FARM CAMP
June – August
Ages 4 – 18 | $180 – $375
Farm Camp fill the fields with the laughter of children, as they learn to care for animals, tend gardens, and discover the wonders of nature. Each summer, campers explore life on the farm while learning about sustainable agriculture, nature, and the environment in a unique, engaging setting. From planting seeds in the garden to collecting fresh eggs, and from caring for farm animals to exploring the woods and wetlands, every day is an adventure to connect with nature and develop new skills. Campers will discover the joy of hard work, teamwork, and the wonders of the natural world through guided activities that are as educational as they are fun. Join us for a summer filled with fresh air, dirt under your fingernails, and memories that will last a lifetime!
FARM TO PANTRY FOOD PRESERVATION | TECHNIQUES AND TASTINGS
2025 Dates to be Announced Soon
Ages 16+ | $30
Join expert Kim Rosenberg, who has over 20 years of canning experience, for a hands-on food preservation class where you’ll learn essential techniques including water bath and pressure canning, dehydrating, and vacuum sealing. Discover the differences between canning methods and why they matter, all while tasting various preserved foods. You’ll also get to water bath can your own pickles to take home, along with other samples. Comprehensive recipes and instructional handouts are included, making it easy to continue preserving at home. Perfect for beginners and seasoned preservers alike!
MYSTERIOUS MOTHS | GARDENING AND EXPLORATION
2025 Dates to be Announced Soon
Recommended for ages 12+ | $25 per adult, $15 per child
Join naturalists and moth experts, Chelsea Gottfried and Jim McCormac, for an enchanting journey into the world of mysterious moths. Though seldom seen due to their nocturnal nature, moths are every bit as beautiful and charismatic as their butterfly cousins. Their role as pollinators is essential to the survival of many of our plants. Most importantly, moths and their caterpillars are food for birds, bats, and countless other animals.
We will take a photographic journey into the intriguing world of moths, exploring which of our native plants are most enticing to these lovely Lepidopterans. We can all greatly benefit the ecosystem around us by “moth gardening” in our yards. Stay afterwards for a magical night of mothing! Weather permitting, we will have some light stations set up to see which moth species call Stratford Ecological Center home!
STORY TIME ON THE FARM
Second Monday of the Month | May – October | 10am – 11am
Recommended for ages up to 8 years old | Pay What you Can
Stories are a fun way to introduce young children to nature and farm life. Each Story Time will have a theme based on the seasonal happenings at the farm and nature preserve. After listening to the story the children will then bring the story to life as they visit the farm and nature preserve. Online registration required.
YOGA ON THE FARM
Second Saturday of the Month | June – September | 8am – 9am
Recommended for Adults | $8
FAMILY FARM CHORES
Second Saturday of the Month | June – November | 9:30am – 11am
Geared towards families | $8 per person
Cock-a-doodle-doo! Rise with the rooster and join one of our experienced farm stewards to assist with morning chores. Get a behind the scenes experience feeding the animals, filling their water, gathering and washing eggs, and watering the garden. The whole family will leave with a deeper understanding of what it takes to run a small, family farm. You’ll also gain insight into the seasonal rhythms of farm life and the hard work that goes into producing our food.
HERBAL STUDY GROUP
Second Tuesday of the Month | January – December | 1pm – 3pm
(June – August 9:30am – 11:30am due to afternoon heat)
Adults | All skill levels | $10 for the entire year
Dive into the world of herbs with us as we explore different varieties each month, from culinary classics to medicinal wonders. Each month the group examines different herbal topics and works together in the herb garden, tending, harvesting and learning from one another while building a sense of community. Whether you’re a seasoned herbalist or just starting, there’s always something new to discover in this participant led group. Swap seeds, recipes, and herbal wisdom all year long!
PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB
Third Thursday of the Month | January – November | 10am – 12pm
Adults | All skill levels | $20 for the entire year
Calling all photography enthusiasts! Monthly meetings provide an opportunity to share and edit photos, learn techniques from local experts to photograph landscapes, animals, gardens and more. All skill levels welcome! Just show up and bring your camera, even if it’s your phone. Participants are welcome to wander the fields and forests of Stratford to capture the abundant beauty of the seasons. Please contact photography@stratfordecologicalcenter.org for more details.
BOOK TALKS
Third Friday of the Month | January – December | 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Adults | $10 for the entire year
Have you ever wanted to join a book club, but feel like you don’t have time to read the whole book? Then this is your kind of book talk! Join fellow participants who want to explore literary works from Stratford’s library in a lively discussion on topics ranging from agriculture, nature writers and homesteading. Librarian and incredible naturalist Liz Barker does the heavy lifting by reading a series of books on a particular subject, and then convenes the group to share her learnings and lead a discussion. It’s a social summary with friends! Explore and recommend topics with Liz any time you want.
POLLINATOR PLANTING DAY | LEARN, PLANT, TAKE HOME, & NUTURE!
June 1 | 10am – 11:30am
Open House Style | FREE
Learn all about plants and flowers that attract pollinators and the importance of pollinators! Hosted by the Delaware County Master Gardeners at Stratford Ecological Center we will have the following:
- Fun games and activities for kids to learn about Monarch Butterflies
- Planting stations- families can plant flowers to take home to attract pollinators to your own yards and gardens
- Help the Stratford land by planting milkweed starts
- Explore Stratford- The animals, trails, vernal pool, pond, and all the beauty that Stratford has to offer (Stratford is open from 9:00AM-1:00PM)
This is an open house style event! Please feel free to come and go as you please.
HONEY HARVEST
June 22 | 9am – 11am
Recommended for adults and kids ages 8 and up* | $30
*Children must be accompanied by an adult
Have you ever wondered how honey gets from the beehive to the honey jar? Join us for an un-BEE-lievable experience collecting and extracting honey straight from Stratford beehives with our experienced beekeeper. Whether you’re a honey aficionado, an adventure enthusiast, or an aspiring beekeeper, you’ll enjoy getting involved with this sticky business while learning about the vital role that bees play in sustaining the planet’s food supply and ecosystems…and the sweet rewards that come along with it. Stratford will supply everything you need, and you’ll get to take home an 8 fluid oz jar (Net. Wt. 12oz) of the honey you collect to enjoy at home!
PLANT POT RECYCLING
June 22 | 10am – 12Pm
Drop Off, Open House Style | FREE
Drop off your rinsed, empty plastic pots and flast of all sizes to our partners, the Delaware County Master Gardeners so they can be responsibly recycled or reused. Recycled pots will be donated to:
- Leaves for Wildlife, a Native Plant Nursery in Sunbury, OH
- DCMGA Native Plant Committee
- Meijer’s Outdoor Plant Department
You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about recycling and composting and how it helps our community and the earth. Feel free to stay a while to enjoy the animals, trails, greenhouse, and more through self-guided exploration.
GARDEN TEA PARTY
August 7 | 2pm – 4pm
Geared towards families | $15 per adult, $10 per child
Put on your favorite tea party attire and bring a special teacup, if you have one (not required), to join us for an event that lives up to its name as girls and boys venture into the Stratford Garden to harvest fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, and collect fresh eggs from the hen house. Participants may brew their own choice of herbal tea, prepare sandwiches from scratch, and enjoy homemade delights, all with herbs straight from the Stratford Garden.