For camp descriptions, pricing, schedules and registration, please click here:
Summer 2020 Updates:
Click here to read a message from Education Program Manager, Andy McGee, with updated policies and expectations. Thank you!
WHAT TO BRING
- Lunch and snacks (we will be making snacks as well)
- Water Bottle with camper’s name visible
- Sunscreen, layers and a sunhat in the summer
- Lots of warm layers in spring and winter
- An extra set of clothes as a backup
- Rain jacket/Rain Boots (if necessary)
- Medications (if necessary)
- Please leave toys, phones, devices and other personal items at home
WHAT TO WEAR
Campers need to be dressed and prepared to be outside on the farm every day. Please bring layers that are weather-appropriate. Campers should dress for the weather in clothing and shoes that can get dirty. We recommend that campers wear sturdy closed-toe shoes (no flip-flops or crocs). It’s usually a good idea to bring an extra set of clothes, just in case.
Drop- off and Pick-Up Policies
The camp day always starts at 8:45 am. At drop-off, please provide the names of people who can pick up your camper. Individuals will need to show a photo ID to pick up their camper. Drop-off and pick-up happen in front of or inside the community building, depending on the weather. The community building is the largest red building on the west side of the property. We will honor our morning start time and we appreciate on-time drop-off and pick-up.
Aftercare: Monday-Friday, 3pm-6pm
Aftercare costs $20/day. Aftercare at Zenger Farm continues the enriching camp experience and gives campers the opportunity to cook, explore the farm, and play games with a mixed age-group, supervised by our dedicated Aftercare Educator. You can register for Aftercare when you sign up for camp on our website. Please be sure to bring a picture ID and pick up your camper by 6:00pm.
Open House: Friday, 2:30pm (summer only)
Camp families and friends are invited to come to the farm for an Open House on the last day of camp. Campers will harvest and create farm-grown snacks to share with you. This is a great time to tour the farm with your camper as your knowledgable guide. Be sure to check in on the wetlands and chickens!
No Open Houses for Summer 2020. 🙁
Food on the Farm
Please pack a lunch and snacks for your camper. In addition to the personal food your camper brings, we will make snacks and food to share from our farm fields and gardens. Kids get hungry when they play outside! Please pack lots of snacks for your camper, especially if they are in Aftercare.
Let us know if your child has special food needs or food allergies that you forgot to list on the registration form. We want to take care of the health of each camper that comes to the farm. We work hard to make sure that we don’t offer a child any food that contains an ingredient that they are allergic to and we have a rule that campers don’t share food that they bring from home. We try to accommodate allergies and intolerances in our recipes but aren’t always able to do so. We are not an allergen-free facility and trace amounts of things like wheat and peanuts may be found in our kitchen. Please let us know, in detail, about what foods your camper should not eat, symptoms we should watch out for and preferred treatment options..
Bees
We keep honey bees on the farm. While we always keep a safe distance from active hives, we do walk by them and even visit on occasion. If your child is allergic to bees, please be sure they bring any necessary medication and notify Zenger Farm staff.
Behavior Policy
To be part of camp at the farm, campers need to be able to do the following most of the time:
- Be at the farm for 6 hours at a time in most weather
- Participate in a group setting
- Advocate for their own needs
- Listen for instructions
- Stay with the group and/or group leaders
- Be safe, inclusive, respectful and kind to people and other living things
We practice inclusive positive discipline at Zenger Farm and lead with gentleness and empathy. We have a minimum of 2 adults for every 14-16 campers but are unable to provide one-on-one support for extended periods. While we understand everyone is coming from their own place in life that isn’t always their choice, our team does not possess the training and skills to offer extended support for some children. If your child has an assistant or an IEP at school, let us know so we can work together to figure out if our programs are a good fit for your child and if they need extra support at the farm. If you aren’t sure, feel free to contact Education Manager Andy McGee to chat about it (andy@zengerfarm.org).
If there is a behavior challenge or issue during the camp day, we will ask you for support and tips to best work with your camper. Any advance information to help your camper succeed is appreciated. If there is an extreme behavior problem, the camper(s) may be asked to leave camp. This includes any bullying, harmful physical contact and any behavior that continually takes away from the experience of other campers. Camper safety and enjoyment are our top priorities.
Snow Policy
Generally, we close when the local school districts close for inclement weather. Since schools will not be in session during Winter Camp, we will be monitoring weather reports and current road conditions closely as well as the farm property to determine the safety of running camp. IF WE CANCEL A CAMP FOR WEATHER, we will update our website and notify you via email by 7am on the day of. Everyone registered will receive full refunds.
Refund Policy
If you need to withdraw your camper from camp please look over the following guidelines:
- 30 days or more before date of camp: Full refund
- 29 to 11 days before date of camp: ½ refund
- 10 days or less before the start of camp: No Refund.
2020 NOTE: Due to COVID19, we are suspending our refund policy and will give refunds at any time. Please give us as much notice as possible so we can fill the spot if possible. If camps are cancelled or you cancel registration, you will have the opportunity to donate your camp fees, take a credit or get a refund. Thank you!
Parking
Please note: we have a very small parking lot. Whenever possible, consider carpooling, biking or taking public transit. When pulling into the farm, please drive slowly and watch out for pedestrians. If you cannot find parking in the lot, street parking is available.
Directions to the Farm:
11741 SE Foster Rd. Portland OR 97266
By Car
From the West:
- From I-205 take the Foster Road Exit and head East on Foster Road.
- Go through the light at SE 110/111th Ave. You will pass Franz Bakery on the right as you begin to go uphill on Foster Rd.
- Zenger Farm is on the left at the crest of the hill, at 11741 SE Foster Rd. You will see the red community building and farmhouse from the road.
- Turn left into the farm parking lot. If you reach the light at SE 122nd Ave. you have gone too far.
From the East:
- SE 122nd is a direct North/South access to Foster Road.
- Heading West on Foster Road, Zenger Farm will be on the right, at 11741 SE Foster Rd. You will see the red farmhouse from the road.
- Turn right into the farm parking lot
By Public Transit
To plan your trip go to: http://trimet.org/
Bus 10 and Bus 73 run on Foster Road. Get off at Stop ID 1773 if you are heading East, or Stop ID 1774 if you are heading West. Walk to the Zenger Farm entrance at 117th Ave., you will see the red farmhouse from the road.
The MAX Green Line and Bus 14 will get out you to Foster and SE 94th Ave. From there you can transfer to the 10 or 71 to reach the farm.
By Bike
- Take the Springwater Corridor Trail to SE 122nd
- Go South on SE 122nd • Go West on Foster Rd.
- Zenger Farm will be on the right, at 11741 SE Foster Rd. You will see the red community building and farmhouse from the road.