The Summer Camp Program at River Edge Farm

Summer Camp Groupings

Our 2017 Summer Riding Day Camp consists of two programs

2017 Fillies Mini Camp Program
For 5 to 7 year olds girls, half day program. After care available at an additional cost.

2017 Wrangler Camper Program
For 7-12 years old girls. From beginner through intermediate level of riding.

More About Groups

Summer Camp Groupings By Age

2021 Fillies Mini Camp Program

Introduction to riding for 5 and 6year old girls.

Girls will learn the fundamentals of riding on a leadline. Horsemanship skills will be introduced as well.

Arts and crafts, nature exploration, recreational swimming, outdoor play and games are part of the camp program. Lunch, snacks and water will be provided.

Enrollment is limited to allow personalized instruction.

2021 Wrangler Camp Program

Girls ages 7-15 will be evaluated on arrival and placed into groups with riders of the same ability or ride by themselves if they cannot ride independently.

This program welcomes beginners through intermediate riders. Campers will have a daily morning lesson and also will ride twice weekly in the afternoon.

Flat work and jumping exercises are the backbone of the program. We have started the beginners on bareback pads with incredible but expected results!

Cross country riding, Gymkhana, and trail rides are also introduced to the riders.

The camp day runs from 8:15 am to 3 pm.

Enrollment is limited to allow personalized instruction.

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See Our Choices Of Daily Activities!

Activities

Daily horseback riding is combined with swimming, tennis, arts and crafts, environmental education, ceramics, performing arts, baking, volley-ball, soccer, nature walks, community service and many many more activities to ensure a well-rounded summer experience.

Campers can choose their own activities based on their interests and strengths

We provide an inclusive environment that allows a low-pressure opportunity for campers to practice healthy risk taking, by giving the autonomy to choose activities, campers are motivated to learn, create and grow!

The following is a sample activities sheet each camper receives.

See the Full List of Activities

Field Trips

Bedminster and the surrounding towns are an ideal setting for horse and farm related outings and adventures.

Places such as organic farms, equine clinic with the most advanced and modern technology in Equine Veterinary Medicine., the South Branch of the Raritan River,

a belted cow operating farm, solar panel fields, etc., offer a real-world glimpse into how STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills are applied in the growth fields of the region.

Traditions

On the last day of the camp session , we have a “show” of pony games. Campers sell homemade lemonade to raise funds for Mylestone Equine Rescue. Throughout the camp session counselors will share information about this wonderful organization with the girls. They will talk about volunteerism, animal neglect and abuse, and ways to help and to be inspired by the people who run these type of organizations. We also have a tree planting ceremony where campers who have attended camp for 3 and 5 years in a row will get their very own tree. Native trees are planted around the farm, a plaque with the camper’s name and year is displayed in front of the tree.

We are very excited to offer “rainbow lunches”!

What are rainbow lunches? We believe that eating a variety of different colored fruits, vegetables and meats provide essential nutrients and enhances our daily food intake.

We have created a lunch menu for our campers that is:
• visually appealing
• well grown
• carefully produced ingredients
• locally and seasonal produced
• simply cooked to preserve their nutritional value.
• Prepared from scratch
• Organic when possible
• No GMO’s

We can also provide dairy, gluten, nut, and meat free lunches. Part of our “green curriculum” includes the topic of “food miles” that is the distance travelled by some of the food we eat. Campers will learn about locally sourced food with a focus on sustainability. They will learn about their food choices, the health of the community, the environment and themselves.
We are hoping this knowledge will foster sound nutritional practices, responsible food choices, and environmental stewardship.

See Our Lunch Menu

Our Pledge To The Environment

See Our Pledge

Our Pledge

At River Edge Farm, we are committed to sustainable farming practices. Sustainable farming practices uphold and improve the health and vitality of our entire farm environment: soil, water, air, plants, animals and people.

All of the facets of the farm work together in a universally beneficial system. The horses produce manure which is composted along with our food scraps and general lawn waste; the compost is used to fertilize the pastures which in turn grow nutritious grass to feed the horses, as well as to fertilize the garden's soil, which will then produce a bounty of vegetables and other crops to sustain us on the farm.

Our organic garden and orchard are kept insect-free using organic natural products such as pepper, garlic, and plant oils. We have eliminated the use of chemical pesticides completely.

The health and productivity of our soil is extremely important to us at River Edge Farm. To prevent soil erosion from over-grazing, we rotate our horses through the different pastures. Methods to protect and enhance the productivity of the soil include using cover crops, compost and/or manures, reducing tillage, avoiding traffic on wet soils, and maintaining soil cover with plants and/or mulches. Our pasture grasses and our crops improve as we are regularly rebuilding the soil. Adding organic matter and planting cover crops that will decompose into the soil can help increase soil tilth and the diversity of microbial life in the soil.

We consistently plant New Jersey native trees around the farm for soil conservation purposes, protection of watersheds, and as a screen for windbreaks. The trees that we have planted will also provide an expanded habitat for local birds (which prey on the insects that prey on crops) as well as shade for horses and people. We have a beloved camp tradition of planting a tree in the name of each camper who has attended River Edge Farm Riding Camp for 3 or 5 years.

The methods that we have adopted at River Edge Farm with respect to environmental concerns and broader social considerations are reflected in farm management practices as well as our individual lifestyle choices.

Waste Reduction

We salvage materials for construction. We encourage the use of re-usable water bottles. We compost our kitchen waste. We use the ashes from the fireplace as extra fertilizer for the soil.

Water Conservation

We irrigate our shrubs and gardens with the unused water from horses' buckets. We also collect rainwater for such purposes. We don't bathe horses or do laundry after heavy rains. We are mindful of what goes down the drain into the aquifers under the farm since those are the source of our drinking water. We have adopted "white vinegar" for house and barn cleaning, to kill weeds, to use as fly spray for horses, and many many other applications.

Paper Waste

To avoid the use of paper towels, we encourage campers and boarders to bring their own towel to dry hands. We use reusable bags for shopping. We use microfiber material to clean around the buildings.

We have adopted management decisions that promote sustainability and nourish the environment, the community, and the individual.

We firmly believe in teaching children the importance of these concepts, including the value and benefits of eating locally grown foods. We strive to show our campers how to be stewards of their environment.

At camp we have developed experiential programs for fostering connection with nature. This student-centered learning engages campers with important environmental messages in a fun, hands-on manner.
The many components of the program encourage campers to become more environmentally aware. Campers are exposed to topics such as water and soil conservation, environmental ethics/leave no trace, habitats, ornithology (birds), entomology (bugs), foraging and collecting, recycling/composting, soil studies, weather, wetlands, wildflowers, wildlife viewing, pasture grasses, etc.

A Typical Day

Though no day is ever the same at our Riding Camp, you can take a look at our daily schedule.