Explore: The Urban Farm
Cultivating Kids, Crops & Animals
It all began with one boy.
A boy who was struggling to fit in at school.
A boy whose teacher suggested he spend time after school learning to care for horses. That was in 1993, and since then The Urban Farm (TUF) has emerged in to a well-known, non-profit organization that teaches agricultural and environmental education to urban children, youth and their families.
Last year, more than 3,000 kids participated in the many programs at The Urban Farm, over 2,000 children attended field trips, and upwards of 800 + volunteers offered their services that provided over 12,000 hours of labor.
Year-long riding programs are offered Monday through Friday at the farm for children ages 5 to 18, and seasonal programs take place throughout the year such as Embracing Horses, Summer Camps Farm-School Science Partnerships, 4H programs and a Community Garden.
Summer Camps will run Monday through Friday mornings beginning June 9: Kids can attend “I Want to be a Farmer” (7- to 10-year-olds), “Storybook Farm” (4- to 6-year-olds) or “Embracing Horses” (5- to 15-year-olds). And there are Day Camps called “Everything Horses (8- to 15-year-olds) and “Trail Riding Camp” (8- to 15-year-olds). Lastly, evening riding classes are available for all levels (5- to 18-year-olds) from June 3 to Aug. 30.
The farm also offers opportunities for adults to get involved. Garden plots are available to lease. Colorado Master Gardeners are there to help, and seasonal garden classes are offered the first Saturday of each month (free to those who lease a plot, $10 for the general public). For more information regarding the gardens at The Urban Farm, please contact Evelyn Alton at altonevelyn@comcast.net.
On the day we visited the farm, the staff and volunteers were busy working with the Fabulous Farm Animals (catch a video of the animals), an educational program in which school children visit the National Western Stock Show (NWSS), test their animal knowledge and possibly win a field trip for their class to visit the farm. Staff and volunteers bring farm animals and put on two daily shows for children attending the stock show. Several TUF-4H kids also participated in animal shows at the NWSS.
Harold Skramstad, board president of The Urban Farm stated “where else in America will you ever find a place like this in the heart of the city, where you can ride a horse, walk or bike miles of trails that connect the community in both directions along the Sand Creek Greenway. Nowhere but at The Urban Farm.”
Come explore The Urban Farm and see for yourself the joy it brings to thousands of our urban youth: When planning your next group field trip, company volunteer day, summer camp for your child, or a garden plot to nurture this spring and summer, choose The Urban Farm! There’s no other place like it …
Contact information for The Urban Farm
