I found my home here at farm camp. AS long as your kid doesn't mind a little dirt or poop, this is a perfect home away from home.

I have been going to this sleepaway camp and it is my favorite place in the world. I have friends there that I see every summer and the food and activities are also so fun. I highly recommend this camp to anyone who loves animals and is not afraid of a little dirt. This camp has taught me independence, gotten me to eat a bigger variety of foods, and just been overall awesome. Going back for my fifth year this Summer! read more

Camper from 95-2000... Loved this camp. So many fun memories, I got the last few Summers with Dave and Susanne.. My mom was a single parent and would never be able to afford this place without scholarship program. I think it was $1,000 for 3 1/2 weeks in 1995... At times I did feel out of place as most of the kids were from well off families. Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Woodside, pacific palisades... I came from more of a blue collar, street background... so it was def interesting to be around white collar kids. read more

This camp is horrific. Do not send your child there unless you want them sleeping on filthy mattress's. My daughter and her friend begged them to call us and they refused. They cried themselves to sleep every night and the camp counselors were nasty. They told the kids that the pigs and cows they were caring for were going to be slaughtered after they left. Disturbing and disgusting read more

My daughter had the best time at the camp. She wants to come back next year. She made new friends and spent a bunch of time outside -- what else can you wish for after a year of COVID? read more

This is the best camp in the worlds it was very fun the name maybe the ceiling but it's extremely fun will be in a tent with one other girl if you feel uncomfortable tell a counselor they will comfort you at night and a lot of animals and also you are allowed to sleep outside with your mattress read more

This will be our daughter's third year and at 11 years-old, her first time going for a full month. Her niece and nephew were alumni that graduated into counselors so it is in her DNA. As parents, we can't say enough good things and, later, I will get my daughter to write her own review. read more

We had just moved from Sydney Australia and were unprepared for summer. A friend of ours suggested Plantation Camp. She was a camper and then became a counselor. I called and had an extensive conversation with John and Kelly. They were helpful and very generous with their time (even offering to fly down and met us). Anyway to make a long story short, we enrolled the kids and let me say, it was by far one of the best experiences my kids have EVER had. The location, the friends, living in tents, caring for animals, hikes, making things. The beauty of the place is that rather than your kids being force fed a schedule (like school) the kids are able to choose what activities they do. And if they like it they can continue or try new ones. This part of camp was what struck me the most as it empowered my kids to choose and create their own day. It gave them confidence and I really noticed this upon their return. One thing I was slightly concerned about: my son loves video games and I thought...no way..not for 3 1/2 weeks unplugged...he will hate it but much to my delight, not only did he LOVE the camp but said when he returned that he didn't miss it at all! AND he hiked everyday. Do I know this child? was my response :) My other concern was obviously home sickness (my daughter was 9) And again I was happily surprised. She had so much fun, she really didn't get homesick. Ok, once she did and she said the counselors were brilliant. There was great communication, stories read to them and she forgot very quickly and was off hiking and tie dying in a blink. Finally I want to say after one year we were so impressed with Plantation we became unofficial camp ambassordors. My son has 2 friends coming to the camp this year (one all the way from Australia) and my daughter still sees friends she made during the school year. Seriously, there are some lovely families that attend this camp. If you would like to discuss our experience with the place, just call John and Kelly and they will give you our phone number. Top place for kids, they will love it! read more

I first heard about Plantation Farm Camp when I was in college looking for a summer job. Since I had enjoyed Camp Fire camp, I thought this would be a good choice. That was 1957!!!! I was a counselor for four summers in a row and another later on! My daughter was a camper and counselor. Any one I've met who has visited or gone as a camper or counselor, has felt they are part of the Plantation Farm Camp Family from then on. The place itself is very special and soothing. I'm sure that the Native people felt the same way about this special place. It is wonderful to see the tradition of this type of camp life continue. read more

