WILD SUMMER
Farm camp introduces kids to organic, healthy meals and the great outdoors
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.» Unless it thunderstorms, the Wild Droplets Summer Farm Camp stays outside. The campers wear rain boots and bring a rain coat in case there is wet weather.
About two hours into camp the children gather under a tent around a picnic table for a snack. On this particular dry Monday J’Mae Shemroske and her life partner Alan VanDyk serve the 12 campers oatmeal with raisins.
Later the children interact with two miniature Nigerian dwarf goats. For six
weeks children of all ages experience an exclusively outdoor camp at the home of Shemroske and VanDyk on Daniels Road.
Four years ago Shemroske decided to open a camp.
“I wanted to be with my kids, and I wanted to do something fun during the summer and to get to be with them and offer programming,” said Shemroske. “It’s awesome.”
Shemroske and VanDyk have tow children. Estrella is 9-years-old and Morriah is 7-years-old.
The camp’s maximum capacity is 16.
“We’ve been slowly growing,” said Shemroske. “Last year we maxed at 10, and this year we’re taking around 12-14.”
Shemroske’s background is in outdoor education. She’s worked summer camps in the past. She studied at Sterling College and Warren Wilson College.
Every week the camp offers a different theme. This specific week’s theme is called Garden Friends.
“We’re making bird baths for people to take home and put in their yards or gardens,” said Shemroske. “The kids love that. We’re outside, and we’re doing art. It’s something for nature.”
The children gather around in a circle to feed chicks. The house has five grown chicken and 13 chicks that the children help raise in the summer.
“A lot of them do have exposure to animals and stuff, but not really at the same level to just get to sit and hold a goat and watch it eat and feed,” said Shemroske. “A lot of [their exposure] is petting zoos and things like that where the interaction isn’t quite as intimate and you can just take it in and watch another creature and hold it... you just watch them and they’re just taking it all in and it’s amazing.”
Before the children eat their snack, they wash their hands using bagged water outdoors. Shemroske said it’s one of their favorite things about the camp.
After everybody finishes eating, the children place their bowls in a bucket of water before allowing the sun to dry them off.
“We work a lot on individual responsibility, so they take care of their water bottle,” said Shemroske. “...They are learning the basic skills of having a meal. They sit until we are all finished. It’s like family style, being altogether, being neighborly, respecting your space and getting to be outside. They love it. They just love being outside all day. They go home and crash until the next day. Parents love that”
A few years ago Shemroske decided to start making pesto. She sells pesto at Four Seasons in Saratoga Springs and also at the Greenfield Farmers’ market when she has the time.
“I wanted to make something that’s really nutritious and easy, so I can just pull it out of the freezer, feed my kids something and know they are getting really healthy, good food,” said Shemroske. “And it’s easy for me. I just love pesto.”
The camp includes only organic food options for the children, and Shemroske makes it all.
“We have a special camper popcorn recipe I make that the children love,” said Shemroske. “We do apples and crackers and seed butter.”
She also makes mini pizza, quesadillas with black beans, her pesto with noodles, squash and green beans.
“They all at least try it,” said Shemroske. “By the end, most of them say ‘I love green beans,’ and their parents are like ‘oh my gosh, green beans.’”
Besides singing, playing catch and taking care of chicks and goats, the camp gardens, water plants and one week the children even built their own garden boxes to take home.
The Wild Droplets Summer Farm Camp’s unlike others.
“This is very intimate and environmental and agriculture focused,” said Shemroske. “We really get to know the kids really well.”