Weatherbury Farm Vacation

Weatherbury Farm Kids Program
" A vacation on a working farm helps youngsters cultivate a new appreciation for their rural roots."
The Baltimore Sun, May 19, 2002

We're excited about our "Official Weatherbury Farm Kid" program which debuted in 1998. Families staying for two or more nights receive a packet (filled with coloring & activity books) about farming and every child is invited to earn the "Official Weatherbury Farm Kid" designation. Younger children do chores and complete a picture worksheet; older children have fun doing chores and learning with our "Farm Workbook."

After breakfast every day, "Farmer Dale" takes guest to help with chores. Specific chores may include (depending on time of year):
- bottle feeding baby animals
- feeding bunny rabbits in cages (and seeing newborns)
- feeding mature goats corn by hand
- feeding sheep corn (from a scoop or by hand -- it is such a joy to see the goats congregating to gently eat corn out of my hand!)
- leading the goats to pasture after chores are done (a favorite of adult visitors)
- feeding newly hatched chicks (in spring and summer)
- watching the eggs in the incubator hatch (which is a real experience when it coincides with a guest's visit).
- feeding and watering chickens at the hen house and gathering eggs (the high point of many children's visit). During the spring and summer, collected eggs are put in the incubator
- searching for guinea hen nests and collecting eggs for the incubator (guineas are very good at hiding their nests. They are also terrible mothers, which is why we collect and incubate the eggs)

Chore time also includes an explanation of the farm equipment and is an opportunity for both children and parents to ask Farmer Dale questions.

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