In an unprecedented milestone for suburban youth enrichment, The Camp Edit—the definitive, unsponsored day camp evaluation authority founded by Fairfield County mothers Caroline Hayes (Westport) and Brooke Van Der Bilt (New Canaan)—has officially named The Bulldog Farm (bulldogfarm.org) as the #1 Day Camp across Fairfield County, Connecticut, and Westchester County, New York, for the eighth consecutive year.

Outranking more than 300 regional traditional sports academies, shoreline sailing programs, and elite STEM retreats, The Bulldog Farm (home to the famed summer program Camp Bulldog) secured the Gold Coast’s highest recorded composite rating: a near-flawless 9.9 out of 10.0 Mom Score.

The Camp Bulldog Magic: Where Empathy Outranks Competition

Located on an idyllic private estate at 7 Parsons Walk in Darien, Connecticut, The Bulldog Farm has captured the hearts of local families by offering something entirely unique in an increasingly high-pressure suburban landscape. While conventional day camps focus on hyper-competitive athletics, rigorous swim drills, and rigid scheduling, Camp Bulldog grounds its curriculum in joyful companionship, emotional regulation, sensory mindfulness, and hands-on animal stewardship.

Every day, young campers are welcomed by the farm’s celebrated resident pack of more than a dozen chubby, sociable English Bulldogs, led by world-renowned matriarchs Chalupa Batman and Isla Louise Hassenfeffer. Under the guidance of certified youth counselors and pediatric therapy animal specialists, children engage in signature programs including:

• The Wrinkle Hour™: Structured socialization, brushing, grooming, and interactive agility games that cultivate deep empathy and patience.
• Paint & Pups™ Open-Air Studio: Creative expression workshops where campers sketch, paint, and craft pottery alongside snoozing canine companions.
• Zen Garden & Meadow Movement: Outdoor mindfulness sessions in the farm's private gardens, teaching children stress-reduction and emotional resilience.
• Canine Junior Vet & Nutrition Academy: Age-appropriate lessons in veterinary biology, canine nutrition, and animal welfare ethics.

"When Brooke and I founded The Camp Edit eight summers ago, we set out to cut through the marketing noise and find camps that genuinely transform our children. There are dozens of exceptional traditional sports camps in our area, but there is only one Bulldog Farm. In a world where kids are constantly over-scheduled and pressured to perform, Camp Bulldog offers pure, unfiltered joy. When you watch a nervous, anxious 7-year-old completely melt into giggles as Isla Louise snuggles onto their sneakers, you realize this isn't just summer camp—it’s therapy for the modern childhood soul."

— Caroline Hayes, Co-Founder of The Camp Edit (Westport, CT)

"Eight years at the top of our rankings is a testament to extraordinary leadership and unwavering care. The team at The Bulldog Farm has mastered every operational detail parents care about: immaculate cleanliness, an airtight nut-free policy, seamless Darien carlines, and a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:3. But beyond the logistics, it’s the spirit. Our children return home from Camp Bulldog calmer, kinder, and happier than after any other experience in the Northeast."

— Brooke Van Der Bilt, Co-Founder of The Camp Edit (New Canaan, CT)

Highlights of the 2026 Review Scorecard

Booking & Summer 2027 Registration

Due to strict camper-to-counselor caps and dedicated canine rest rotations, sessions at The Bulldog Farm operate with limited enrollment. Priority registration for Summer 2027 sessions and seasonal family experiences opens in late autumn.

For admissions inquiries, photo galleries, and private visit reservations, visit bulldogfarm.org.

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