Written by my daughter, age 10: We drove down the windy dirt road to camp. I knew we were getting close when I saw a school sign. I had counted down the days for months and I was finally at Plantation Farm Camp. Our time at Family Camp was a sort of trial to see if it was a good fit for my first sleep away camp. The three days that I spent at Plantation were the best three days of my life. Plantation is the place that I feel most at home in the whole world. Everything just makes sense and falls into place there. I learn more there in a day than I would in a week of school. Walking away from camp, I knew two more major things. One, how to make friendship bracelets and two, if there was one place that I had to stay at for the rest of my life, it would be Plantation Farm Camp. It's like living the dream. The morning singing, the delicious meals, the farm chores, and at the end of the day, you still get a hot shower. So whether you're considering it or not, send your child to Plantation Camp! You will not regret it. When we were driving home from camp, and from an electronic-less 3 days and nights, I decided that I don't need TV or computer time. I only lasted about a week, but believe me, that's progress. So even if your child says that they don't want to go, you will want to send them and they will love it unless they are completely insane - wait, it's impossible to not like Plantation. Your insane or non-insane child will love it. Written by me, age old-enough-to-be-mom-to-a-ten-year-old: Well, it's hard to top my daughter's review. I'll give a bit more parent-focused feedback. In my mind, if you are looking for an activity for your family, or a camp for your kids, you are focused on three main categories: environment, experience, and people. Each category at Plantation farm scores a 5/5 with me. My daughter and I attended their "Family camp" - a three-night, long-weekend toe-dip into the wonder of Plantation farm camp, held at the end of the summer when their sleep-away camps have concluded. My daughter made it half-way through the first day of family camp before announcing she wanted to spend the whole summer here next year (but we've agreed on a week!). I've been a teacher for over 10 years, and that makes me PICKY when it comes to programs for kids. We both walked away from camp feeling the love for this magical place. Environment - Located in beautiful Cazadero, Plantation Farm is a real year-round working Farm/Ranch (horses!). The main farm is located on 30 acres, with an additional 500 acres surrounding it. The location is breath-taking - enormous trees, a beach within hiking distance, a pond for frog searching, and tons of trails and hikes. The location is just stunning (even our drive to/from SF was incredible). Experience - The previous reviews do a great job of sharing what the days are like. You enjoy three beautiful meals per day, with veggie and vegan options (we both devoured their delicious meals!), mostly sourced from the farm itself. There are "chore" periods each morning and afternoon where you get to help care for the animals on the farm (my daughter and I tried to get to every single chore option while we were there). For activity periods, there is a swimming pool, horseback riding, arts and crafts, hiking, sports, an endless list to choose from. You sleep in a comfy tent cabin (unless you want to drag your sleeping bag out into the meadow and "sleep out"!), with two to each cabin. There was even an incredible barn dance on our last night, with all of our counsellors teaching us the steps to line dances from around the world. It's true that there is no service at the camp, but after a day, all the grown-ups settled down without their constant connection to tech. All of us talked on our last morning about the dreaded return to service. :) People - Oh, man. This is just the best part. The counsellors come from a wide variety or countries - Ireland, South Africa, Scotland, the US, England, Australia, and more. Each and every counsellor we met was warm, passionate about the farm, patient and attentive to the kids, and a hoot for the adults to be around. The farm has amazing retention - counsellors return year after year, which says a lot about both Plantation and the counsellors. My daughter was inspired - she was begging to know when she herself could become a junior counsellor. Anyway - long review. But lots of good things to say. We hope you'll spend some time at Plantation Farm! read more

