January: Happy New Year!

FEATURE

Growing Forward- Hidden Villa 2024 Highlights

As we welcome 2025, we’re reflecting on a remarkable year of growth, learning, and community at Hidden Villa. In our centennial year, we deepened our commitment to environmental education and accessible outdoor experiences for all.

Our Environmental Education Programs reached 9,528 students across 215 schools, spanning 82 zip codes. Through farm tours, wilderness explorations, and youth development programs, we awarded over $56,000 in scholarships, ensuring nature-based education remains accessible to all Bay Area youth. 

Summer Camp celebrated another vibrant season, serving 710 campers from 130 different zip codes. Last year we provided nearly $230,000 in camp scholarships and introduced Watershed Wanderers, our new backpacking program focusing on watershed ecology for older campers.

Our centennial celebration brought the community together with Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s inspiring keynote and a delicious farm-to-table meal cooked by guest chefs Jesse Z. Cool and Bryan Thuerk. We broke records with Outstanding in the Field, having their longest dinner table to date. 

Thanks to generous supporters, we welcomed two new tractors to tend our land. Our commitment to food security continued through regular produce donations to Community Services Agency Mountain View and we returned to the Los Altos farmers market. We expanded our annual sheep shearing event with a new fiber arts and sustainable fashion exhibit.  

Thank you for being part of our journey as we enter our next century of environmental stewardship and education. We look forward to the opportunities the new year has in store.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Get Ready for Summer Camp 2025!

Have you heard? Summer Camp 2025 is going to be the best summer yet! Camp Registration starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 18! We would love to have your camper join us for the first time on the 13th!

What kind of programming do we offer?

• Day Camp for kiddos entering Kindergarten – 4th grade
• Overnight Camps for those entering 4th grade – 12th grade
  • 5 day and 12 day programs
• Teen Leadership Opportunities!
  • Backpacking Programs in the Santa Cruz Mountains for rising 9th – 12th graders
  • Leaders in Training (LIT) program for rising 11th Graders!
  • Counselors in Training (CIT) program for rising 12th Graders (2 PAID, one-week internships after the training session)!

Everyone! Especially those who like being outdoors, might get a thrill from hugging a goat, want to try a vegetable they’ve never tasted, enjoy getting to know new people from different backgrounds, want to learn about nature, and immerse themselves in the wonders of wilderness. Maybe this sounds new to your kiddo or maybe we are speaking their language- either way, our team is trained to meet each camper where they’re at and work to make them feel comfortable and safe. Camp is a great time to put down technology for a little and sink your toes in the cool creek water, sit in the shade and make a friendship bracelet or challenge yourself by trying something new like archery, backpacking or the high ropes course!

Can I afford to send my child to camp?

We have a robust Financial Aid program. Anyone who applies during or after registration is eligible to receive some amount of aid. Please do not let finances be a barrier to sending a loved one to camp. Spread the word far and wide because people sometimes think that Hidden Villa Camp is outside of their means and we know that Josephine Duveneck would not want that to be the case! 

ALSO! We are hiring! What’s camp without the incredible people who make it happen? Check out our openings HERE!

Any and all questions should be sent to [email protected]. Let’s have some fun!

Start the new year with fresh air and fresh perspectives! Join us for weekend adventures at Hidden Villa, where our engaging programs offer the perfect blend of discovery, outdoor fun, and community connection.

SPOTLIGHT: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AT HIDDEN VILLA

CENTENNIAL CORNER

COMMUNITY CORNER

Baby, it’s cold outside! Warm up with a cozy winter recipe from our CSA Manager, Lanette. She’s sharing her favorite dish featuring ingredients we grow right here at Hidden Villa. Get ready to bring some farm-fresh comfort to your kitchen.

Preheat over to 400. Peel the winter squash deeply so that all the skin is cleanly removed. Cut the squash in half and scape out the seeds and pulp. Slice the squash meat into large ‘rainbow shaped’ slices that are about 1/2 inch thick. In a large bowl, toss the squash with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 ½ teaspoons salt until well coated. Lay out the squash in a single layer onto oven trays and roast in the oven for 35 minutes or until tender and golden browned (on the underside). While the squash is roasting, prepare the tomato sauce. In a large skillet over medium heat sauté the tomatoes with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, garlic, vinegar, oregano, and rosemary. Stir regularly, stewing the tomatoes down into a thick and chunky sauce. This should take 30 minutes, Remove the squash from the oven. In a large casserole dish or cast iron pan spread a thin layer of tomato sauce on the bottom, next a thin layer of half the roasted squash pieces, and then a generous layer of tomato sauce but not more than half of what is left. Sprinkle half of the cheese on top and then repeat with another layer beginning with the other half of the squash, then sauce, and then the remainder of the cheese. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Voilà! Winter Squash Gratin!

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