan to depart the farm by 12:15pm.

Our facilities are clean, safe, and routinely inspected by the FRCOG Building Inspection Program to meet health and safety codes. Our program are overseen by a consulting Physician. Farm staff live on-property and are also trained in First Aid and CPR.

Want to learn more? We would love to talk with you!  Contact our registration team by emailing  registration@redgatefarm.org or calling the Farm Office (413) 625-9503.