Is this a fair price for one week of summer camp?

[Ethel Mertz]

The price seems about right for our area. Though on the farming theme:

 

Last year, we insisted our then 13 yr old work with us in our garden plot as growing one's own veggies is an important life skill.

 

We also have a personal relationship with a local farmer - we've been going to his farmstand since 2009, getting food from him at the local Farmers' Market, and this year he has started a CSA to which we will subscribe. Our farmer asked if our 14 year old would like to work on the farm this summer. As we school year round and DS has several camp commitments, along with sport-related lessons, DS will probably not work much more than 10 hours a week. Another thought: Check with your county agricultural office, local 4-H folks, and see if your local schools have "Future Farmers of America" Clubs.

[BarbecueMom]

It is the working with livestock problem. Lots of liability. This is why horse riding camps are more expensive than others.

 

The potential to be thrown from a horse, kicked by a cow, knocked over by a rambunctious ram, injured while baling hay or working with farm tools, there are more things that can go wrong working with green kids around animals than there are at your average, swim, canoe, make crafts camp.

Yep. I taught private music lessons in college. A 9yo student of mine was kicked and killed in his own barn by his own cow. I can see how liability with a farm camp would be a huge issue.

[ILiveInFlipFlops]

Meadowlark, do you have any living history farms in your area? We have a few locally and they run summer day camp programs for kids his age. Would he be satisfied with something like that? 

[Reefgazer]

Another idea:  If you have such a place near you, sign up for horseback riding lessons once per week.  At a place that encourages a relationship with the horse (run from a riding facility that does not, by the way), your DS will be responsible for the grooming, tacking, and some of the care of his riding companion.  Many farms will let their students work off part of the lesson costs by mucking stalls, feeding chickens, watering the horses.  So he'll get riding lessons while also learning a bit about the farm trade.  This is how my DD started off, and now she works there a few days a week.  At first she started with simple chores mentioned above, but she has progressed and demonstrated her capability to the point that she can work unsupervised with feeding, medications, assisting with vaccines, feeding the cows, moving hay bales using small equipment, and schooling horses.

Edited March 9, 2017 by reefgazer