Kid's Week: Wilderness & Foraging Series with Mike Spurrier [Ages 6-12]

Children flourish when they step into nature, where every winding trail, sparkling creek, and open field becomes a place of discovery and wonder.

In this weeklong immersion at Fox Haven Farm, kids will gain essential outdoor skills through hands-on activities and guided adventures while building confidence, teamwork, and a deeper connection to the environment.

 

We will explore and practice how to:

• Construct an emergency shelter using knot-tying

• Responsibly build a campfire

• Conduct basic First Aid

• Identify several edible and toxic plants in our area

• Cross a creek and make water potable

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Each day will also feature exciting games, community-building activities, and exploration of the local creek to discover the plants and animals that call our area home.

 

As time and ability allow, we will choose a few projects to work on including:

• Macro-invertebrate Identification and Water Quality

• Birding and Nature Studies

• Building Bee Hotels & Rubber Band Harmonicas

• Making cordage from natural and synthetic materials

• Map & compass reading

 

A typical day at camp will look something like this:

9:00 Arrival, attendance, and morning circle to set daily intentions and goals

9:30 Begin a hands-on fire-building lesson

10:30 Snack and a fun group game

11:00 Continue with fire building until everyone in the group is successful with skills

11:45 Lunch

12:15 Move to a spot on the creek and search for plants and animals

2:00 Begin learning how to make cordage (rope) from recycled grocery bags

2:30 End activities for the day, closing gathering circle, and discussion of next day’s activities.

 

This adventure is a practice in community building. We start, support, and finish everything together. No one wins or loses. It takes a village.

 

Open to children between the ages of 6-12. We focus on ensuring small student-to-teacher ratios both for safety and for greater learning. Space will be limited.

Fox Haven Summer Explorers runs August 4th-8th from 9 am-3 pm.

Payment per Child: $350 for the whole week

 

*Parents must provide a packed lunch, snack, bathing suit, extra set of clothes and water shoes for your child each day.

 

Packing list:

Clothing appropriate to the temperature and weather

Full set of clothes to change into

Water shoes or foot gear that can get wet

Beach towel

Sunscreen

Lunch and snacks

Large-capacity water bottle

Backpack to carry everything in

 

Please no electronic devices as we don’t want anything to get damaged during activities (cell phones are ok if requested by parents or guardians).

To sign up for a payment plan of 4 installments of $87.50, please email alecks@foxhavenfarm.org

Meet Lead Facilitator, Mike Spurrier

Mike Spurrier was born and raised in Frederick, Maryland. He began birding (bird watching) in 1988 and has been very fortunate to have had birding experiences in India, Ireland, Wales, England, France, Peru, Belize, Panama, Canada, several Caribbean islands, and across the United States.

Mike has served as the president of the Frederick Bird Club, a local chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership and volunteers with the Maryland Farmland Raptor Program and with Fox Haven Organic Farm and Learning Center.

Mike is a certified Maryland Master Naturalist and is certified in Permaculture Design through Oregon State University and the Permaculture Institute of North America. He holds a master of arts degree in Social Innovation and Sustainability from Goddard College; a bachelor of arts degree in Sustainability from Goddard College; and an associate of arts degree in Park Management from Frederick Community College. Mike is also a Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP), served as a VISTA volunteer at Morningside Emergency Shelter, and worked at federally-designated Community Action Agencies for 33 years. Prior to starting a career in human and homeless services, Mike worked as a summer camp counselor for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and as a seasonal park technician for the National Park Service.

Mike will be supported by 1 or more Fox Haven staff at all times. View Fox Haven’s staff page to explore our team!