Why Wardwell?
Most programs hand kids a schedule. At Wardwell, we hand them the whole farm and let them decide where the day takes them. Whether that’s climbing trees, picking lupine, gathering eggs from the coop, goat time, crafting in the studio, or catching frogs down by the trail. Nothing here is curated for you. Our days are built around unstructured time in the garden, the forest, and the barn, with just enough guidance to keep things safe and just enough freedom to take real risks, get a little messy, and figure out what you're drawn to on your own. It's this mix of wide-open space and quiet, hands-on care — for the animals, the land, and each other — that makes Wardwell different. Kids don't leave with a certificate. They leave a little more resourceful, a little braver, and pulled back into a community that keeps calling them home.
● About
● Our Mission & Philosophy
Our Principles
● Community Outreach
Wardwell's community life on Bainbridge began with a lasting friendship with Stephen's House.
Members gathered weekly throughout the year to share in the farm magic. Each season we work together to plant seeds, harvest veggies, sample home made kitchen garden snacks, snuggle chickens, feed the goats and craft together in the studio.
● Sustainability
Thanks to our friend, Rachel Knudson, and her beautifully creative career at Scrappy Art Lab, Wardwell has inherited the "Scrap Studio" on the farm. We gather in the studio around donated art supplies, repurposed items and friends and learn to strengthen a friendship with the environment and the natural world around you.
● Stewardship
Taking time to explore in the forest, work in the garden or tend to the goats, chickens and bees helps foster stewardship and general environmental awareness. We believe that sharing in all of that alongside our community brings a genuine feeling of connectedness rooted in nature.
● Agency
We emphasize exploration over polished results, helping campers see value in the work itself. There's no set path through a Wardwell day — a camper might spend an hour whittling by the fire, create a habitat for a cork gnome, wander off to check on the chickens, or simply sit with the goats while everyone else is off building a fort in the woods. Nothing here is curated for you. That freedom to choose, to roam, to try and fail and try again, is where the real growth happens.
Meet the Team
Erin Combs
Today, that vision lives on each summer, when a close-knit crew of working artists and educators gather in the woods to inspire and mentor a new generation. Together, they guide kids through hands-on discovery, bold ideas, and the kind of creativity that only happens when you’re outside, unplugged, and surrounded by people who believe in your spark.