Summer Overnight Program for Springfield Students

Who can attend?

Springfield students who have attended on overnight program through one of our Springfield Public School partners are invited to participate in a one-week overnight program this summer!

Students will contribute to real and exciting farm work during the Summer Overnight Program. Students learn to care for our farm animals, gardens, forest, and much more! Fun and free time is built in as well and children can be found reading at the foot of a maple tree, creating art in the barn, singing on the porch, playing games in the fields and daydreaming under blue skies.

2027 Session dates: June 28th - July 2nd

Registration opens at the end of October. Check here for the link to register.

Cost of the Program is $50.

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

Transportation
The farm provides optional bus transportation to and from the farm for this 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.

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, readers, or games. Non-digital cameras are permitted, but may only be used in public spaces and when they will not disrupt the program.

Food & Food Allergies
The farm provides fresh home-cooked, nutritional and healthy 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 Accommodations
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 community 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.

Want to learn more? Read Frequently Asked Questions, or contact Ben. He can be emailed at ben@redgatefarm.org or you can call him at the Farm Office (413) 625-9503.