A fun time at Grow Appalachia Gardening Camp

Hi, this is Marsha Sanders with Project Worth/Grow Appalachia in Menifee County KY. Last week (July 14-17), we had our annual Grow Appalachia Gardening Camp for the local children. We started out with about 10 kids. By the end of the camp we ended up with 28 participants. We had a staff of 3 Grow Appalachia Gardening Camp Counselors and 10 wonderful volunteers who helped make the camp a success. Everyone had a very good time. The children were fed lunch each day. We did many activities pertaining to gardening and nature. I want to tell you about our fun activities.

 

We did a lot of neat things on Monday. The kids started out by making jewelry. After that, Gail, the director of Project Worth, talked to them about growing things and nature. Then they made projects with natural clay. Gail told them it came from Mother Earth. Gail showed them some cotton from cotton plants in South Carolina. She explained that their clothes were made from it. The kids were allowed to make suckers out of white chocolate. We told them that the chocolate was made from coca trees. We made picture frames with trees on them. Alex took individual pictures of each child to put in them. They also made pet rocks. The participants had a really good time. Today’s lunch included chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, Little Debbie’s snack cakes and juice.

 

On Tuesday, we had several new kids. They started out by painting clay flower pots. Then they made a food collage. We discussed which food group the pictures were in. It turned out to be very pretty. The kids did well identifying the foods. They also made garden stones and did face painting. It was another good day! Today’s lunch included bologna, ham or turkey sandwich, chips, cupcakes and juice.

 

On Wednesday, we had even more participants. We played pin the leaf on the tree first. Then we went outside to look for gold coins that we had planted for them to find. It was called a treasure hunt. The two children that found the most coins won $3.00 Our main activity was to go out and look at all the gardens on the grounds and discuss what was being grown. We also looked at and talked about the greenhouses. They also made rain sticks. We discussed how plants needed rain to grow. They got to make tie dye shirts. We told them about natural dying from plants throughout history. They planted bean seeds in their pots and painted their clay projects. They loved all these activities. Today’s lunch included chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, cookies and juice.

 

Thursday was the last day of camp. We had even more participants. We ended up with about 25 kids. We finished tie dying their shirts and completed all their other projects. We “panned” for gold. They were told about prospectors in Western times. They got a prize for the panning. The grand finale was an open fire wiener roast with s’mores. They really loved this although, we had to be very careful around the fire. They had a good time. All in all, it was a wonderful week with our kids!! We want to thank all the great volunteers who helped make our camp so successful. We are already planning and looking forward to next year’s Grow Appalachia Gardening Camp.

 

Please view the Grow Appalachia Gardening Camp photos below. We hope everyone is enjoying the Grow Appalachia Gardening activities as much as we are this summer.  Happy gardening.

 

 

2014 Grow Appalachia Garden Camp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 Grow Appalachia Garden Campers  (9 not pictured)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 Grow Appalachia Garden Camp Counselors and Volunteers