Clapping Hands Farm Camps and Programs
Clapping Hands Farm, 3348 Alston Chapel Rd, Pittsboro, NC 27312
About
Clapping Hands Farm Camps and Programs offers activities such as outdoor sports, visual arts, performing arts, nature exploration, carpentry, role-playing, ukulele, quilting, tap dance, and writing and performing a musical. Campers may also work together to build a real shed as part of the program. Shoes are optional, tree climbing is encouraged, and campers spend the entire day outdoors with a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:5 or better.
• Ages: 2–18 years old
• Schedule: Meets weekly on Thursdays in the fall, winter, and spring
• Price: Clapping Hands Farm has a simple camp fee policy: No One Turned Away.
Clapping Hands Farm Camps and Programs offers programs for children from ages 2 to 18, families, and adults. The programs are led by working artists, craftspeople, and naturalists. Clapping Hands is run by Louise Kessel with her family and a network of artists, musicians, nature lovers, and educators. The mission of Clapping Hands Farm focuses on visual and performing arts, nature, and culture, featuring working artists and naturalists as lead teachers and an economically and culturally diverse community.
Clapping Hands Farm began its summer camp program in 2000 and added year-round fall–winter–spring workshops and classes in 2007. Between one-third and one-half of campers come on scholarship, and about half of campers come on scholarship every season. Early-bird discounts and scholarships are available, and in 2025 the program expects to give at least $50,000 in scholarship assistance. The program works with campers who are neurodivergent, have disabilities, or have experienced challenging life circumstances or trauma. Typically one-third or more of campers and at least half of staff are people of color.
Everyone at camp does chores every day, is part of a buddy group that checks in at the end of each day, and spends time giving thanks and offering appreciations. Many counselors grew up in the camp community, and many original campers are still involved as counselors, lead teachers, or parents bringing children of their own. The farm has become a community institution that supports children and families, and the program reports that it is still in touch with most of the campers who came in the very first year in 2000.
Parents, campers, and staff describe the program in many ways. One parent and teaching artist says, “Everything I hope my daughter will grow up to be is modeled by the people at Clapping Hands. They are diverse, creative, ambitious, fearless, smart, and full of love.” Another parent notes that “Louise does a great job of creating a safe place,” and that kids “leave knowing themselves better.” A camper and counselor says, “Camp to me is being a kid, getting dirtier than you ever planned, making friends for whom ‘friends’ isn’t a good enough word.” Another parent describes that “everybody gets love” at camp and calls this “a focused priority.” One teen counselor says, “You can learn anything in a week at Clapping Hands Farm!”
Last updated January 15, 2026.
• Ages: 2–18 years old
• Schedule: Meets weekly on Thursdays in the fall, winter, and spring
• Price: Clapping Hands Farm has a simple camp fee policy: No One Turned Away.
Clapping Hands Farm Camps and Programs offers programs for children from ages 2 to 18, families, and adults. The programs are led by working artists, craftspeople, and naturalists. Clapping Hands is run by Louise Kessel with her family and a network of artists, musicians, nature lovers, and educators. The mission of Clapping Hands Farm focuses on visual and performing arts, nature, and culture, featuring working artists and naturalists as lead teachers and an economically and culturally diverse community.
Clapping Hands Farm began its summer camp program in 2000 and added year-round fall–winter–spring workshops and classes in 2007. Between one-third and one-half of campers come on scholarship, and about half of campers come on scholarship every season. Early-bird discounts and scholarships are available, and in 2025 the program expects to give at least $50,000 in scholarship assistance. The program works with campers who are neurodivergent, have disabilities, or have experienced challenging life circumstances or trauma. Typically one-third or more of campers and at least half of staff are people of color.
Everyone at camp does chores every day, is part of a buddy group that checks in at the end of each day, and spends time giving thanks and offering appreciations. Many counselors grew up in the camp community, and many original campers are still involved as counselors, lead teachers, or parents bringing children of their own. The farm has become a community institution that supports children and families, and the program reports that it is still in touch with most of the campers who came in the very first year in 2000.
Parents, campers, and staff describe the program in many ways. One parent and teaching artist says, “Everything I hope my daughter will grow up to be is modeled by the people at Clapping Hands. They are diverse, creative, ambitious, fearless, smart, and full of love.” Another parent notes that “Louise does a great job of creating a safe place,” and that kids “leave knowing themselves better.” A camper and counselor says, “Camp to me is being a kid, getting dirtier than you ever planned, making friends for whom ‘friends’ isn’t a good enough word.” Another parent describes that “everybody gets love” at camp and calls this “a focused priority.” One teen counselor says, “You can learn anything in a week at Clapping Hands Farm!”
Last updated January 15, 2026.
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