Kieve-Wavus News Spring 2013 - Camp Kieve

FARMS 2013 Garden Enrichment Program for Kieve-WavusWe’re looking forward to another great growing season producing lots of fresh vegetables at bothcamps.FARMS (Focus on Agriculture in RuralMaine Schools) is very excited to returnto both Kieve and Wavus camps tocontinue the garden enrichmentprogram that was started in the 2012season. FARMS is a local non-profitorganization that connects classrooms,farms, cafeterias, and communitiesthrough hands-on educationalprograms. During the 2012 summer,Kieve and Wavus campers learned allabout maintaining a garden throughhands-on activities such as directseeding, transplanting, trellising,pruning, weeding, composting,pest-management, and harvesting.Simultaneously, the FARMS GardenProgram curriculum educates aboutthe environmental and health benefitsof organic gardening and supportinglocal agriculture. All produce wasdonated to the camp cafeterias and/or used in Taste Tests directly inthe gardens. The FARMS GardenProgram was a success thanks to thecollaboration, enthusiasm, and hardwork of many members of the Kieve-Wavus community including staff infood service, maintenance, education,leadership, administration, and ofcourse, campers!24An exciting addition to the 2013 Kieve-Wavus FARMS Garden Program is thecollaboration with The LeadershipSchool and Jefferson Village School(JVS). The Kieve garden program willkick-off this spring by incorporatingThe Leadership School studentsand staff into the planning anddevelopment of the garden for thefirst time. Students from all over thestate of Maine will be at Kieve learningeverything about starting a gardenthrough hands-on activities such assoil testing, seed starting, gardendesign, amending the soil, and directseeding. At Wavus, students fromJVS will assist in the planting of a fallgarden which summer campers willhelp maintain, and in the fall Wavuswill donate the produce to the FARMSFarm to School Program to be used inTaste Tests at JVS.The FARMS Garden Program is anatural fit for Kieve-Wavus. Gardensare a fun way to directly promote theeducational mission of Kieve-Wavus.Gardening activities build leadershipand teamwork skills by teachingresponsibility, cooperation, andpatience, and promote the values ofkindness, respect, and environmentalstewardship. We are all lookingforward to another fun and deliciousseason at Kieve-Wavus!Abby Plummer,FARMS Youth Gardens ProgramDirectorOur FARMS partnership has been very fruitful in developing our gardens and a great educationalprogram for students and campers.