4-H FARM CAMP ESSEX COUNTY 4-H URBAN YOUTH FARMING PROGRAM

Transcription

1 ESSEX COUNTY 4-H URBAN YOUTH FARMING PROGRAM 4-H FARM CAMP HELD AT THE MONTCLAIR HISTORICAL SOCIETY 108 ORANGE ROAD, MONTCLAIR NJ PHONE: (973) x JUNE & (AGES 1-5) AUGUST & (AGES 5-7) AUGUST & (AGES 6-13)

2 Nurturing the next generation of urban and community farmers 4-H Youth Urban Farming 2 The 4-H Urban Farmers Initiative Essex County 4-H is currently working with the towns of Montclair, Irvington and Newark to create sustainable community gardens and to empower the youth of our communities to grow organic food. Five lots are being cultivated this year, and veggies will be growing in all of them by summer! The 4-H youth farming initiative began in 2011 at a community garden located in Montclair on Miller Street. The objective of this project was to benefit the residents of Miller Street, and the community at large, by energizing and engaging youth and other residents to develop a green space that produces affordable organic vegetables for low, moderate and middle income residents. It was a huge success! Youth farmers grew nearly 500 pounds of locally grown produce that was donated to lower income residents of the Montclair community and sold at an affordable farm stand in Montclair. In 2012, the farm program expanded, and a partnership was developed with the Montclair Historical Society. This site houses the program s chicken coop and is the focus of many community programs. Vegetables grown by the youth this year will be sold at farm stands and donated to senior housing sites, local food programs, and faith-based organizations. The development of these two sites in Montclair by the 4-H has been an effort of Montclair Community Farms, a coalition which includes: Essex County 4-H, HOMECorp, Montclair Health Department, Montclair Historical Society, Montclair State University, TerraNoble Design, and United Way of Northern New Jersey. About the 4-H Youth Farm Camp The 4-H youth farm camp supports youth development by promoting a positive interest in nature and encouraging an awareness and interest in farming and agriculture. Our mission is to provide the best camp experience for your children, while also providing a beneficial learning experience focused on gardens and nutrition. Camp sessions are designed in three formats: the young child (ages 1-5); incoming kindergartners through incoming second graders (ages 5-7); and a one-day program for school-aged children (ages 6-13). All campers learn about farming and gardening in small groups, typically children, taught by a team of professional educators and college interns. Our campers have an opportunity to get out into the field each day and work in the garden, getting their hands dirty by pitching in with the farm chores and learning a new theme centered around the garden. The camp is designed to explore the farm-to-table connection through discussion, lessons, and experiential, hands-on activities. A variety of creative projects are planned for each week incorporating art, science and imagination, and of course the garden. In August, the tomatoes will be abundant and the crops will need harvesting. In the chicken coop, the hens will be busy laying eggs for campers to collect! Camp is held rain or shine as there is an indoor classroom available onsite in the event of poor weather. Registration begins May 1, 2013 Call (973) ext. 109 or essex4h@njaes.rutgers.edu for more registration information

3 Registration begins: May 1 st by phone: (973) ext. 109 ESSEX COUNTY 4-H FARM CAMP June Bugs and August Bees A description of the week-long camp programs: A DAY AT THE JUNE BUGS CAMP Designed for small children (1-5), camp sessions include adult/child classes as well as drop off childonly classes. Campers learn about farm life in small groups taught by professional educators and college interns. Our campers get their hands dirty in the garden every day. In addition to activities focused on a specific theme, every camp session involves plants, crafts, stories and games. Drop off camp is for ages 3 plus, and runs from Drop off campers must be able to use the bathroom on their own. Adult/child programs run 10-11:30 and children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: Adult/child - $16 p/class; Drop off full week- $150 and three-day option (M/W/F) $100 A DAY AT THE AUGUST BEES CAMP Our August Bees camp (ages 5-7) combines learning and fun in mini-courses about the world of gardening. Each day includes garden exploration, games, crafts and hands on fun. Campers will spend their entire day outside, and will get dirty so they should dress accordingly and bring a water bottle. The area will have shade, and water will be available at all times. Camp runs from 9-1, so all campers should bring a lunch and a drink. Cost: Full week - $170; Three-day option - $130 August and June &