Plantation Farm Camp has been one of the best experiences of my entire life. The camp is located in beautiful Cazadero, California, surrounded by redwoods and close to the ocean. When I am describing this place to prospective campers, I often hear things like, "Why would you want to work on a farm???!" To say that all you do at plantation is farm would be a total lie. The variety of activities and opportunities offered to the campers is incredibly diverse. For someone looking to work with animals, this place is for you. For someone wanting to be physically active, this is for you. Even if you want nothing more than to do crafts, this place is for you. The beauty of this camp is that it maintains its rustic vibe while still appealing to the century's children. I have never, ever been bored. It's brilliant how the staff and coordinators are able to include something like a water slide in the agenda while still sticking to traditional farm activities. Milking a cow is cool, but when followed with an afternoon playing watermelon polo at the lake, you've got an experience of a lifetime. There are mellow activities for those who want them, including knitting, music, baking, friendship bracelets, and much much more. The camp also provides some awesome hikes for those up for a challenge!! If I listed every activity offered, this review would practically be a novel. From talking to parents about camp in general, I know that one's social experience is just as important as the amount of fun had. The astounding inclusiveness and support the camp provides is part of why I continue to go. The plantation family is always open to newbies! Side note: the majority of the meat eaten comes from the farm itself! The camp serves hearty, gourmet meals, and there are always substitutions for dietary concerns (for example, there is a vegetarian option). Healthy dishes are always available, and campers are encouraged to eat healthily. I really hope you decide to check out this camp. I spent a lot of energy writing this. read more

My three boys ages 14 and 10-year-old twins attended Farm Camp for the first time last year. They spent two weeks completely unplugged from technology and social media, and it did them a world of good. The camp location is breathtaking, and the counselors were stellar. Our children have attended some camps, and farm camp is superior especially as it relates to the camper ratio and training and experience of the staff. My boys enjoyed the food though they are picky eaters and demonstrated increased responsibility when they arrived home even volunteering to do the dishes. It was such a great growth experience for all of the boys. They made friends and were able to have an appreciation for nature. As a child mental health practitioner, I worry about all of the "noise" that surrounds this generation of children. The calmness and inner peace the kids demonstrated made the camp worth every penny. read more

I came to this camp a few years ago with friends who had suggested it. I stayed for two weeks in the oldest girls unit, which was a steep hike up a hill to get to. While I do admit that plantation made me more comfortable being and living in nature, the experience itself was not very enjoyable. We slept in small canvas tents with wooden bases, which I normally would've been ok with. However, the tent I stayed in couldn't close all the way, letting light (and cold) in very early. We could only shower every other day for three minutes at a time in cold water. I understand that this conserves water, but as a teenager who values hygiene, it was very difficult. The assigned seating at 2/3 meals was uncomfortable as we were separated from our age groups. The thing that was the most frustrating for me was the food. While it was always good, there was never enough and i was almost always hungry. As a result, I lost five pounds while I was at camp. I should say that many of the activities were fun and confidence building and I definitely bonded with my group. I personally love working with animals and chores were my favorite part of camp. Still, I would not ever go again or recommend it to anyone I liked read more

This would be a great camp for a perfect child. But my wonderful well intentioned child with behavior challenges did not do well here. This surprised me because they have a lot of staff and charge a huge amount of money. I was a camp counselor for many years, and we were able to handle children who were much tougher than my son, but Plantation is not willing to do so. read more

There isn't a better summer camp in the world! I'm going on 13 years here at Plantation and there's a reason I keep coming back... many reasons, actually. Plantation helps create a strong sense of community, environment, and friendship while allowing kids to be just that... kids! I fell in love and I know anyone and everyone who has ever been on the farm feels the same! read more

this farm camp just isn't for me or any people out there who have never been camping, don't enjoy freeeeeeeezzzziiiiinnnngggg weather, hate Mosquitos, or anything like that. If I could, I would have given this review 0 stars, but since I can't do that, I won't. I went to Plantation Farm Camp a few years ago and every day it makes my eyes tear up when thinking about it. Before I went, my family read almost every single review there was on this summer camp, and almost every single one gave it 5 stars, but not me. The counsellors get homesick just like campers, And I REALLY learned that. The food SUCKS big time. Like every meal was Polenta or polenta. In weather 35 degrees ferinhiet- 45 degrees ferinhiet, everything feels miserable. Eating, sleeping, activities, you name it. MISERABLE!!! And finally, this is NOT, I repeat, NOT, a cheap camp. For five, short days that feel life five long years it was $1,500. So overall, I do NOT, NOT, NOT recommend this summer camp. read more