Environment
You will be joining our family Farm. It’s a place where everyone plays a vital role in daily life; where good middos and a love for Torah are keys to success. Located in Iowa, secluded from big city life and away from a large Jewish population, we are a place where life can slow down. The hustle and bustle of city living drifts away into a deeper connection and appreciation to the land that Hashem created. This allows us the unique opportunity to be a Jewish resource and example to the surrounding area. We work hard, play hard, and most of the time get dirty — but have an awesome time doing it. Chessed infused projects in the area constantly reminds us of how we act and the effect we have on people around us.
Food
Food is an important part of any camp! We make sure to serve delicious and healthy food, all while keeping to a strict Cholov Yisroel - Pas Yisroel diet. Campers will have a true farm to table experience. They will enjoy opportunities to eat the fruits, eggs and vegetables of their labor. The boys will take shifts helping to prepare and set up meals for their fellow campers, gaining the life-skills necessary to make nutritious meals.
Accommodations
We have an eclectic mix of modern farm motif. Most indoor areas have been updated and have all modern amenities. There are fields for sports including: baseball, football, volleyball and soccer, full court basketball, and foot/roller hockey. A forested area is great for outdoor activities like paintball, survival skills and bike trails. There is a large indoor swimming pool that can be enjoyed day and night no matter the weather. In short — everything needed to have an awesome, memorable summer!
A mix of private rooms and bunkhouse style sleeping areas with air conditioning and comfortable mattresses are provided for campers. We like to sweat when we work, not when we sleep ;).
Trips
Although most of our time will be spent on and around the farm….
…. campers will go on fun trips off-campus as well. Some planned activities include: hiking, boating, fishing, axe-throwing, trampoline parks, rodeos, cave exploring, county fair, go carting, and more!
Building & Projects
Every experience at this camp will provide the boys with invaluable life-skills and knowledge. Throughout the summer campers will learn mechanics, electrical wiring, gardening, building, foundations, painting, cooking, construction and more. They will also have exposure to some less-common trades, such as blacksmithing, animal care using farm equipment, survival skills, and much, much more!
Being in a more intimate setting allows us the ability to talk to campers, find out what interests them, and then find a way to implement those things into their experience here.
Farm
Over the course of the summer your son will learn basic farming and gardening techniques. He will learn how to build and care for animals. We plant a large garden with assorted vegetables: tomatoes, rhubarb, cucumbers, green and yellow squash, lettuce, sweet corn, butternut squash and herbs. We have chickens, goats, dogs, barn cats, honey bees, apple, peach, cherry trees and more!
After all, what could be better than building a barn for animals and watching them play in it? Or eating the eggs you collected that morning? Or how about eating chicken soup on Shabbos and knowing that you picked the vegetables for it?
Your son will develop an appreciation and understanding for where food comes from and how it gets to his plate. He will utilize skills like trouble-shooting and fixing things on the fly, as farm life is unpredictable at times. You never know when a goat thinks it’s a good idea to make a new window in the fencing.
Learning
Torah learning is an important part of any Jewish boy's growth and development. At the Shtetl, boys will have the chance to lead a minyan if they’d like and give over divrei Torah. We have daily shiurim and chavrusa learning. Our hands-on learning classes are especially rewarding. What better than learning hilchos Shabbos and then going out and building an eruv? We are excited to bring our Torah learning to life!
Phones & Devices
In order for campers to get the most out of their time at the farm, all cell phones and electronic devices are kept with us for safekeeping for the duration of their stay here. Campers are given the opportunity to call home on Fridays via phone. In case of an emergency, a staff member's phone is always available.