2010 will be Longacre's 36th summer creating an amazing community with 72 teenagers and 21 staff.  Part of what fosters these strong communities, and sets us apart from other summer programs, is that within them teens and adults live, work and play together.  From cooking meals and feeding animals, to taking out the trash and harvesting vegetables, teens and adults in the community work hand-in-hand to do what needs to be done to support each other.

Another aspect of the Longacre program that helps build dynamic communities each summer is that participants choose what they want to do on a daily basis, and are free to tailor their summers as their interests shift and change, and their confidence and friendships  grow.  This free-choice model allows teens the flexibility and freedom throughout the summer to explore  their interests and themselves, and make lasting friendships. 

The freedom of choice, combined with responsibility to the community and the plethora of work projects that need to get done each summer, ensures teens a healthy balance of work and play each day.  They can work hard in the morning constructing a deck, and then relax at the pond with their friends in the afternoon.  They can challenge themselves by working with horses, and then go into town to do some community service.   All the while developing new skills, a deeper understanding of themselves, and lasting friendships.