4 4H FARM TO TABLE CAMP Registration Begins May 1, 2013 by phone at (973) ext.109 My Food Comes from the Dirt??! Ages 6-7; cost $50 Campers will begin the day assisting with the morning farm chores, and learning about the role of farms in their life. Children learn that there's more to eating healthy than just stocking up from the produce department at the local grocer. They will collect eggs from the hens, milk a goat, and begin to understand where food really comes from and begin to appreciate fresh healthy foods. Our farm-to-table activities are designed to help children experience the journey from planting seeds to delivery at the supermarket. Kids will get to taste some delicious produce as well. A one day program, 9:00-3:00 From the Farm to the Truck and Finally Food, Farming and Community Your Plate! Ages 11-13; cost $50 Ages 8-10; cost: $50 Campers will start the day with hands on Campers will begin the day with morning organic farming, so bring gloves and be farm chores and learn about the role ready to work! Campers will harvest the farms play in their lives. They will tend the crops, care the chickens and prepare crops, care for the chickens and learn how healthy, seasonal foods. In addition to to prepare farm-fresh food. Daily activities will include caring for and harvesting the vegetables, collecting eggs, and exploring the farm-to-table connection. Campers will follow their food from the field to their plate by picking peppers, onions and tomatoes and learning to make salsa! more in-depth farm chores, they will discuss food policy. Food is a worldwide commodity, and veggies in the grocery store could be grown locally or possibly across the globe. Campers discuss the benefits and drawbacks of access to world-wide markets. At the day s end, campers will cool off by making a variety of fresh and healthy smoothies using A one day program, 9:00-3:00 Offered August 22, 27 & 29. produce from the garden. A one-day program, 9:00-3:00 Offered August 23, 26 & 30. Offered August 21, 26 & 28. 4

5 AUGUST BEES Themes for Ages 5-7 CAMP TIME: 9:00-1:00. Campers bring their own lunch, snack provided. CAMP FEES: Full week - $170; Three day option - $130 Explore your senses in the garden and learn some history too! Hear, see, touch and taste your way around the garden center. We will learn how to identify herbs, tasting and your senses, explore the textures of the garden, and more. Historical guides will also explain how families lived in Montclair 200 years ago. They will explore the connections between farms and stores in the past and present day. Monday, August 19 How did that dirt get there? Explore the weather and water cycles, the life cycles of butterflies and plants, and the life cycle of trash. Learn about recycling and composting through fun games, and hands on activities and crafts. Discover the worms and other compost critters that live in dirt. Learn how to set up your own worm bin! Tuesday, August 20 Explore the magic of seeds! Learn about all the edible seeds, and the types of plants that they come from. Taste a few seeds, then plant and water some other types to take home and watch them grow into plants. Examine big and small seeds, seeds that explode and seeds that fly! Learn how to save seeds and design your own seed packet. Wednesday, August 21 Plant Power! All gardening, all the time! Pull out all the tools in the shed and learn about real gardening. Explore how everything in the garden works together by learning about what lives on the plants and in the soil. Use the tools to tend to the garden and get dirty! Topics include: seeds, flowers, trees, plants and people. Thursday, August 22 and 29 5

