By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

EVENDALE, Ohio — There are plenty of church, sports and Boy Scout camps for those living in the greater Cincinnati area this summer. But no camp offers children an opportunity to learn what those on the farm do on a daily basis like the ones at Gorman Heritage Farm.

“Gorman Heritage Farm has held these farm camps for children since 1996,” said farm marketing Events Manager Vickie Foster. “Our camps have gotten bigger and more noticed since the local food movement has become more in vogue.”

Even before schools let out for the summer, this 120-acre farm offers farm camps for children of all ages. The summer camp season at this farm in Evendale – just north of Cincinnati – starts in early June with the Seedlings, for ages 5-6. This group learns about all the animals on the farm and engage in picking, cooking and eating the food that’s grown on the farm. Barnyard games, grooming of the animals and crafts are part of their daily routine.

The Farm Explorers farm camp is for ages 7-9. Hands-on care of the animals is stressed, along with hayrides and hiking of the hills surrounding this working farm. This group also maintains the gardens.

The Apprentice Farmers Camp is held June 20-25 and is for ages 10-12. Here, campers begin making connections between the farm, their own lives and the surrounding world. Campers grind chicken feed and are introduced to the process of raising the birds. Other activities include chopping salsa and learning the importance of local food production.

Teens get involved as well during the Farm Hands Camp for ages 13-15. Attendees in this category get their boots dirty by learning what it takes to run a family farm. Most of their time is spent with the animals and maintaining the farm.

Farm Chef Camp is July 18-22, for ages 8-12. The farm’s first purpose is to produce food, and Farm Chef Camp is a dedication to what is raised and grown at Gorman Heritage Farm. Campers will connect their food back to where it came from as they cook tasty treats.
Vet Camp at this farm is July 25-29, for a
ges 13-15. Aspiring veterinarians come out to learn about the specialty farming tasks that keep animals alive and healthy. And, there’s more. There’s Farm Adventures Camp for ages 5-12, Sprouts Camp for 4-5, Science Camp for 8-12, Farm Hands Camp for 13-15 and Wilderness Camp for 8-12.

“Nowadays we have a lot more educated and informed parents who like to send their kids here,” Foster said. “Also, we’re getting the word about Gorman Farm out better. The children who attend these camps are mostly suburban kids. And all of our camps have the same theme, in that they do farm chores.
“Some groups feed the animals, some groom the goats, some collect the eggs. And there are garden activities every day, whether it’s harvesting or simple weeding of the garden.”

While there are several gardens to tend, the younger campers work from an “educational bed” – a garden where the younger students learn about soil, composting, planting and harvesting. “Most of the kids return to our camps each year,” Foster said.

The farm property is owned by the Village of Evendale to set up the Gorman Heritage Farm Foundation, and operates with a mostly volunteer staff. “Enrollment has risen from 278 a year ago to 318 this season,” said staff member Mike Roman.

Gorman Heritage Farm is rich in history. James Cunningham first settled in the area in 1789. By 1835 the land was owned by Edward Brown, a Scottish immigrant. Brown built a house, bank barn and springhouse; all three still stand on the premises today.

The bank barn houses a variety of animals and is made from pegged construction.

The springhouse is made of stone and shake-roof structure. An alfalfa barn, built in 1911, is still used today as a feeding area for the animals. A shallow “teaching pond” shows a diverse selection of wildlife.

High above the entrance to the farm are demonstration plots, where ongoing installations of raised beds contain a variety of vegetables and flowers grown in a bio-intensive manner. It also features grapes, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. Twenty apple and cherry trees comprise the orchard on this farm, and there are 15 acres of old grown forest. This woodsy area contains specimens of ash, black locust, walnut, hickory and other trees. Trails cross the landscape, connecting the upper meadow, farmyard and hillsides. Gorman Heritage Farm is open Wednesday-Sunday. The farm is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For more information about these camps and other activities, contact the farm at 513-563-6663.