CARLISLE, Pa. — Penn State Master Gardeners are offering a Summer Garden Camp for youth ages 7 to 12 at the Penn State Extension office at 310 Allen Road in Carlisle. There will be five sessions, each held on Tuesday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon on the following dates — June 11, June 25, July 9, July 23 and Aug. 6.
Campers will learn about seeds, soil, composting, plants, pollination and the environment in structured sessions that include time for working in the garden, science activities, crafts, games, snacks, exploration and journaling, all under the careful supervision of Penn State Master Gardeners. Activities planned include learning about straw bale gardening, garden insects and wildlife habitat in the garden, making garden markers and butterfly puddler stations and preparing tasty treats from the garden. Each session will include tasks in the garden, such as planting, weeding, watering, mulching, scouting for pests and harvesting.
A variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers will be planted in the gardens. Campers will harvest produce from the gardens at each session to take home along with recipes and to donate to Project SHARE. Each camper will receive a Summer Garden Camp hat and a folder in which to record and keep weather data, observations and photographs. A mid-morning snack will be provided. Campers are encouraged to bring their own snack if they have special dietary requirements or specific food allergies.
Camp size is limited to 20 campers per session, and campers may register for one to five sessions. Registration is required by the Tuesday prior to the camp session (June 4, June 18, July 2, July 16 and July 30). The registration fee is $10 per session, with a discount offered for additional campers from the same family. Register online at https://extension.psu.edu/ and search ‘Youth Summer Garden Camp.’
— Penn State Extension, Cumberland County