Welcome

Welcome Class of 2028!

Founded in 2003, Harvest is a Camp Yale program run by the Yale Sustainable Food Program (YSFP).  The program is for students excited about food, farming, and community. Harvest begins at the Yale Farm and disperses to 18 farms across the state for three days and nights. Groups of eight incoming first-years led by two dedicated upper-level Harvest-loving leaders spend a few days farming and camping on sustainably stewarded land across Connecticut. Participants experience all aspects of farm life, from harvesting produce to planting crops, to cooking and processing fresh produce. Afternoons and evenings you might find students cooling off in cold water, playing games, or sharing s’mores around a campfire. Harvest trips offer a great opportunity for students to enjoy the outdoors, learn about agriculture in Connecticut, and make a close group of friends before classes begin.

Harvest is designed to introduce students to the food and agriculture systems of Connecticut through embodied practice - no farming or camping experience is necessary. Most importantly, Harvest is for first-years to meet amazing people and have fun. Join us on Harvest and begin your Yale experience with lux et verduras!



In 2024, Harvest will begin the evening of Wednesday, August 21 and culminate on Sunday, August 25.

Harvest is run by the Yale Sustainable Food Program. For more information, please email the student coordinators at moobahs@gmail.com.

To see photos from previous trips and meet some of our student leaders, check out our Instagram and Facebook page.

Current Yale Undegrads: Lead a Harvest Trip!

During Harvest, student leaders lead groups of eight incoming first-years to local farms for four days in August. Harvest’s mission is two-fold:
 
1) Ease incoming first-years’ transition to Yale. On Harvest trips, leaders build strong group unity, facilitate the formation of friendships, and ease incoming first-years’ transition to Yale.
 
2) Educate about sustainable agriculture in New England. Harvest trips and leader training aim to instill in both leaders and incoming first-years an interest in local and sustainable agriculture, an increased awareness of where our food comes from, and a relationship to and responsibility for Earth. Through the experience of working on farms and connecting with the people who grow our food, we hope to inspire students to consider issues of food and sustainability in their studies and everyday lives.
 

Harvest leader applications are currently closed.

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Without leaders like you, Harvest would not be possible. Please carefully review program dates, then apply to lead a Harvest trip using the form below. Contact our student coordinators at moobahs@gmail.com with any questions or DM us on Instagram @yaleharvest.

[applications are now closed for 2024]

February 11: Leader applications due
February 18 – March 1: Leader interviews
March 8: Offers made to prospective leaders
March 26: Deadline to accept/decline offers
May 9 – 11: May Training (highly encouraged, especially for new leaders)
August 14: Harvest leader early move-in date
August 15 – 21: August Training (mandatory)
August 21 – 25: Harvest!