{"id":33411,"date":"2025-11-13T21:28:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T21:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/33411\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T21:28:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T21:28:08","slug":"where-lehigh-valley-kids-learn-to-grow-build-and-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/33411\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Lehigh Valley kids learn to grow, build, and lead"},"content":{"rendered":"

BETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014 On an ordinary drive through North Bethlehem, it\u2019s easy to pass Camel\u2019s Hump farm<\/a> without a second glance. The gravel drive blends into the trees off Santee Mill Road, with no big sign, no billboard, no hint that beyond the bend lies 44 acres of open space filled with goats, gardens and the echoes of Bethlehem\u2019s past.<\/p>\n

But Camel\u2019s Hump is more than just a farm.<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren are really what got me here,\u201d said Victoria Bastidas, founder and director of Friends of Johnston, recalling how a group of neighborhood kids first led her to the property in 2008.<\/p>\n

\"camel'sVictoria Bastidas, founder and director of Friends of Johnston, at Camel\u2019s Hump Farm, Bethlehem, PA (Photo: Jai Smith \/ Lehigh Daily)<\/p>\n

Since then, the nonprofit has transformed the space into a hub for hands-on learning, from summer camps for kids with special needs to Stewardship Saturdays, where volunteers plant trees and restore wetlands.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost people do drive by because we don\u2019t have any signage,\u201d Bastidas said. \u201cThey have no idea there\u2019s a free nature education center that\u2019s open every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

What began as a patch of neglected land more than a decade ago is now a sanctuary for both people and wildlife \u2014 a place where families can come to walk, where college students trade laptops for shovels, and where children learn how to grow food and care for animals.<\/p>\n

\"camel'sGoats and a sheep roam freely at Camel\u2019s Hump Farm, Bethlehem, PA (Photo: Jai Smith \/ Lehigh Daily)<\/p>\n

A century ago, this land belonged to Archibald Johnston, Bethlehem\u2019s first mayor and the first president of Bethlehem Steel. When the property was at risk, Bastidas moved quickly to save it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was either going to become a strip mall or high-rise apartments,\u201d Bastidas said. \u201cWe formed a nonprofit overnight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, the Friends of Johnston manage the historic 3.5-acre farm and the surrounding space, using it as a living classroom where sustainability, community, and history meet.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are here to provide a space for the practical skills that may not have been taught to this generation,\u201d Bastidas said. \u201cThis includes being able to grow food for their families, learning how to fix things on your own, and more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"camel'sFriends of Johnston Community Garden at Camel\u2019s Hump Farm, Bethlehem, PA (Photo: Jai Smith \/ Lehigh Daily)<\/p>\n

Recently, the farm hosted a mock election to teach children about civic engagement. Bastidas explained that many schools don\u2019t provide enough practical lessons on government, so the farm brings it to life.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had kids, ages 5 through 13, talk about what a county executive is, our form of government, and what the county council is, and then we held an election,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Each child wrote a platform with three priorities and presented their ideas, while older children helped younger ones develop theirs. In the end, two co-executives, four council members, and two constituents were elected to mirror real-life government structures.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe children\u2019s promises ranged from planting flowers in the bee garden to wanting to help feed the poor,\u201d Bastidas said. \u201cThese children are truly aware of what is going on around them, and we work on projects that make sure they are recognized in that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"camel'sThe bee garden at Camel\u2019s Hump Farm, Bethlehem, PA (Photo: Jai Smith \/ Lehigh Daily)<\/p>\n

The farm\u2019s Stewardship Saturdays allow volunteers of all ages to contribute to larger-scale projects. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe work with local colleges, community members, even Northampton County Corrections on work-release projects,\u201d Bastidas said. \u201cPeople come together to plant trees, restore wetlands, and care for the animals. The projects may be big or small, but everyone leaves with their hands dirty and a sense of accomplishment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond hands-on projects, the farm also hosts seasonal events to bring the community together.<\/p>\n

The farm is planning a Thanks for Giving event after the holidays to celebrate the generosity of its volunteers and supporters.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to get musicians to come and perform,\u201d Bastidas said. \u201cWe\u2019ll also prepare a meal for everyone, and they can take it home with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bastidas said the farm is always seeking new volunteers.<\/p>\n

\"camel'sThe Enchanted Forest Arboretum at Camel\u2019s Hump Farm, Bethlehem, PA (Photo: Jai Smith \/ Lehigh Daily)<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we\u2019re looking for is your superpower,\u201d she said. \u201cSometimes people think that has to be something really big, and it doesn\u2019t. Your superpower can just be being a nice person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those interested in volunteering can sign up on the farm\u2019s website or email Bastidas at [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren in many regular daycares now are stuck in concrete walls, and they really don\u2019t get to be outside as much,\u201d Bastidas said. \u201cThe amount of engineering, physics \u2014 all things inspired by being outside \u2014 are things these kids don\u2019t get a chance to do. If you\u2019re constantly being told what to do, you lose creativity. Here, they get to experiment, explore and problem-solve.\u201d<\/p>\n

The farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free for anyone who stops by. Families can walk the trails, play on the nature-based playground, or visit the goats and chickens. Those who want to get more involved can rent a plot in the community garden or tend fruit trees in the orchard.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"BETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014 On an ordinary drive through North Bethlehem, it\u2019s easy to pass Camel\u2019s Hump farm without…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":33412,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[153,155,154],"class_list":["post-33411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem-headlines","tag-bethlehem-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33411"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33411\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}