Gardening Summer Camp 2008
FHC is blessed this year with a very busy Summer Gardening Camp for youth from Edna Martin Center, and Fervent Care Child Care and Christian Academy. The Gardening camp was made possible by Ginny Roberts, director of educational initiatives/urban garden for Purdue Extension/Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Lilly Endowment Summer Youth Program fund, Eli Lilly Science Education outreach, Eli Lilly and Co. Volunteers, The Crossing, Redeemer Presbyterian daughter church, Major Tool and Equipment Inc. and individual supporters who are making a difference in the lives of these children. May God continue to bless and guide all of you who opened your hearts and hands by saying yes to our request to help. We thank you for allowing us to be the vessel to channel your blessings to these children.
It started in May, with Ginny by providing the top soil, seeds and training for our volunteers. Ginny, not only provided us with gardening needs, she also provided her time working with the youth every Monday. She provided hands on fun and engaging activities like making benches and bird houses. On our Summer Learning Day, July 10th, she led each youth to plant flower in the garden and mark their names by them, planted flowers in their own planting pot and took it home and held watermelon seed spitting contest. We have captured all these fun filled activities for wonderful memory booklet and have some of them on the picture gallery for you to view. After Ginny paved the way, our volunteers took off working with the youth. A typical day at the gardening camp is described below.
On a bright sunny morning a gaggle of children between ages 6 - 11 swarm squash plants using their “detective skills” to discover why the plants on the south side of the garden are bigger and more robust than their neighbors just a few rows away. With a knowing smile on his face Stefan Thibodeaus, Biochemist volunteer from Eli Lilly and Co., encourages the kids to collaborate on their investigations. Make notes, look around, he says as he leads the conversation and asks opened questions guiding them to answers. It this sort of experiential learning that takes place at Felege Hiywot Center Gardening Camp, and this sort of experiential learning that makes the subjects of science, weather, environment, and nutrition fun for kids. Stephan leads the children in a discussion about the weather and the path of the sun, its direction and how it affects their plants. They are engaged learners and the hands on experience will solidify the material covered. The next task for the day is harvest. The children pick zucchini, beans, carrots and peppers. Stefan instructs, “Only pick the carrots that are too crowded so the rest will get “BIG” jumping up from a crouch to standing with outstretched arms. They wash the vegetables outside in a makeshift kitchen and watch as they are chopped and stir fried. The children anxiously await the healthy treasure discussing the need for hot sauce, salt and butter. It’s a simple feast but a feast non-the- less that they share happily with a glass of lemonade. The lesson does not end there because if the kids do not eat all their vegetables they throw the scraps into the compost pile. “What goes into the compost pile?” GREEN STUFF they shout back in unison - the answer is a well scripted response.
To see Indianapolis Star coverage of our Summer Gardening Camp, written by Julie Cope Saetre, who writes for Monday issue of “My Life Profiles”, click here.
We are looking forward to serving the 200 youth expected to attend our 2009 Summer Gardening Camp and we are working to make it a more fun filled and engaging camp. We are gearing up to raise funds, and one of the way we do that is by asking our supporters to help us financially. Whatever amount is in your heart to help towards the Summer Gardening camp activity will be very appreciated.
A check for a tax deductible amount can be written to FHC and mail to FHC 1648 Sheldon St. Indianapolis IN. 46218. Or click here to donate on line.
For more Summer Gardening Camp Pictures click here
