In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the hard decision to cancel all farm programming at Deep Roots Community Farm through at least September 15th. Based on the La Crosse County Health Department’s designation of our county as red/severe risk of Covid spread we need to do our part to keep our community safe and healthy, and in particular to protect the more vulnerable people in our community. We look forward to resuming our work on the farm to connect children to healthy food and nature as soon as it is safe to do so.
We are sad to miss all of the valuable learning and growth that takes place on the farm each year. We look forward to coming together again in the summer of 2021!
We are evaluating the possibility of holding our Empowered Girls Camp in a modified version at a later date if it can be provided safely. Updates will be shared as available.
2020 Summer Offerings
Summer on the Farm
FREE registration made possible with collaboration with La Crosse School District and donations from the following:
Gundersen Health System
Agropur Ingredients
The Jenkins Family
True Blue Farm
We are still looking for a few more funders to make this possible.
Thank you!
Registration is open Monday, March 23rd at 6:30am and is ran through the La Crosse School District. Learn more about eligibility on the district website.
More details are on pages 29, 30 & 48 of the La Crosse Summer School guide.
| Summer On The Farm grades 3-10 8:30 am - 12 pm June 15 - 18 #513 |
Summer On The Farm grades 3-10 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm June 15 - 18 #514 |
Growing On The Farm grades 1 - 3 8:30 am - 12 pm July 20 - 23 #523 |
| Summer On The Farm grades 3-10 8:30 am - 12 pm June 22 - 25 #515 |
Summer On The Farm grades 3-10 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm June 22-25 #516 |
Growing On The Farm grades 1 - 3 8:30 am - 12 pm July 27 - 30 #524 |
| Summer On The Farm grades 3-10 8:30 am - 12 pm June 29 - July 2 #517 |
Summer On The Farm grades 3-10 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm June 29 - July 2 #518 |
HPL Science On The Farm grades 4 -8 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm July 20-23 #933 |
| Summer On The Farm grades 3-10 8:30 am - 12 pm July 6 - 9 #519 |
Summer On The Farm grades 3-10 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm July 6 - 9 #520 |
Summer On The Farm grades 3 - 10 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm July 27 - 30 #522 |
| Summer On The Farm grades 3-10 8:30 am - 12 pm July 13 - 16 #521 |
HPL Science On The Farm grades 4-8 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm July 13 - 16 #932 |
Grades: students in listed grades during the 2019-20 school year. |
| Due to the popularity of these camps there is a limit of 2 sessions per child. | If you sign up then cannot attend we expect a cancelation. This allows another child to attend camp. | Consider the fee based camp session if you desire to sign up for more than 2 sessions. |
Summer On The Farm Camp Descriptions
Summer On The Farm:
Are you ready to dig, run, build, draw, garden, eat and discover? GROW La Crosse and Deep Roots Community Farm proudly present Summer on the Farm, where students will plant, tend, and harvest fruits and vegetables and explore where our food comes from. Students will also learn how to identify species and understand the relationship between each part of the farm and the larger ecosystem. We will spend time each day being active outside including: hiking up the bluffs, building forts, splashing in the creek and caring for the animals at the farm. In each session, students will investigate the art and science of farming, photosynthesis, ecology, local clay, color, and pollination.
Students should plan to bring a water bottle, snack, and shoes for the creek. Sunscreen, bug spray, a hat, and rain gear for rainy days are recommended as this class will meet rain or shine. Summer on the Farm will be held at Deep Roots Community Farm.
Growing On The Farm: NEW THIS YEAR!
Are you ready to dig, run, build, draw, garden, eat and discover? GROW La Crosse and Deep Roots Community Farm proudly present a farm experience for 1st - 3rd graders. Students will plant, tend, and harvest fruits and vegetables and explore where our food comes from. Students will also learn how to identify species and understand the relationship between each part of the farm and the larger ecosystem. We will spend time each day being active outside including: hiking up the bluffs, building forts, splashing in the creek and caring for the animals at the farm. In each session, students will investigate the art and science of farming, photosynthesis, ecology, local clay, color, and pollination. Students should plan to bring a water bottle, snack and shoes for the creek. Sunscreen, bug spray, a hat, and rain gear for rainy days are recommended as this class will meet rain or shine. Growing on the Farm will be held at Deep Roots Community Farm.
HPL Science On The Farm:
Offered: July 13-16, 12:30 PM-3:30 PM #932 OR July 20-23, 12:30 PM-3:30 PM #933
Grades: 4-8 (Class Capacity: 26)
Instructors: Josh Wolcott and Lila Planavsky
To reverse global warming, we need to both sequester carbon out of the atmosphere and reduce current emissions. GROW La Crosse and Deep Roots Community Farm are excited to present a hands-on experience for students to learn sustainable practices to help reverse global warming. Agricultural can cause or correct carbon in our atmosphere, it is up to us as farmers to choose the best solutions. Topics we will explore include: rotational grazing of livestock, alternative energy sources, silvopasturing, no-till planting, composting, and more. We will use science, art, and math to foster optimism and experiment with hands-on solutions that address climate change.
(Lunch provided at Lincoln and bussing to and from the farm. The bus will leave at 12:30 and return at 3:30)
Location for all farm camps: Deep Roots Community Farm W4406 Cty. Rd. YY, La Crosse
Empowered Girls
Cost: Free!
Ages: Grades 4-12 for the 2019-2020 school year
Session: August 3 - 5 (Monday-Wednesday)
Time: 9-1pm
Open to: 18 registrants
Thank you to the Women's Fund for funding this program.
This funding makes this program possible free of charge to participants.
The goal of this camp is to empower girls in a supportive environment to help them realize they are brilliant, creative, and fully capable of being the next generation of PhD students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Each day at camp, the girls will be exposed to science, in particular biology, and how fun it can be.
Curriculum topics will include the scientific method, data collection, sampling methods, and observation of the natural world. Each girl will be coached to propose and test their own hypothesis while on the farm. In addition, each girl will be asked to choose a particular component of our area’s natural history (such as aquatic organisms, native plants, insects, etc.) and learn to identify these organisms on the farm and a bit about their life cycles. Many scientists believe that if you know and love the world around you, curiosity and questions blossom.
Empower Girls will be co-taught by Ana Skemp and Lila Planavsky. Ana Skemp (M.S. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) researched how the environment affects behavior in spiders, bees, and praying mantids for her graduate work and has taught farm camps for the last five years. Lila has worked in the school district and with farm camp for years.
Children will be asked to bring their own healthy snacks and lunch.
Summer on the Farm
Cost: $140
Open to ages: 5-13 year olds as of the first day of the session
Dates: August 10-13th - Monday-Thursday
Time: 9-2 each day
Open to: All. Limit 18 registrants
This session must have 16 children registered by July 30th in order to run.
During farm programming, children will engage in the real daily work of the farm including animal care, building and maintaining natural habitats, and helping grow food. They'll learn how to grow and raise food using organic & sustainable farming methods and learn why we have chosen those methods.
This session will be taught by Ana Skemp. Ana Skemp (M.S. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) researched how the environment affects behavior in creatures for her graduate work.
Children will be asked to bring their own healthy snacks and lunch.
