An Update to Our Community

In March, this group agreed on a description of our wilderness programs based around Lake Ninevah as follows:

Ninevah Wilderness Program Definition:   
The Wilderness Programs of Farm and Wilderness at Ninevah provides participants with a profound sense of social comfort, belonging, and recognition within a close-knit community.

Individuals are not only known but also integrated into a shared identity, disrupting traditional societal norms and allowing for the full expression and acceptance of diverse identities. Moreover, the emphasis on participants' dependency on and closeness to the earth, cultivating a sense of awe and deeper appreciation for the natural world.

Intentional deconstruction of time creates an environment of “timeless peace”, free from the pressures of everyday life. This facilitates a deeper spiritual life for each participant.

Learning and daily practice of skills to live in comfort with nature can be leveraged for personal growth, finding challenge and fulfillment in individual and communal outdoor activities.

This uninterrupted and constant close connection with the land, combined with community rituals and celebrations fosters self-confidence and resilience, empowering participants to navigate and thrive in future environments.   

This description then guided the work for the group over the following weeks.   

As planned, at the Board of Trustees Annual Meeting in May, Tulio and Chris shared a status update on the groups work and a program brief to pilot in 2025. 

We used a design thinking framework, DVF, to arrive at the broad outlines of the pilot.  The DVF framework considers  

• Desirability - Will new families desire the kind of wilderness program we offer?  
• Viability – Will the new program offering be financially and programmatically  sustainable?   
• Feasibility – Do we have or can we gather the resources and know-how to build and deliver the new program offering?   

Recommendations for a Pilot Program in 2025 

Coming out of our initial rounds of research on the desirability of a Ninevah wilderness program, we identified several key aspects to maintain from the rich program and history of the Flying Cloud and Red Spruce Grove camps. Through a combination of interviews and surveys with former campers and parents, and an analysis of what made their experience memorable and valuable we clarified the elements worth preserving in what will become a new program: 

• Timelessness: The tradition of timelessness breaks campers from daily routines, promoting mindfulness and significant mental and emotional health benefits, thereby enhancing community connections. 
• Size: The camp's intimate size of 30 to 45 campers ensures everyone feels included and integral to the community, fostering close personal connections. 
• Rituals & Reverence: Rituals and reverence differentiate the program by deepening spiritual connections to the earth and each other, providing unique, culturally sensitive experiences that align with the organization's values. 

• Remote: The remote and isolated setting of the camp is crucial for developmental growth, allowing campers to detach from daily life and explore personal and interpersonal dynamics in new ways. 

Based on extensive research from over 200 prospective families unfamiliar with Farm and Wilderness, over 50 alumni and current camp families the preference was clear for a pilot program of:  

• Two weeks in length.  
• Mixed Gender 
• Based at an existing F&W location in Ninevah 
• Enroll 11–14 year-olds.  

We recognize that 2 weeks is a notable departure from our past.  However, the research we conducted with prospective families, and the current trends we are seeing with summer camp enrollment more broadly suggest that this change is worth exploring.  While currently there is no intention to adjust our existing camp programs, we welcome what offering a 2-week program would do for creating better access to Farm and Wilderness for new families.   

We accept the challenge of designing a new program honoring the past and focused on a transformative experience in a wilderness environment within a time frame that can widen the circle of families we serve.  

(For more information, download slide deck here)

Next Steps 

At their May meeting, the Board of Trustees was in unity with the recommendations for a pilot program and the next phase of work shifts to the F&W team to establish the feasibility and viability of this proposed program.  At its August meeting the Board the F&W team will seek the support of the Board of Trustees to move forward with the design and marketing of the pilot. We will share: 

• Program budget, including development costs, for Years 0-3 (Summer 2025 being Year 1) 
• Minimum enrollment goals for Years 1-3 
• Marketing plan for the Year 1 pilot 
• Prospective program designers and leaders, to address feasibilty concerns 
• A risk assessment and mitigation plan, to address feasibility and viability concerns.  

Our value of Community states that “We honor traditions that guide us and they must not bind us”.  The rich work that we’ve done to capture the essence of and re-imagine our wilderness programs has been a time for us to lean into exploring what is possible.  The author adrienne maree brown said that nature taught her about “fluid adaptability. About not only weathering storms, but using howling winds to spread seeds wide, torrential rains to nurture roots so they can grow deeper and stronger... the only lasting truth is change.”   

Your Input

Phase 1: Desirability - What kind of wilderness program should we offer? 

We have completed the first round of research with prospective families with children who are looking for a wilderness camp program.  

We discovered:    

• One the surface, many of the over two dozen similar programs we looked at across the country offer similar program. What set FC and RSG apart was the depth of experience and connection with other community members and nature.   
• Other programs are mostly small-scale ventures, without connection to a larger organization and often with a limited offering or dates and services. (some are bring your own tent, or even bring your own food!)  
• 79% of parents surveyed were looking for a camp of two-weeks or less. 
• While at a higher price that similar programs, F&W’s Affordable for All program brings cost of camp in line with what families would be able to pay.
  
• The culture and practices of “timelessness” at FC and RSG appears to be unique to F&W and directly connects to the delivery of connection to nature and unplugging from technology.  
  
  

We are using this research to inform our program concepts for a future wilderness program, including the Wilderness Program Definition below.  

Wilderness Program Definition:   
The Wilderness Programs at Farm and Wilderness provides participants with a profound sense of social comfort, belonging, and recognition within a close-knit community. Individuals are not only known but also integrated into a shared identity, disrupting traditional societal norms and allowing for the full expression and acceptance of diverse identities. Moreover, the emphasis on participants' dependency on and closeness to the earth, cultivating a sense of awe and deeper appreciation for the natural world. Intentional deconstruction of time creates an environment of “timeless peace”, free from the pressures of everyday life. This facilitates a deeper spiritual life for each participant. Learning and daily practice of skills to live in comfort with nature can be leveraged for personal growth, finding challenge and fulfillment in individual and communal outdoor activities. This uninterrupted and constant close connection with the land, combined with community rituals and celebrations fosters self-confidence and resilience, empowering participants to navigate and thrive in future environments.   

We have had two meetings with our Advisory Committe. Thanks to all the members for making that commitment. We would like more representation for Red Spruce Grove – please contact Chris Moncrief if you are available. 

Phase 2: Viability – Will the new program offering be operationally  sustainable? 

the second meeting of the Advisory Committee brought us into an analysis of Program Concepts.   There is are elements that are foundational, such as fostering a deep connection with nature and will be includedd in all Program Concepts.   Each Program Concept will focus upon a specific element such aa:

• Mentorship
• Rites of Passage
• Emotional Wellbeing
• Physical and Mental Challenges

There will be a survey specifically designed to get input on these Program Concepts and current and former FC and RSG families will be invited to participate.  Look for updates here on this page and in emails from Farm and Wilderness.  

Phase 3: Feasibility – Can we build and deliver the new program offering? 

April 15th to May 3rd 

May 4th  F&W Board Meeting 

Week of May 13th – Public announcement of program offering.