Packing Information can be found in the Parent Portal or at this link.
Directions to the Farm are located here.
Arrival and Departure
Families should arrive at the farm on Sunday, between 3pm and 4pm. Farm staff will be on site and ready to greet arrivals at this time. We will not be prepared for earlier arrivals. If you are arriving late, please contact the Farm Office (413-625-9503) to update us on your plan.
For pick-up, on Friday, families should arrive at 11am to join us for our Family Open Farm. This is an opportunity for Youth Corps to share the farm and their projects with their families and friends. An informal lunch will be served.
Families are reminded that dogs are not permitted on the farm (travelers must stay in cars).
Electronics
The farm thrives on community and a rustic way of life. In order to get the most out of our program experience, students should not bring any electronic devices including phones, cameras, tablets, readers, or games. Non-digital cameras are permitted, but may only be used in public spaces and when they will not disrupt the program.
Food & Food Allergies
The farm provides fresh home-cooked, nutritional and healthy food options. Our menu options sometimes include meat, but there is always a vegetarian option provided. We can also accommodate other diets (gluten free, dairy free), but cannot necessarily accommodate every type of food sensitivity or allergy. Our farm kitchen does not cook or serve nuts but sometimes serves prepared foods (e.g. brownie mix) that may have been produced in a facility that is not guaranteed nut-free. Please contact the Farm Director for any specific questions or concerns.
Student Overnight Accomodations
Youth Corps members stay in cabins which sleep up to four students. Staff leaders reside nearby in the Farmhouse and student dormitory (the Roost). There are nearby private toilets, wash sinks and showers for student daily use. In order to provide the best program community experience, we do not accept requests for bunkmates or pairings. Cabin assignments will be provided upon member arrival.
Phone Calls
Summer programs are a time to focus on our new commmunity and commitments to each other. Phone calls disrupt the program routine and so only phone calls for student birthdays are allowed and must be arranged in advance with the farm office.
Letters and Packages
Students love getting written correspondence from family and friends. These letters create a meaningful and healthy connection to home, and become important keepsakes for years to come. We encourage families to share the farm address with friends and family to send letters.
Please do not send anything other than letters. Well-meaning care packages of food, magazines, or other items can disrupt the community that we are building on the farm. This mail will be held safely at the Farm Office until the end of program and returned to the student upon departure.
If you have questions about what to send, please ask! We are happy to help provide guidance, and thank you for supporting our farm community building.
Please be sure share this information with grandparents and friends who might wish to share things with your student. The address to send mail to is:
Student's Name
Red Gate Farm
4 Norman Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Photos
We take pictures and some video throughout every program session. These are password protected and posted every few days online for sharing with parents during the program session. The goal is to share some of the day to day program experiences of the students with families at home. There is not an effort to photograph every student, and so we cannot guarantee that your student will be featured in a photograph.
Laundry
We do a mid-session laundry. We do provide "emergency" laundry services in the case of a clothing mishap.