We are very excited to be supporting youth development by offering, for the very first time this summer, two junior staff positions. Junior staff learn to lead sustainable farming, and nutritious food preparation activities. They work with campers on the self-care that also supports healthy ecosystems, economies, and communities. We are preparing youth for well paying jobs in our community.
Thanks to some great generosity and with your help we will be able to pay these youth for their hard work. Please help us make our $5000 matching grant. Every new donor’s contribution will be matched. We are so grateful for every contribution of any amount.
We need your help to fund these important positions. Contributions from new donors will be matched 1:1!
Junior staff receive paid summer job training. This enables the youth, who are former LIT’s or graduates of the Food What?! Program, to move into meaningful work while school is out of session. Junior Staff and LIT’s learn leadership and job skills in a supportive environment where they are challenged to take responsibility. In working with younger campers, the teens go back to school in the fall better prepared socially and academically, with work experience, greater awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth, and the skills to make healthy food choices.
At Farm Discovery summer camps, Junior Staff and LIT’s have the opportunity to grow real food, outside, with their own hands — alongside younger campers who thrive from their support. They further develop skills learned during their year in the Food What?! partnership by teaching campers to care for laying hens, milking goats and a dairy cow. They take raw ingredients from the fields to the kitchen, where they facilitate food preparation and preservation skills. Junior Staff hone healthy habits to share with their families and the skills to maintain such habits after camp is done.
Farm Discovery is able to offer these empowering positions for teens in part due to a matching grant from a local family foundation. Contributions from new donors will be matched 1:1 up to $5000 www.liveearthfarm.net/springfunddrive/
Spots are still available for Farm Discovery’s seventh summer camp season. Many activities are planned; all take place on the working farm and incorporate materials from 150 acres of organic fruits and vegetables. Past sessions have included making cheese, felting with wool, making take-home pickles and harvesting ingredients to assemble, then eat, delicious, farm-fresh salads. Campers also have opportunities to interact with our animals—including chickens and Bella, our milking cow—and even do animal chores like milking goats.
Summer 2016 sessions
June 13-17, Art on the Farm Camp – 9am-3pm – optional overnight on Thursday
June 20-24, Farm to Table Camp – 9am-3pm – optional overnight on Thursday
June 27-July 1, Sprouts Camp – 9am-noon – with OR without parent
July 11-15, Art on the Farm Camp – 9am-3pm – optional overnight on Thursday
July 18-22, Farm to Table Camp – 9am-3pm – optional overnight on Thursday
Sprouts Camp is for 3-6 year olds. All other camps are for 6-13 year olds. They are limited to 25 kids each to ensure a positive experience. A Leaders in Training program for teens, ages 14+ runs for each of the 5 weeks of camp.
