Outdoor Play & Imagination

Stories & Games

Arts & Crafts

Science & Nature

Cooking Fun

Farm Animals

June 17^th  - August 16^th  2019

Ages 5 and up only! 

REGISTER NOW

TO HOLD YOUR SPOT FOR SUMMER!

Our 2019 Schedule of Sessions:

Enroll early for Summer Break!

Week One	June 17 - 21	Where the Wild Things Are - Birds!
		Summer is here!  Let the wild rumpus begin!  We'll be grabbing the binoculars because this year the focus is on the winged wonders that share our yards, parks, and wild spaces. We’ll play, pretend, craft, explore and experiment as we learn that birds are much more than pretty additions to the garden. These pollinators, scavengers, and hunters are an important part of the astonishing web of life that surrounds and sustains us. And because Farm Campers are busy creative little bees -- when they're not climbing trees, swinging, gardening, dressing up, and exploring -- we'll also make adorable take home projects through many different mediums including sewing, painting, clay shaping, and paper crafting. It's going to be a super fun week of songs, games, stories, puppets, dress-up & pretend, outdoor play, farm animal encounters, gardening, and of course.... ARTS & CRAFTS! -- don't miss a minute of it!!   Walking field trip on Thursday morning June 20th to explore the woods and/or fields near Little Garden Patch Farm.   A naturalist from the Little Basin & Natural Bridges interpretative programs will be our guide as we learn about footprints and other signs that animals leave behind.  We'll use our new skills to sleuth out the activities of the real life wild things that live on  the farm and in the adjacent redwood forest.
Week Two	June 24 -28	Pioneer Farmapalooza!
		It's time for our super fun Pioneer Farmapalooza week! Kids love to play outdoors with the rope swing, the tree fort, the mini toy farm sets, the sand & water play, the puppet theater, the outdoor play kitchen/cafe, and so much more. And of course they always enjoy meeting the farm animals and helping with fun "chores" like gathering eggs, feeding the animals, harvesting veggies for snack, and baking tasty treats to enjoy here or at home.  And as if that's not enough, there's washing clothes on the old fashioned wash board, panning for "gold", playing dress up, singing songs, squeezing real lemonade, and making butter for their cornbread! And don't forget milking the goats, sewing a soft take home pillow, collecting herbs, making a corn husk doll, and trying out some simple crochet and needlepoint. PLUS there's the painting easels and all the other fun farm crafts for those looking for simple silly fun at the art table. On our walking field trip day we'll also take the mini ponies down to the meadow along with the mini covered wagon full of fun things for our picnic and play time just down the street at the Soquel Prairie Reserve. We'll provide the sun bonnets and straw hats and all the rest, you provide the mini pioneers looking for a great time playing, crafting, pretending, and making new friends. Y'all come play!
Week  Three	July 1 - 5	CLOSED
		Little Garden Patch is closed this week. We apologize for the inconvenience. Join us July 4th in the Aptos Parade!
Week  Four	July 8 - 12	Dinosaur Daze
		Get ready for a week loaded with hands on science, games, make believe, baking, and creativity.  We'll learn and pretend about Dinosaurs and other extinct creatures,  hunt for "dinosaur eggs",  revive a plant from the days of the dinosaurs, dig for take-home dino "fossil" skeletons, make footprint cookies, and we'll don our dino tails and frolick about the farm having tons of fun.  We'll do the dino bounce on the trampoline, pick some herbivore snacks in the garden,   and make our own erupting volcanoes!  Plus we'll have lots of dino related stories and some fun face painting! We're also hoping  to have another visit from Dinosaur Bob, a real life dinosaur fossil hunter who lives right here in Soquel.  We'll see if Dinosaur Bob can make it again this year to share stories from his digs with famous paleontologists and bring some fossils from his private collection to show the children.   And as if all that were not enough, we'll also have farm animals, a tree fort, the swings, the sand & water play, all the fun at the outdoor art studio, the puppet theater, and our popular indoor play room.  Expect them to sleep well!
Week Five	July 15 - 19	Medieval Make Believe
		Welcome ye young lords and ladies, jesters & wizards, knights and princesses and princess-knights too!  It's time to frolic with the fairies and help us defend the castle against rogues and dragons!   Partake in the festive revelry of  sword play, and archery.  Sew your own dragon. Make clothespin fairies.  Build a mini catapult.  Decorate your own shield or crown.  Create your own fairy wand or magic scepter, and dabble in the science and lore of gems & geodes.  Daily dress up and impromptu performances on our outdoor stage. We will also be looking forward to another visit from the Terra Dragon!  And of course our resident unicorns will be expecting lots of love and attention.
Week Six	July 22- 26	Fairy Tale Fun
		Fairy Tales come to life this week as we celebrate childhood classics like Snow White, Rapunzel,  Red Riding Hood, Jack & the Beanstalk, and the 3 Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf.  Play, pretend, create, and enjoy some magical outdoor storytime readings, dramatic performance on our outdoor stage and of course puppet shows.  Don't forget to make your own puppets and props to use here at the outdoor puppet theater and to take home.
Week Seven	July 29- August 2	MORE Fairy Tales: Ancient Greek Heroes & Legends
		Get ready for ancient Greek themed action & imagination, arts & crafts, cooking, theater, stories and more as we step into our time machine and go back even further in time in search of the fun and exciting fairy tales of Ancient Greece!   Perseus and the Minotaur... Zeus and the Titans, Pegasus & Theseus, Odyseus and his brave crew -- these are the tales so juicy that people were still telling and re-telling them 3,000 years later!   PLUS did you know that it was the Ancient Greeks who gave us our first stories of fairies, mermaids, unicorns, and other mythical beasts?  It's true!   So be sure to join us as we  outwit the Minotaur, play and pretend, try ourhand at archery and sword play, build a take-home Trojan Horse or catapult, make delicious tzatziki and baklava, try on a tunic or toga, make a Greek alphabet necklace of our name, and decorate our own "Ancient Greek" pottery.  And of course, we MUST go on a Quest or two!  When we're not out adventuring, playing dress up, reliving Greek myths and fables on the stage, crafting at the outdoor art table, or snacking on tasty Greek food, we'll try our hand at growing and harvesting, just like the goddess Demeter.  We may even muck out the pony stables like Hercules.  And then with inspiration from Arachne and Athena, we'll do some fun weaving with natural items gathered while out questing.  (Psst! We'll even learn a little bit along the way about the Ancient Greek way of life.) Film showing of Disney's Hercules on Monday July 29th at 8:30 am at Little Garden Patch.
Week Eight	August 5 - August 9	Ocean Week: Sharks, Mermaids, & Pirates
		Ahoy there!  Mermaids, pirates, and other sea denizens can join us for sushi making, shark lore, arts & crafts and lots more ocean themed fun and learning. Our very own docent from the Seymour Center at Long National Marine Lab will be on hand here at Little Garden Patch to help answer our burning questions about sharks and other creatures of the deep.  We'll have a whale of a good time so don't forget a change of clothes because things are sure to get wet around here.  Field Trip on Friday August 9th to the Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab in Santa Cruz.  "In flight movie" in the big LGPF van to enjoy as we drive.  Note that we will leave Little Garden Patch at 10 am and return by 3pm.  Full day participants only -- unless parents are prepared to meet at the Seymour Center for drop off and pick up.
Week Nine	August 12 - August 16	Ocean Week II:  Moana's Tropical Adventures
		Join us for Tropical Island inspired crafts food and fun!  Help us put on our own version of Moana on the outdoor stage!  Plus our very own docent from the Seymour Center at Long National Marine Lab will be on hand here at Little Garden Patch to help answer our burning questions about sea life, island formation, and more.  Don't forget a change of clothes because things are sure to get wet around here.  Film showing of Moana on Monday August 12th at 8:30 am at Little Garden Patch. Beach Field Trip on Friday August 16th  Full day participants only -- unless parents are prepared to meet at the beach for drop off and pick up. Beach location to be announced.   Parent participation welcome.   Permission slips required for water play.
Week Ten	August 19 - August 23	CLOSED
		Little Garden Patch is closed this week for scheduled maintenance. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Farewell Summer Camp -- it's time for Back to School!  Little Garden Patch Farm's After School Program Begins  August 26th.  Due to logistical considerations and high enrollment numbers for our fall programs, LGPF is reserved this week forward exclusively for children enrolled in our Fall after school program  OR in our month-to-month afternoon homeschool program.    No exceptions please. Ask us about our  after school program for FALL 2019!  We offer after school pick up and transportation from Main Street Elementary for K-3 and Soquel Elementary for grades 1-4.

