A new program offered by Camp Couchiching this summer will pay off in more ways than one.
The Camp Couchiching Garden Group will meet every Wednesday, starting July 3, from 2 to 5 p.m. It will run until Aug. 21.
The group, which is free to join and is open to those aged 13 to 17, will meet at Camp Couchiching’s offices at the former Regent Park United Church on Oxford Street, where there is a community garden on site.
When Camp Couchiching moved into the new space, “we got some direction from the community on what they’d like to see,” said Ross McIntyre, director of community initiatives, who is organizing the garden club with special projects co-ordinator Emily Wilson.
The gardening program was among the suggestions, and McIntyre saw it as a great opportunity for local youth. A grant from the Community Foundation of Orillia and Area helped make it possible.
There will be three main focuses of the program. The first is farming/gardening.
“We want them to be able to learn food-growing skills,” McIntyre said.
The second is youth leadership.
“We want to incorporate that into this program by giving youth the opportunity to not only learn, but also teach other kids who are going to be part of the day camp,” he said.
The third focus is all about coming full circle.
“We want to be able to show them the full cycle of food production,” McIntyre said, noting the goal is to sell the produce at the Orillia Farmers’ Market later in the season.
Participants who stick with the program until the end will receive an honorarium.
While it is free to join, registration is required. It can be done by contacting Camp Couchiching at [email protected] or 705-325-3428.
Find out more on the organization’s Facebook page.
