Farm Camp Should Not be an Anomaly

Can I take a minute to share with you about an interaction I had with a mom the other week?

I had only shared it with a small handful of people because, honestly, it’s one of those stories that both breaks my heart and fills it with joy at the same time. I shared it last week on Facebook, and thought it should be shared here too.

One of my biggest hesitations is the misunderstanding of my intentions. I’m sharing it now—not to say, “Look at us!”—but because it’s such a clear reminder of why Farm Camp exists. Why it's so important. Why creating spaces where all feel welcome matters so deeply.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted in several Columbia-area community groups about this summer’s Farm Camp—just the basics: ages, dates, what we’ll be learning and doing on the farm. I also made sure to mention something that’s always been important to me: that we offer accommodations for children with disabilities.

The truth is, I want the farm to be a space where everyone feels like they belong. That might not always be the reality, but it is always, always, always our goal.

Not long after I posted about camp, I got a message from a mom asking if we could talk. After a bit of back-and-forth, we hopped on the phone. She wanted to make sure Farm Camp would be a good fit for her son. As we talked, there were moments when it felt like she was apologizing for him—for who he is, for what he needs. I told her, “I’m so sorry we live in a world where you feel like you need to preface everything about your son with an apology.”

She shared that her son has been diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. I told her about our experiences working with kids with those diagnoses. I explained how we’d love to meet her son before camp so we could get to know him a bit and select staff who’d be the best fit. I told her we operate from the mindset that clear is kind and that we hope she’ll feel comfortable being honest with us about what her son needs—because she knows him best. I told her we would absolutely try out best to make sure he had an amazing experience at camp and was learning and playing along with his peers. And I told her there was no reason he wouldn’t be a great fit for camp. We’d be honored to share the farm with him.

There was a pause, and then, with emotion in her voice, she said, “I’m sorry—I’m just so blown away. I hope you know there aren’t places like this, places willing to adapt and make accommodations for my son, or even have a conversation.”

That broke my heart.

Yes, it brings me so much joy that she felt seen and valued by Bowers Farm. But it also shatters me that she’s had to feel otherwise for so long. That she’s used to navigating a world that expects her child to adjust, rather than meeting him where he is.

She signed her son up for camp, for all. four. weeks. of Farm Camp.

This interaction was a reminder of something bigger: Farm Camp should not be the exception. Farm Camp should not be an anomaly. We should all be striving to create spaces where everyone—every child, every family—feels welcome. We should be building a world rooted in understanding and learning, not judgment and exclusion.

There are so many days when the weight of the world feels like it's too much. And in those moments, I come back to this truth: the place I can make the biggest difference is right here in my home. That often looks like raising RA to see the world through a lens of compassion and curiosity. But sometimes—like now—I’m reminded that I have the incredible privilege of helping create something special beyond our home’s walls, through Farm Camp.

And I can tell you one thing, I certainly never expected that.

May we all do our part to make this world a kinder place—in our homes, in our communities, and in every space where we hold influence.

You can help Bowers Farm make camp accessible to all children through our scholarship program. This fund helps us pay for extra staff needed for accommodations for our campers with disabilities. We have more children registered this summer than ever before who will need a little extra help to make sure they are able to fully participate with their peers at camp and we are so thankful for your help making that happen!

Farm Camp Scholarship

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