Inclement Weather Update

• Session 2 camper drop-ff went very smoothly, even if the road to get there was not!  Thank you to all camp families who worked the plan with us.
• Rt. 100 is now open between F&W and Rt. 4! 
• The weather outlook is improving, with more typical mid-summer weather in store (passing afternoon thunder-storms).  
• Going forward, we will update this page if there is weather news that impacts our camp.  
• Thank you for staying current on our local weather and how we are doing, and as they say "No news is good news."

•  Work is still being done on the road between  Rt 100A and Rt 4 and cars traveling on this section will be ticketed by the sheriff because the road is closed.  Jay Kullman, our Director of Sustainable Resources, was in touch with the sheriff's office today for clarification. Per the sheriff's office, F&W camp family vehicles traveling from the South on Rt 100 from the junction of 100A will be allowed to pass, along with local residents.  We will have a representative of F&W stationed at that junction to direct families on Opening Day Sunday.  . Cars leaving F&W will travel south on Rt 100.
  

•  We are currently under a storm watch through this evening. 
• Air Quality is good (Green).
• Rt 100 bridge is installed but they are still working on repairing other sections where guardrails have been damaged or missing.  Expected to open Sunday or Monday.  
• We are checking the lake's water quality again on Monday.  
• Weather forecast is for sunny weather on Opening Day to Second Session. 

• Camp Pick Up with one-way traffic today went smoothly. 
• Second Session parents are being sent drop-off times via email tomorrow.   
• The Rt 100 bridge is not open yet. 
• Woodward reservoir waterfronts are open for wading, but low visibility in the water currently prevents safe swimming or boating. 

•  As of this evening the bridge on Rt 100 between F&W and Rt 4 is not operational.   

• The air quality index has improved and is now yellow.  Normal activity is cleared, except for anyone unusually sensitive who should avoid strenuous activity. 
• The current weather forecast has 3% chance of rain today and sunny and cloudy for pick-up day tomorrow. 
• Families traveling to Farm and Wilderness please check back here for updates as we will post here if the bridge on Rt 100 between F&W and Rt 4 will be open.  

Our South End road is washed out this will require patience and cooperation on pick up day and we thank all our first session parents in advance.  

• South end road is closed and we have to have ONE WAY traffic for our  pick of 162 Woodward Camps (Timberlake, Tamarack Farm & Firefly Song).
• This will mean:  Approx 15-20 cars go in. Get their kids. Come out. Next group goes in.  
• This will take longer.  Even with less than ten minutes to pack up it will take 30 minutes for each batch of cars. 
• We won’t be able to offer a leisurely pick up with songs and Silent Meeting for the sake getting everyone in and out on time.  
• It will be critical to arrive on time for that allotted window.  Please call or email admissions as able if you anticipate being late once on the road. 
• We do not have areas for early arrivals to wait, so we’ll have to ask you to keep driving on Rt 100 and return at your specified time if you that traffic is backing up onto Rt 100.

•  New bridge has been installed on Rt 100  between Farm and Wilderness and Rt 4.   Awaiting VT State inspection before opening. 
• Air Quality Index for Plymouth VT has improved a few points since yesterday and remains in the orange zone.
• Camps plan for our Interdependance Day celebration at both Ninevah (SAM and FC) and Woodward (BDC, TL, TF, FS) if weather permits.  

• Consistent sunshine today.  
• Air quality index has gone from yellow to orange which is "unhealthy for sensitive groups".  Staff have been advised so that precautions may be taken. 

• Less than an inch of rainfall today, tomorrow is predicted to be warm and sunny. 
• Flood watch in effect until 6am tomorrow.

• Latest forecast is for rain, possibly 1-2 inches, possible thunderstorms. 
• Currently experiencing steady rain, no thunderstorms. 
• Resource has fully repaired Main Office parking lot, which was washed out. 
• Erosion on the sides sections of Woodward camp roads has been repaired with a backhoe.

• Our area is still under a Flood Watch (downgraded from a Flood Warning)
• Rain day is forecast for tomorrow, carrying on throughout the day.  
• Excessive rain tomorrow would impact driving along Rt 100 S to Rt 103 and therefore transit between Woodward (BDC, TL, TF, FS) and Ninevah Camps (FC, RSG, SAM) 
• We plan to welcome families to The Barn Day Camp on Monday morning, as scheduled.  
• Puppet Shows, Overnights, Council Fires and the rest of the camp program continues unabated.   

•  As of 9:00 PM there is ongoing light rain, expected to end before 11:00 PM.   Winds did not get above 10 MPH and power at the main office has remained on.  
• Many farms in Vermont have been affected.  You can support a farm emergency fund here.

