PROGRAMS"I have known Karen Ann Shafer since the early 1970s -- she is an accomplished colleague who is respected throughout the arts and cultural fields. Aunt Karen's Farm is a bucolic environment, structured to serve individuals and groups who seek the time to examine issues and topics within a peaceful and supportive structure.
This unique resource is situated in the beautiful countryside of upstate New York, and is filled with comfortable amenities. The Farm is overseen by Karen and her staff who are generous and sensitive hosts, always keenly aware of an individual's need for solitude and a group's needs for participatory action."
Joseph V. Melillo Education
Arts
Red Metal Mailbox is a New York based theater company that creates investigative performance. Our work has been presented at The Chocolate Factory Theater, Dixon Place, P.S. 122's Homeroom, Dance Theater Workshop's 40 Forward, and Galapagos Art Space among other venues in NYC, as well as at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and the Metcalf Experimental Theater in Illinois.
Environment
The 70 acres provides a varied topography with highland views, wetlands and an abundance of wildlife. If you are especially watchful, you might see a baby fawn or hear the soulful sounds of a bull frog, looking for love! This is a perfect natural science laboratory, waiting for exploration.
The free range chickens have organized and made a strong statement for organic, sustainable farming practices with comfy roosts for healthier eggs. |
Theater students from the Fox Lane High School gathered for a Peer Leadership Training Program, to look back at the productions elements from the previous school year and to plan for the coming school year. The ten students and three faculty members are seen here with Aunt Karen. They voted the Farm #1.
" On two different occasions, I have had two totally different experiences at Aunt Karen’s Farm and they have been equally rewarding. My first time there was a working session with a group of teachers and theater artists who were defining a mission statement and outlining a strategic plan for a project they were working on. The home like environment added to the success of the work. The main room at Bird House was ample to house the 15 member group; while the breakout sessions found spaces on porches, living rooms, and in the fields. During breaks the 70 acres of walking trails gave opportunity for combining hiking and collegial interaction.
A year later I returned with my wife and 10-year old daughter. This time Bird House was a comfortable haven for just us! We spent time in Cooperstown, where we explored the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Farmer’s Museum and Fenimore Art Museum. We picnicked and swam at Gilbert Lake State Park, which was very clean & refreshing, and celebrated opening day at the Morris County Fair. We were lucky enough to be at Aunt Karen’s Farm during blueberry season and our morning walk out back through the trails yielded a healthy harvest. And in the evening we lit the campfire, watched the fireflies and ended our day with the perfect s’more. "
"We had an incredibly productive retreat at Aunt Karen's Farm. The setting is beautiful, quiet, and comfortable. It was the perfect place to focus our energy and begin development of our newest performance project, which will be presented in New York City in March, 2009. We got a lot of work done, and we had a great time!"