 Ages: 

For grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade.  All children must be at least 5 years old to participate and be developmentally ready for kindergarten level activities. It is very important that all children be able to sonsistently abide by limits set by the instructors for safety.   

 Hours & Cost:

FULL & PART TIME Openings Available for Summer Farm Camp 2019.

Half day program:  $30 per day 

Morning half day --> 9-1 or 9:30- 1:30 (4 hours)

Afternoon half day ---> 1:30 - 5:30  (4 hours)

Full day program (8 hours) $60 per day

Ask about our discount for full time care for 6 or more weeks!

Early drop off available for an extra fee.   Little Garden Patch Farm is open for early drop off after 8 am for an additional $8 per hour or $4 for the half hour.  Little Garden Patch cannot accomodate drop offs before 8 am. 

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Farm camp fees also includes craft and baking materials! 
However parents must provide a lunch box or bag lunch as needed.  We do provide a healthy snack for afternoon children.

Limited space available.  Priority for full-time registrants.  Note that spaces cannot be held without registration/payment.  Installment options for those registering for 6 weeks or more.

 Registration: 

For questions and registration info please email: LittleGardenPatchFarm@earthlink.net or
contact us at (831) 476-0964.

 More Information: 

Little Garden Patch Farm is enrolling for Summer Break fun and learning!  Located on 3 beautiful wooded acres our play based, emergent program offers free access to painting, playdough, bubbles, fairy gardens, tree fort, swings, slide, trampoline, dress-up, play kitchen, gentle farm animals, and so much more! Through observing wild life and participating in fun farm "chores" like feeding & petting chickens and pigs, brushing the pony, milking goats, and gardening children learn about and take joy in our natural world.

Story time and hands-on craft, cooking, sewing, and science projects develop creativity, self-confidence, social skills, and a deepening knowledge of science and nature. A cozy home environment and nurturing staff completes a magical childhood wonderland that children and parents love.

Little Garden Patch is tons of fun rain or shine! Our covered outdoor art studio, green houses, country kitchen, and our whimsical indoor play room with plenty of books, dolls, toys and games means the fun continues no matter the weather.

Note - Enrollment priority will be given to children in our after school program. Limited positions available.

Little Garden Patch Farm is a fully licensed facility, # 444413332 

What happens when it rains or turns cold?  We like to think there is no bad weather, just inappropriate gear.  So please send children with appropriate gear for outdoor play.   But with that said, when the rain is falling and the wind is gusting we have the perfect opportunity to head indoors for a cooking project, playdough, arts & crafts projects, story time, board games, or etc.  There is no shortage of things to do around here, inside and out.

If you would like more information about signing up for Summer Farm Camp please send us some email!  Please note, with Farm Camp, the more the merrier.  So please tell family and friends about our program! 

Learn more about our philosophy.

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