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McArthur Farms Hosts Educational Summer Day Camps
Story by Laz Denes
School is out for the summer once the calendar turns to June, but that doesn’t mean learning has to take a break, too.
Thanks to a new series of fun and educational day camps offered by Bennettsville’s McArthur Farms, kids ages 5 to 11 can now learn the ins and outs of farming and nature at 1 of the largest agritourism destinations in the Carolinas.
4 five-day sessions are planned in June and July. Each session has a unique theme and covers a variety of topics like planting small vegetables and row crops, and how to identify the plants and animals that inhabit the 180-acre property.
Educating and entertaining area school kids is nothing new at McArthur Farms. Founder Rebecca McArthur and her staff host field trips and family visits to show where food and clothing come from. But the new summer day camps are designed to take that experience to a whole new level through immersive hands-on activities.
“I think it’s a great way to help local families keep their kids engaged in learning and occupied in a meaningful way, but it’s so much more than that,” Rebecca says. “For the kids who’ve been here on field trips or to experience our corn maze or any of our other special events over the years, this will have a completely different vibe. It will be educational but also a lot of fun with the many things we have planned for them to do while they’re here. The idea started several years ago, and we’re excited to finally roll it out.”
A Wide Variety of Activities
During From Field to Fork Week, campers will gather vegetables and fruits from the farm and use the produce to prepare their own lunches. “They’ll learn about the different things that we grow here on the farm,” Rebecca says. “For example, we’ll pick some tomatoes, and then they’ll make pizzas with them.”
Another week will focus on creating crafts using materials available throughout the property, like tie-dying T-shirts with natural dyes.
Safety messaging will be incorporated into all the activities, including teaching campers about safe handling of farming equipment or utensils during food prep and water safety during fishing adventures at the pond.
A limited number of spots will be available at a discounted rate each session for aspiring camp counselors ages 12 to 14, who Rebecca likes to call “farmers in training.” Discounts will be available for all campers attending multiple sessions or for siblings enrolled in a single session. Check the McArthur Farms website for pricing information.
With each session loaded with fun and unique activities, Rebecca points out an overriding theme that drives all camp activity, as well as all things associated with McArthur Farms since its beginnings— a love of faith, family, country, and farming.
“That’s the constant throughout all of this, so we will start each day with the Pledge of Allegiance to encourage good stewardship of our community, and then we’ll read a Bible verse and share a devotional because the farm is very faith-based,” she says.
As she looks back on the steady expansion of her business, Rebecca credits Sandhill as a major player in accelerating that growth in recent years.
Before Sandhill came, we were losing quite a bit of money due to poor connectivity involving our point-of-sale system, and there was a point I was at my wits’ end,” Rebecca says. “When we changed to Sandhill for our phone system, our internet, and our TV provider, that just brought such peace into our lives. There’s no way to put a price tag on that, and I’m so very grateful.”
Special Events at the Farm
McArthur Farms summer day camps for kids will be held June 9 through June 13, June 16 through June 20, June 23 through June 27, and July 7 through July 11. The camps run from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day.
Summer camps are just the latest addition to the farm’s calendar. Other upcoming events include:
- Mother’s Day Celebration — Seasonal flowers and tasty treats are available in early May to make Mom feel truly special. This year’s annual Mother’s Day Brunch is set for Saturday, May 10.
- Summer Concert Series — Local and regional bands take center stage on select evenings throughout the summer for wholesome family fun, featuring a dance floor, a kids’ play area, and food and drink offerings.
- Belles in Boots Ladies Night Out — The high season culminates with this annual fundraiser, which this year benefits Abba’s House Family Care Center.
Go to the McArthur Farms website for details and the complete event schedule.