Sang Lee Farms’ Children’s Summer Workshops invite children to explore, forage, craft, and get their hands dirty in weekly immersive sessions
Photos courtesy of Sang Lee Farms
On Friday mornings in July and August, children ages 4 to 7 can partake in hands-on experiences at Sang Lee Farms during their Children’s Summer Workshops.
Beginning on Friday, July 10 and running weekly through August 28 from 9 to 11 a.m., each workshop will feature a different engaging theme, each with a focus on agriculture and crafting.
Themes include Seed to Sprout on July 10, Wild Textiles on July 17, Gather & Graze on July 24, Fruit Jam-Boree on July 31, Field to Fork on August 7, Sun & Shadows on August 14, Slice of Summer on August 21, and Young Foragers on August 28.
“Our children's workshops are an opportunity for locals and North Fork visitors to give their children an enriching outdoor experience,” said Samantha (Sam) Dickhut, a manager at Sang Lee Farms. “Each workshop has a different theme that includes an aligned food and craft element, so kids have a balance of learning, playing, and snacking. During these workshops, we hope to explore, forage, craft, and get our hands a little dirty, all while emphasizing the importance of growing one’s own food.”
Sang Lee Farms’ mission of farming sustainability and responsibly as stewards of the land will be woven into each week’s workshop, teaching children about the importance of connection with the land around them.
“What better way to encourage future generations to work and live alongside the Earth than by directly fostering relationships between North Forkers and the land?” Sam shared. “We believe that promoting awareness in agriculture and instilling passion into future farmers is critical to ensuring the health and well-being of our North Fork community. Our workshops connect our petite North Forkers with our food system in a reciprocal and fun manner.”
Each workshop will be led by educators Trish Wescott and Cara Slotkin — Trish with a creative backbone who uses the outdoors as her inspiration, and Cara, a local secondary educator with a passion for sparking children’s imaginations.
With hopes that children who attend the workshops walk away with a sense of wonder and growing curiosity about food, Sam and her colleagues are eager to open up the farm and guide the attendees through these workshops.
“Watching the bees pollinate the strawberry flowers so that they fruit. Seeing one tiny seed turn into a full-sized vegetable that you can share and eat with your family. Using vegetable scraps to create expressive art. Making fresh jam with berries that you harvested straight from the vine. These are all little moments of joy that we hope will stay with the kids who come to our workshops,” Sam told us. “We are simply giving them the access and knowledge to our certified organic farm in the hope that it will blossom into a lifetime of connection and understanding of the food that ends up on their plates.”
Answers to questions you may be wondering…
Q: All workshops have been designed for children ages 4-7. What is the reason for this? Are there any exceptions?
Sam: The age bracket that we have established allows for a smooth-running workshop. We have found from experience that children below the age of four have a harder time being away from their caregiver(s) for the two-hour-long workshop. Children over age 7 typically are in need of a more in-depth and hands-on experience. The 4 to 7 age bracket is the sweet spot for keeping kids engaged. We are always open to making exceptions if a child is under 4, can be without their caregiver for two hours, and is potty-trained. If anyone is interested in a workshop but has a child outside of the age bracket, we also host private workshops, with a minimum of four kids. Reach out to farmstandmanager@sangleefarms.com for inquiries.
Q: How should children prepare for each session?
Sam: Kids should wear closed-toe shoes that they don't mind getting dirty, and come equipped with a hat, sunblock, a light jacket in case of rain, and plenty of water. A farm-fresh snack will be harvested and devoured by workshop attendees, so a snack need only be packed if they have any health issues or a large appetite.
Does Sang Lee Farms host private group sessions?
Sam: If you're interested in sending your children to one of our workshops, but also find that you are interested in attending, check out our Community Meet-Ups! These events are imagined for families of up to five people, and allow for a similar experience of harvesting and crafting, but involve your whole family, with no age restrictions. Our first Community Meet-Up is scheduled for Sunday, June 21st, from 3 to 5 PM. Sign up on our website at sangleefarms.com under the "Learn" tab. Community-Meet Up signups open on our website on a rolling basis — stay tuned for more opportunities to explore the farm as a family in July and August.