Since 1978, Apple Ridge Farm has been providing environmental education, summer camp experiences, and afterschool programs for more than 80,000 youth, many from Roanoke’s inner-city neighborhoods and public housing projects. Our founder, visionary and educator Peter Allen Lewis, believed strongly that all adults must take responsibility for helping young people succeed. Matching dreams to deeds, the Lewis Family purchased the 96 acre Copper Hill farm in 1975 in order to establish a mountain camp to give underserved children an educational experience at a rural retreat. Three years later, the non-profit, tax-exempt camp was organized. In 1992, Lewis and his family donated a barn and 8.5 acres of their farm for the camp. In 2016, Apple Ridge Farm purchased 66 more acres from the Lewis Family. The wooded areas and country spaces are magical places for urban youth and adults as well. Our programs also teach self-esteem and positive values, guiding scores of young campers in their personal and academic growth.