Growing with the
Garden:
Summer Campers Dig into Service-Learning
By Angela McGregor
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Growing with the
Garden:
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From June to August, the grounds at Orchard School, which include seven gardens, natural woodland play spaces, wetlands, and fruit trees, were beautifully maintained with the help of over 50 summer campers, ages 5-12. Students involved with School’s Out Summer Camp, which draws from all three South Burlington elementary schools, and our Recreation Playground Camp, spent time and energy during their summer mornings working, playing, and creating in the natural and cultivated spaces at the school. From weeding to researching insects, composting, planting, harvesting, and making garden fresh snacks to share, summer campers took responsibility for garden-related stewardship, big and small.
Nurturing this sense of wonder, responsibility, and place is priority to a group of parents and teachers who have formed SLIMY, which stands for Sustainable Living Initiatives Motivating Youth. Now entering its third year as a committee of the Orchard School PTO, SLIMY works to “foster appreciation for the critical relationship between natural, social, and economic systems,” while supporting “lifelong learning that will develop understanding, skills, values, and behaviors consistent with sustainable living practices.” These efforts translate into hands-on experiential learning for students through interdisciplinary projects such as school-wide composting, themed gardens and indoor grow labs that tie directly into the curriculum, including special nutrition and science-based research projects.
To support these sustainability initiatives, SLIMY raises over $4,000 each year from two community tag sales, while also receiving grants, donations, and consultation from community businesses and national organizations. A portion of these resources is used to hire a seasonal intern to oversee the gardens and work directly with summer campers and counselors on a daily basis. Together with SLIMY intern, Angela McGregor, campers planted over 25 different kinds of vegetables—including eight varieties of beans and peas and four varieties of potatoes—herbs, and edible flowers. Within these diverse gardens campers are empowered to explore new tastes, colors, textures, and learn to work with nature through organic gardening methods such as companion planting and mulching.
Nestled within the big ideas of sustainability and stewardship, are innumerable lessons and skill building opportunities, including cycles and seasons, math and measurement, interdependence, teamwork, critical thinking, and an appreciation for our natural resources. But if you ask first grader Shanise why she enjoys gardening, she says “Because you can eat stuff.” Makayla, also a first grader, agrees and adds that her favorite garden snack is tomatoes because “some are juicy. Not only that, some are sour and I like sour and juicy stuff.” Other campers say gardening is fun because they get to be outside and are even encouraged to get dirty. Some are making the connection between gardening and nutrition. “It’s good to plant foods and some plants can give you health,” explains third grader Tiana. Third grader Maria summarizes her garden experience with the lesson she claims to be the most valuable one of all: “Eat more fruits and vegetables!”
With the conclusion of summer camp and the start of a new school year, the grounds at Orchard School will continue to reflect the work and creativity of students, alongside teachers and parents. The fall will bring a final harvest, seed saving, and putting the gardens to bed until next spring, when planning and planting will continue the cycle once again. In the meantime, the winter months involve supporting teachers with life science investigations, planning to determine if we have the support to expand vegetable gardens, background researching the feasibility of a green house for our future, and entrepreneurial opportunities for students. These plans for the future are the building blocks for growing food on a larger scale for consumption by the school community and local food shelves. Furthermore, our SLIMY committee hopes to communicate our experiences with other schools and organizations seeking to practice sustainability. Strengthening and deepening our community’s connections to, and appreciation of the natural world has many benefits.
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If you have questions or would like more information about Orchard School’s PTO SLIMY Committee, please contact Connie Keetle at 864-5887.
Page created by SLIMY member M.J. Reale and Orchard Library/Media Specialist Donna Macdonald.
This page last updated: 08/27/05.