We are creatures of habit. Thriving on routine, it’s easy to settle into one as a family. For our children, it’s school, homework, maybe a sport or other extracurricular activity, then bed and back at it again the next day. While routines can be beneficial, we forget that we also lose something in that routine. Rewards often become screen time. Rarely do we set aside time to get out in nature – and spending time interacting with animals on a farm is nearly unheard of in today’s urban environment. But carving out time to get out of your routine and having a farm experience with your family can reap dividends.
One of the most noticeable benefits of spending time with animals is how it lowers stress levels. Between school commitments and social pressure, stress levels are high for children. Research has shown that interacting with animals can help lower stress levels by reducing cortisol and increasing oxytocin, often referred to as the body’s ‘bonding hormone’. Animals are also a great way to help connect our kids to the natural world while also building emotional strength. Research published by the American Psychological Association and other organizations suggests that regular interaction with animals may help children develop empathy, emotional awareness, and social skills. Taking on tasks like grooming and feeding animals also builds confidence and teaches responsibility. It’s also a lot of fun – and a great way for families to create memories together.
That’s where experiences like The Cowabunga Camp make an impact. They offer opportunities to engage with animals in a farm setting, providing an educational experience in a fun way. “It brings a lot of confidence because our animals are very friendly. It brings them off iPads and computers and educates them. A farmer told me he was trucking a bunch of sheep across the US, and this family peeked in. They’re like, ‘Look at all the pigs’, and they were all sheep,” explained Hannah Davis, owner of The Cowabunga Camp, highlighting the knowledge lost as our society has become more urban.
The Cowabunga Camp was established as an opportunity to provide a more interactive farm experience after years of hosting farm photo shoots. “I’ve been doing photography for 10 years now. As much as I loved it, I wanted to give more of an experience for families, instead of just coming for a 30-minute photo shoot. They can bring their own cameras,” shared Davis. Hannah worked with her farm partners across the nation to bring The Cowabunga Camp to life.
There are several experiences offered at The Cowabunga Camp, but one of the most popular is The Shaggy Cow Lounge experience. It goes beyond the typical petting zoo, bringing both animals and people together in a cool boho lounge atmosphere. Tickets offer an hour in the lounge with a cup of feed to offer to the many animals wandering the space. “We have a shaggy style station, which has boho hats and ponchos that everyone can wear for photos. It’s a time where you can really engage and hang out with animals,” said Davis. While the animals are the star of the show, the photos capturing the experience are top-notch. “We have little selfie stations. Our staff is trained to get as many selfies of you as possible,” Davis added.
The lounge atmosphere and extra enhancements really set it apart from a typical farm experience. “Everything is set up to get the cutest pictures sitting on the chairs and with the umbrellas, and everything is really thought out,” shared Davis. Those at the lounge may get a surprise visit from an alpaca in a tuxedo making a pizza delivery or a passing goat dressed as a cowboy. “It’s just a little bit different because we cater more to helping people get as many cute pictures as possible.”
Those who want to enhance their experience can upgrade to a larger feed bucket with extra snacks for your new fluffy friends or even brushes and bows to interact with the animals in other ways. If an hour isn’t enough time to explore, you could also book a VIP cabana, offering your own private space and the entire afternoon to spend with the animals. Soon, several locations will also offer overnight camping opportunities. “We are having a ton more overnight stay opportunities popping up around the US. In Mayo, Florida, we will have a new crazy retro experience, a lot of vintage campers to stay in with chickens walking around,” offered Davis.
In a world of packed schedules, screens, and theme-park lines, setting aside an hour to slow down with shaggy cows and sun-drenched pastures may be exactly the reset families need. At The Shaggy Cow Lounge, kids trade iPads for bottle feeds and boho hats, parents trade to-do lists for belly laughs and selfies, and everyone walks away with a story that feels bigger than a typical Saturday. “I want them to feel like they went out of the country, feel like they went somewhere and did something unique,” said Davis. For many Tampa Bay families, that might just be the kind of core memory worth planning around.