• The water at Lake Ninevah has been tested and is clear and clean for swimming.  The waterfront at SAM will be back open for swimming.   Woodward Reservoir is closed for swimming until further notice.    
• Red Spruce Grovers will remain at Saltash Mountain due to road damage that limits access into The Grove.   Repair work may take time as all contractors are involved in critical state clean-up. 
• Material to repair roads here and on town roads is difficult to get right now. The nearby gravel pit at the quarry was flooded, so Resource will be moving material that they can find locally to repair and shore up the most critical roadways 
• Gov. Scott has requested vehicles remain off the roads from 4 to 8 pm today.  
• As of today, Firefly Song and Timberlake trips to locations on our property and on the reservoir side of Rt 100 are a go for Friday night, and we will reassess Friday morning.   Saltash Mountain Camp and Flying Cloud are scouting locations for their trips.

• New food deliveries are being scheduled.   Food service has not been disrupted and meals have been classic F&W fare so far and will continue as normal.
• We have dozens of new rubber boots and pairs of wool socks for any camper or staff who is in need. 
• Our Saltash Mountain Director described the mood of yesterday very well when she wrote:  "The kids are really enjoying this surprise rest day. They are playing board games, writing song cards, and baking cookies. From their perspective, without access to media, this is just another rainstorm. The worst impact we have seen here at SAM is wet conditions on trails to their cabins, and they are all in appropriate footwear, dry clothes, and rain gear. We have the resources to ensure that all kids go to bed tonight warm and dry with full bellies. "
  
  

• The sun is shining and the sky is blue this morning.  Campers and staff are curious to get outside again.
• Camp program is still adjusted for risk management as we manage clean up of roads and trails.  No bodies of water are open for swimming. 
• President Biden has approved a emergency declaration for Vermont that unlocks federal assistance from FEMA and other agencies which will help with opening roads
• We are closely monitoring ongoing changes to road conditions.  https://newengland511.org/
• We are coordinating and sharing resources between camps.   We have plenty of supplies and want to optimize their use.

July 10, 5:30 PM:

• The Barn Day Camp will remain closed for Tuesday, July 11.
• The Governor of VT declared a state of emergency early this morning until 10 pm tonight because of the weather and its impact on roadways and bridges so far.  A state-wide flood watch remains in effect until Tuesday 2 pm.  
• Executive Director Frances McLaughlin shares that "Campers are in high spirits and making the most of [the weather]!" Check us out in the Vermont Public! 
• At the lower camps, we will check out the CCC road to see if that's passable, but for now, 100 north and south are impassable.  Rt 4 around the Killington skyship and 103 in Ludlow are also impassable. We will know more tomorrow about the state/local plans for road re-openings. 
• You can stay posted on road closures here:   https://newengland511.org/
• Flying Cloud and Saltash Mountain Trips will not go out tomorrow. 
• Our overnight camps are having a day focused on indoor programs and there's lots of music, art, cooking, climbing, and game playing. 
• Red Spruce Grove is at Saltash Mountain.  Flying Cloud is happy in their home and have a place lined up if they need to relocate. 
• Our animals are well.  Pigs are happy in the mud and the BDC goats and kids got a ride in the back seat of truck to reunite with the others at Tamarack Farm! 
  
  

July 10, 9:30 AM

Hello, F&W Community!

I am in touch to let you know that we are experiencing extreme rain and its impact at F&W. If you are in the area or following news in Central VT, you know we've been inundated with rain over the last couple of days leading to flash flooding, an increase in moving water, and road and bridge damage and closures.

We want to assure you that the safety and well-being of your children at Farm and Wilderness is our top priority, and we are taking several measures to ensure their safety. F&W has a well-established emergency response plan in place, which includes specific protocols for severe weather situations such as flooding. Our staff members are trained to respond promptly and effectively to any potential risks or emergencies. This emergency response was activated yesterday, and today camp staff are focused on activities in indoor spaces. From our main Resource building we are in touch with all Camp Directors, but we are limiting F&W vehicle travel with the exception of our Resource team, who are monitoring on-camp roads and pathways and facilities.

Our Resource Director, Jay Kullman, Operations Director, Mel Gander, and I are closely monitoring weather forecasts, and we receive regular updates from local authorities, emergency services, and emergency management agencies.

For today, Monday, all lower camp (Timberlake, Tamarack Farm, and Firefly Song) campers and camp staff will stay at their camps, Red Spruce Grove campers and staff have temporarily relocated to Saltash Mountain Camp, and if needed, Flying Cloud will relocate to Saltash Mountain Camp as well. Trips due to depart today have been held back. Barn Day Camp is cancelled for today.

We will keep all camper families informed and updated about any developments or changes—the rain is supposed to wind down overnight. For the next 48 hours, we will provide regular updates to all camp families via email. You should expect the next update late afternoon/early evening. In the event we lose power and wifi, camps have generators, and we have staff off-site who will manage communications.

If you have any specific questions or concerns about your child which need immediate attention, please email admissions@farmandwilderness.org

Current camper families will be informed by email. You can also stay up to date by following us on facebook, where we will post updates about twice a day for the next 48 hours.

We'll be in touch, 

Frances