Churn Butter, Meet Goats At Queens Farm Program For Kids

LITTLE NECK, QUEENS — Families in northeast Queens don't have to go far from home to experience something new during mid-winter break.

For the first time since 2020, the Queens County Farm Museum is bringing back its "makers staycation" from Feb. 23rd through 25th — a day-camp-like program where children (rather, "junior makers" ages five to 12) get to participate in an array of farm activities.

The theme of this year's program, "foraging, fibers, and food," will guide the activities, which include creating collages with naturally found materials, learning how sheep's wool is spun into yard, and making butter.

Children will also get to go on a tractor-drawn hayride, run around the farm for a scavenger hunt, and meet the farm's alpacas, sheep, goats, pigs, hens and cows as part of the program.

While it's different from classroom learning, the Queens Farm prides its programming on being STEM-focused (including elements of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), since children will get to create and explore on the farm.

The program runs two sessions per day from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 23rd, 24th, and 25th during the last days of NYC's mid-winter break.

Every session costs $35 per-child, and every child needs to be accompanied by an adult (whose ticket is free). This year's cost of registration includes a free gift in honor of the Queens Farm's 325th anniversary celebration, which marks the farms continual operation since 1697.

Interested families should sign up soon, since registration is required and space is limited, according to the farm.

Since the programming is mostly outdoors, the Queens Farm recommends dressing warmly and bringing a face mask to wear indoors (where it is required).

Also, per the city's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, everyone who wants to participate needs to show proof of vaccination and adults over the age of 18 need to show ID, too.

Find out more about the event and register here.