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McDowell Farm School

Plan Your Trip

  • Teachers! Everything you need to get started can be found right here! Reserve dates for your field trip with the Reservation Confirmation, search through the Teacher Planning Packet for program details, planning timelines, and forms needed to organize your trip. Finalize your class selections with the Program Contract.

Have planning questions? Contact our Program Coordinator: 205-387-1806ext. 105 or farmschool@campmcdowell.org.

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Parent Information

Hi Parents/Guardians,

We are so glad your student is joining us at McDowell Farm School (MFS)! Our staff is ready to make your students feel comfortable at camp while encouraging them to explore, discover, and try new things at the farm!

Below, you’ll find information for overnight trips about lodging, meals, medication, and packing. If you have any further questions, please reach out!

Email farmschool@campmcdowell.org or call 205-387-1806 ext. 105.

Lodging

Students stay in cabins with heating and air conditioning. There will be at least 1 adult in each cabin.

Each cabin sleeps up to 24 people, has individual showers and toilet stalls, and

has a designated storm shelter.

Towels and bedding are not provided in cabins, so please see the Packing List below for what to bring!

Meals

Kid-friendly meals are prepared and served by our talented food service staff and served family-style in the Doug dining hall. A salad bar is also offered at lunch and dinner.

Our kitchen is a nut-free facility.

Vegetarian and Gluten Free* dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice on the Health Form. *We can not ensure celiac-safe meals, as cross-contamination is possible.

If your student's dietary needs cannot be met by the above options, we recommend packing and labeling their meals(i.e. ”Tuesday Lunch”). We can refrigerate and microwave as needed. We don’t want food to be a stressor - we want your student to focus on having fun!

For more information, please contact farmschool@campmcdowell.org

Accessibility

All of our facilities (cabins, dining hall, etc.) are wheelchair accessible.

Farm classes can be tailored for accessibility needs, and we can plan for this if informed ahead of time on the Health Form. The farm area itself is relatively flat, and there are gravel/dirt roads connecting different areas of the farm. We grow crops both in-ground and in raised beds.

Student Safety

Farm Staff: We make every reasonable effort to ensure the health and safety of your students while they are here. All of our staff are CPR/First Aid certified and carry first aid kits.

Farm Nurse: Camp McDowell has two full time nurses that take great pride in the care of our students. The farm nurse is available 24/7 in the Health Hut (right next to the cabins) to administer medication and for any incidents that may occur. In the unlikely event that advanced medical care is required, Walker Baptist Medical Center is in Jasper, AL 15 miles away.

Health & Release Forms: The lead teacher from your school will send parents/guardians an online Health and Release Form to complete for your student (if the teacher has opted for a paper version, it will be sent home). All participants must have a completed Health and Release Form to attend. Please complete this form as soon as you receive it, so that we can plan accordingly.

Allergies: Student allergies and dietary needs will be shared with kitchen and farm staff on a need-to-know basis to ensure the safety of all our participants.

Bringing Medication to Camp

Administering Medication: Medication will be administered by the Farm Nurse. If you choose, it may also be administered by authorized school personnel or the student’s legal guardian (if on the trip as a chaperone).

Packing Medication: All medicines must be in their original containers with a Medication Packing Slip (below). Please remember that you must provide any over-the-counter medicines you anticipate your child may need. Please ONLY send the amount needed for the trip. More info below.

"We had an awesome three days and two nights at McDowell Farm School. The facilities are immaculate, the staff are so nice and really know their stuff and the entire trip was great. It was the best field trip ever!" - Becky Williams