Twin Spring Farm Day Camp was founded in 1945, by Beatrice H. Randal and Richard N. Hood. By 1947, their successful camp program had quickly outgrown its Blue Bell home, and settled into its current location in Ambler, Pennsylvania. After college graduation, Beatrice and Richard were married. Twin Spring Farm Day Camp continued, while from autumn to spring, Mrs. Hood pursued her educational profession, teaching at William Penn Charter School, and Mr. Hood joined his family business, Thomas B. Meehan Nursery, where the Fort Washington Industrial Park stands today.In 1952, when their eldest child was not accepted in school because she was too young, Mrs. Hood realized the great need for early development and socialization for children. Using her years of summer camp and teaching experience, Mrs. Hood constructed the foundation of early childhood education on which Twin Spring Farm Day School was built, and continues to thrive.
Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s, the facilities continued to expand to accommodate the growing school and camp enrollment, and Mr. Hood was able to join Mrs. Hood at Twin Spring Farm Day Camp and School full-time. The school received state accreditation and licensure in 1976, and as a result of continued parent requests to continue their children’s education at Twin Spring Farm, the school’s primary unit was founded in 1979.
New buildings continued to expand the educational facilities through the 1980’s, and in 1990 the physical education building and auditorium were added to the campus. The camp grounds continued to develop each year, as well. Tennis courts, buildings for the arts, a rock climbing wall, additional sports fields, a pedal car course, and an interactive water park sprouted up over the years, making Twin Spring Farm’s landscape one of the most varied and exciting day camp locations in the country.
As the school program grew to accommodate students up through the sixth grade, camp expanded offerings to include a young teen travel program, and a comprehensive Counselor in Leadership Training program for high school students. While holding to traditional values, Twin Spring Farm continues to incorporate the developing trends and technologies associated with state-of-the-art education and entertainment for children.
As the facilities and programs have grown, the Twin Spring Farm family has also grown to include two of Mr. and Mrs. Hood’s five children as full-time administrators, as well as summer participation from their other children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren!
After more than 60 years of day camp and over 50 years of day school, Twin Spring Farm continues to educate and entertain children from their formative years into adulthood. Along with families who are new to Twin Spring Farm, third-generation campers and students now arrive each year, to experience what their parents and grandparents remember as the foundation of their success, and roots of their fondest memories.
