Join us at Sleeping Child Hot Springs for an Unforgettable Easter Weekend!
Don’t forget your swimsuit, towel, and comfortable indoor and outdoor clothes for a fun Easter weekend at Sleeping Child Hot Springs!
All proceeds from this Fun-Raiser will support the Youth Farm Internship program of Cultivating Connections Montana – teaching real world job skills in agriculture, value-added food processing, and community building to local teens.
We have seven great event options for you to celebrate and relax:
All events will include delicious, healthy, and locally-inspired and organic foods along with local coffee, teas, and huckleberry lemonade.
Why Support CCMT’s Youth Farm Internship Program?
The Cultivating Connections Farm-Classroom is located at Homestead Organics Farm, which was started in 1999 by Laura Garber. It began as an experiment in organic food growing, and over time the farm also developed a strong educational focus and began hosting workshops, classes, and youth at the farm. CCMT was born to house these programs, as we have shifted away from a transactional model into a relational one: one that prioritizes creating a space for everyone to learn, grow, and share.
All proceeds from this Fun-Raiser will go to supporting the employment of up to 10 Youth Farm Interns this upcoming 2023 farming season. Last season, we were able to engage 8 Youth Interns in over 2,000 hours of direct youth engagement. This included learning how to grow produce, interacting with and serving the community, exploring sustainability, preparing and sharing Montana grown food, and deeping their connection with themselves and each other. Not only do the youth we employ learn a wide variety of real-world job skills, but they also work to better themselves, our environment, and our community through their participation in our many different community building programs. In 2022 alone, our Youth Farm Interns participated in:
Mayday! Gardens – 30,000 seedlings were taken home and planted in the community in through the Mayday! Gardens program. These seedlings were given away for free or by donation.
Salads and Soups for Seniors – Over 2,000 servings of soups and salads using local ingredients were delivered to Meals on Wheels through our Salads for Seniors program, and six prototype gardens were planted in local seniors’ backyards by our Teenage Veggie Brigade, sponsored in part by AARP and Big Sky Restaurant Supply.
Farm Days – Two family-friendly farm days were hosted, giving community members time and space to explore the farm, engage with employees, and eat local food. We also held three fun-raising events including the Feast in the Field & Easter at Sleeping Child Hot Springs.
Classroom School Visits – Over 400 school kids visited the farm to learn and explore – guided by our Youth Interns and staff.
Special Abilities Camp – There were three days of Special Abilities Camp, in collaboration with HEARTism, where Youth Farm Interns were buddies to children on the Autism spectrum. They all enjoyed paddling around in the pond, planting seeds, sharing healthy snacks, creating art, and feeding the animals.
Farmers’ Markets – Interns consistently offered produce by donation, games, and interaction at the Farmers’ Markets in Hamilton & Darby.
Thank you for supporting the 2022 farming season and the ten Youth Farm Interns we hope to employ this next year to grow food and community! This is our main fundraiser for the Youth Farm Internship program and we appreciate your support of our innovative and impactful program.