6 AUGUST BEES Themes for Ages 5-7 CAMP TIME: 9:00-1:00. Campers bring their own lunch, snack provided. CAMP FEES: Full week - $170; Three day option - $130 Paint Some Art and Pick Some Rainbows in the Garden Patch Not such a big fan of the dirt, but love rainbows? Well, get painting! Campers create artwork inspired by the leafy greens, the cute chicks, the bugs, birds, and all the activity at the farm! Craft projects are centered around the theme of gardening. Campers also learn how to plant their own rainbow flower patch at home endless inspiration to their canvases all summer long! Monday, August 26 Create your own container garden Be ready to get down and dirty! Start with a bucket of dirt and end up with a juicy tomato! What could be better? This class will take kids through all the steps of starting a container garden: from the seeds and the soil, to making the signs, and caring for their plants. Children will study seed germination and the process of a plant s growth to the fruit-bearing stage. Tuesday, August 27 I love my Veggies! Botany in a Bowl Kids will learn about how all parts of a plant can be eaten from the roots, to the leaves, to the flowers, stems and seeds! Then students will taste some of these plants and share their knowledge with a recipe book they create to remember the day. Wednesday, August 28 Camp cancellation policy: If you cancel two weeks prior to the camp session, there is a $50 cancellation fee. There is no refund if you cancel within two weeks of the camp start date. Chickens, Chickens, a backyard flock! So you think you would like to have your own backyard flock? This class will help you start from scratch to learn all the ins and outs of raising your very own flock of hens. We will go out to our chicken coop and learn about the coop, the food that the hens eat, egg collection and composting. Friday, August 23 and 30 6

7 JUNE BUGS Themes for Ages 1-5 Registration begins May 1, 2013 June & Call (973) ext. 109 or for more registration information Drop off camp: 9:00-12:00; ages 3-5, must be potty-trained. Fees: Drop Off Full week $150; Three day option $100 Adult/Child class: M-F, 10:00-11:30; ages 1-5 An adult must accompany the child during the adult/class Fees: $16 a class; $10 discount for 5 classes The same class theme is offered daily for both courses. Bugs, Birds, and Butterflies, oh my! Head out into the garden and investigate the bug life. Learn about the predators that hurt your garden, and the butterflies and bees that help pollinate. Explore what they eat in the garden, how they help a plant produce its fruits and how they spread seeds to other areas. Then play some games and make a giant scarecrow to keep the birds out of the garden! Mondays Smell, Touch and Taste the Garden! Discover all the wonders in a garden using your five senses! Ever notice the special smell certain plants have? How colorful a pumpkin can be? What about the sweet taste of a cherry tomato? We will go on a walk through the garden using all of our five senses and then make a special craft to take home. Tuesdays Painting in the Garden Patch Come paint and color the garden with us! Lets go outside and brighten up the garden with some colorful original artwork. Make some signs to help us identify our crops from the summer, and draw a portrait of our little chicks. Get your hands dirty with some paint! Wednesdays 7

8 JUNE BUGS Themes for Ages 1-5 Drop off camp: 9:00-12:00; ages 3-5, must be potty-trained. Fees: Full week $150; Three day option $100 Adult/Child class: M-F, 10:00-11:30 June & Fees: $16 a class; $10 discount for 5 classes Get Handy with Garden Tools! Learn tool safety and how to use a wide variety of hand tools safely in the garden. Go dig a big hole and spray the hose! Use tools to plant seeds and help in the garden. This class introduces children and parents to insects, flowers and the proper tool for the job. Thursdays Lil Sprouts and Chickenisms Come explore our chicken coop! Learn how to raise hens and help collect a few eggs with us. Talk about farm animals living in the city, working farm animals and make a fun craft to take home! Historical guides will also explain how families used to live in Montclair and explore the connections between farms, livestock and the development of stores 200 years ago. Fridays Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and County Boards of Chosen Freeholders.Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is an equal opportunity program provider and employer. Contact your local Extension Office for information regarding special needs or accommodations. Contact the State Extension Director's Office if you have concerns related to discrimination, CANCELLATION POLICY: If you cancel two weeks prior to the camp session, there is a $50 cancellation fee for drop off camp. There is no refund for drop off or adult/child if you cancel within two weeks of the camp or class start date. We offer discounts for families with multiple children participating. 8 Picture credit: Emmanuela Mujica