The 10-acre animal sanctuary in Alpine, the nonprofit San Diego Animal Sanctuary & Farm, is welcoming the “dog days of summer” with a new summer program that started June 30 and last through Labor Day weekend where all gusts receive a free popsicle during their visit. In addition, the sanctuary, with more than 200 animals on site, is offering day camps from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and three-day and five-day experiences. These camp experiences are limited to three children at a time, 7-years and older, as they shadow experienced animal keepers and take part in activities such as feeding the tortoises, pigs, barnyard animals, walking with the goats, cleaning pens, picking vegetables in the garden and more.
To help parents, the sanctuary is launching a new Parent Corner space for parents to work remotely though the day while their kids are at camp. This area includes a cool and shady spot to work outside, free Wi-fi, and other accommodations. The sanctuary also has misters throughout the farm on its trails.
“One of the common misconceptions is that it’s unbearably hot at the farm; however, we’re in a special spot – we’re at 2,600-feet in the mountains of Alpine, so we actually get quite a bit of ocean breeze,” said Agnes Barrelet, founder and executive director for the Sanctuary & Farm in a press release. “One of my very favorite spots at the farm is our beautiful, and enormous, oak tree in the center of the farm, which provides so much shade, with lots of picnic tables. We also have a lot of other shady seating areas as well.”
The San Diego Animal Sanctuary and Farm is home to more than 200 domesticated livestock and exotic animals, from a bison to camels and zebras to a mélange of farm animals. Most of the animals were pets who lost their homes due to their previous owners’ illness, death, or financial difficulties. The Farm is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are no longer required. Guests can also feed orchard hay through or over the fence for $5/bucket and poultry feed for $2/cup. To buy tickets, visit www. sanctuaryandfarm.org.
For more information about the kids’ camps, visit www.sandiegoanimalsanctuaryandfarm.org/ childrens-camps.
