Kids enjoy activities at summer camp at Happy’s Farm

Tyler Monroe feeds the hogs some crabgrass that he pulled up at Happy's Farm during camp. photo by Jon c. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Buy a print

Zachary Young and Tyler Monroe run off between the buildings to finish another porject during summer camp at Happy's Farm. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Buy a print

Peyton Whicker and Jenna Robinson brush miniature horse Gilligan during summer camp at Happy's Farm. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Buy a print

Haley Carlisle, Kaceyann Robbins and Suzanna Stirewalt tend to the animals at Happy's Farm during summer camp. photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Buy a print

Haley Carlisle rides Prince, a Tennessee Walking Horse, during summer camp at Happy's Farm. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Buy a print

Peyton Whicker and Jenna Robinson brush miniature horse Gilligan during summer camp at Happy's Farm. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Buy a print

Peyton Whicker and Jenna Robinson brush miniature horse Gilligan during summer camp at Happy's Farm. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Buy a print

Jenna Robinson swings on a rope swing at Happy's Farm during camp. photo by Jon c. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Buy a print

By Sarah Campbell

scampbell@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — If you stop by Happy’s Farm during the school year you’ll see children working diligently on their studies.

But during the summer you’ll find them riding horses, running across the farm to feed the donkeys and soaring through the air on swings.

Owner Rhonda Stirewalt said education is typically her No. 1 priority, but fun takes center stage during the summer.

“They get a lot more interaction with the animals in the summer,” she said. “The farm is secondary during the year.”

This is the second year that Stirewalt, along with her daughter, Suzanna, and senior counselor Danny McGuire, has hosted summer camps at the nonprofit farm.

“Children love to be outside and parents are looking for a camp where students aren’t just sitting around,” Stirewalt said.

Zachary Young, 7, and Tyler Monroe, 11, played underneath the tree house Wednesday, using shovels to dig a hole for their lake. The boys were in the process of building their own miniature farm.

The cat house is another popular hangout spot for children during the camp.

“I love playing with the kitties,” Peyton Whicker, 6, said.

Stirewalt said students learn how to take care of the farm animals such as cats, horses, pigs and goats.

Peyton and Jenna Robinson, 8, brushed down a miniature horse named Gilligan, while Kaceyann Robbins, 10, rode a horse Wednesday.

“It’s just a lot of fun because I really like horses,” Kaceyann said. “I hope to have my own someday.”

Stirewalt said the camp isn’t just all fun, it also teaches students reading and math skills.

There’s an outpost filled with children’s books and a post office where students can brush up on their math by pretending to purchase stamps and pass out change.

But the most important lesson she hopes to instill in the children is responsibility.

“They know that when they go horseback riding they have to put the equipment back,” Stirewalt said. “I’m trying to teach them to be more responsible because if they can do that they can do a lot of other things, too.”

Haley Carlisle, 10, said she opted to come back to the camp for the second time this summer because of the people.

“Ms. Rhonda inspires me and I like coming here every day and being with all my friends,” she said.

• • •

Stirewalt said the students receive breakfast and lunch at the camp each day.

They also break in the afternoon for snow cones and cotton candy.

Children can attend the camp for a daily or weekly fee.

Stirewalt said the Robertson Family Foundation provided Happy’s Farm with a grant to supply $5,000 in scholarships to students who couldn’t afford to attend.

The camp runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day Monday through Friday through Aug. 17.

When school starts back, Stirewalt says she’ll start up her tutoring services again.

She’s working this summer to complete Happy’s Hotel, which will serve as extra tutoring space and a meeting place for groups such as the Young Men’s Club directed by Thomas and Staci Cousar of the Nazareth Children’s Home. The Robertson Family Foundation supplied a $5,000 grant and the Woodson Foundation rewarded a $3,500 grant for the project.

Stirewalt said although it will be back to the books this fall, she’ll continue to offer Saturday Fun Camp once a month so kids can come out and spend time with the animals.

Contact reporter Sarah Campbell at 704-797-7683.