Even in the dark days of winter, the long, sunny days of summer are closer than they appear…Trustees Summer Camps are back for summer 2025! Before registration opens to Members on Thursday, January 9 (and for the public at The FARM Institute), Trustees Director of Learning Julie Bernson wanted to share what this summer will entail and why our summer camps are so special.

What kind of experience is offered at Trustees summer camps?

The Trustees offers unique summer day camp experiences for children ages 4 to 17 at multiple of our signature properties in eastern Massachusetts. Camps run throughout the summer on a weekly basis, starting just after school ends the last week in June through late August.

While the total number of children at each camp differs, each camp group is generally comprised of 10 to 15 campers. We strive to provide very personal camp experiences compared to larger summer camps. Our staff gets to know our campers, their families, and their fellow staff well because we’re able to provide a more intimate experience.

With four farm camps, two coastal camps, and an art-centered camp at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, each site offers a unique set of activities and adventures.

For information on the who, what, where, when, and why at each camp, you can visit their individual webpages here:

• Appleton Farms, Ipswich
• Crane Estate, Ipswich
• deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln
• Powisset Farm, Dover
• Rocky Woods, Medfield
• World’s End, Hingham
• Weir River Farm, Hingham
• The FARM Institute, Edgartown

What makes Trustees summer camps unique?

The key feature that binds all our camps together is that they are rooted in our special places. It’s our goal to educate campers about our places, and the curriculum developed at each property reflects that.

At the farms, they’re actually performing farm chores and getting to know the animals, making sure they’re fed and healthy. Instead of learning through abstract lessons, campers actually are doing meaningful, authentic work themselves.

At World’s End and Crane Estate, where the campers are by the water, they’re learning about the coast, the impact humans have on the environment, and how to become stewards of these critical landscapes.

At deCordova, campers are collaborating on huge outdoor artworks that are showcased for families at the end of the week. It gives them a sense of being art creators, expressing themselves in a public venue, and learning about the collaborative nature of large-scale art.

What we offer isn’t your typical camp with traditional recreational activities like archery and swimming, and it’s not like math or music camps either. With The Trustees, campers engage in fun experiences while learning together about the natural environment around them. It’s educational without being academic, which parents really value.

Do you offer summer programs for teens?

We are pleased to offer camp and leadership experiences for teens. SummerQuest at The Crane Estate and Appleton Farm Camp both have advanced camp programs for teens who want to dig into the content of each property. DeCordova’s Summer Studio for Teens offers both personal artistic development and collaborative group projects directly inspired by the art on view.

Counselor-in-Training (CIT) programs for ages 15 to 17 allow veteran campers to move into leadership positions where the activities and routine are familiar – and are also open to those new to us who have aged out of other camps. Taking on new responsibilities, planning programs for young campers, and assisting counselors gives teens a window into teaching and professional life.

“Campers at The Trustees explore and collaborate as they learn the importance of nature in their lives. “– Julie Bernson, Associate Director of Learning

To what do you attribute the continued success of Trustees Camps?

It’s been a priority at The Trustees to get more young people to connect with our places in a deeper way, and week-long summer camps allow us to do that. Our camp directors, counselors, and property staff are incredible. They’re thoughtful and committed to making every camper’s experience—and every family’s experience—meaningful and lasting.

In the last few years, we’ve noticed that getting kids outside has been an increasing priority for many families. Getting kids outdoors, off screens, meeting other kids, and doing something that’s educational that doesn’t feel like school, are what parents really value. They want to know their kids will have fun, discover new interests and friends, learn, and be taken care of. Campers at The Trustees explore and collaborate as they learn the importance of nature in their lives.