JULY 2017 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC
Summer camps foster farm focus for kids
by RONDA PAYNE LANGLEY – Farmers are
aging and heading into retirement with less young blood able to take up the torch. Families are uncertain about where their food truly comes from and who grows it. Neither of these issues are new, but a program from the Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) is working to help mitigate the uncertainties by inspiring and educating kids about farming.
The Ready. Set. Grow! Summer Farm Camps are in their second year and LEPS outreach and education co-ordinator Meg Jordan is excited to see kids aged four to 12 embrace the days full of fun learning. “We partner with Fraser
Common Farm Co-op and Laurica Farm to run this program,” she explains. “We walk all around both farms.” The camps run from July 17 to 21 and August 21 to 25. With the South Langley- based farms located side-by- side, drop-off and pick-up are at Fraser Common Farm for each of the five days.
More than simply looking at a farm, kids learn about farming and food as well as how farmers do their jobs and support others. It’s all designed to create an interest in farming and an understanding and appreciation of food. Educators from LEPS work with the farmers and their family members to share information with the kids. “They’ll get to see
chickens, ducks and pigs. They get to see different vegetables in different seasons of growth. They’ll get to weed and plant,” says Jordan. “They’ll learn about how the farms are part of a larger eco-system. We’ll not only talk about how the farm is part of a bigger eco-system but also the bio-diversity.” Farm Camps have run during spring break since 2015 then the summer break camps started in 2016. While kids were at Fraser Common’s orchard during this year’s spring camp, they made fairy forts and climbed apple trees. “Now, they’ll see small apples and really see where their food comes from,” Jordan. “They get to see how
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A summer camp program in Langley teaches kids where their food comes from. RONDA PAYNE PHOTO
hard [farmers] work on the farm as well as how fun it is.” Each of the five days of the camp has a theme based on what’s happening on the farm. It may be pollinators, predators, birds or other concepts. The themes are incorporated into games and
activities as well as an understanding of how each area of discussion is important for how the farm runs. Prior attendance isn’t
necessary to come to summer farm camp and farming experience ranges
from none to kids who live on farms. For more information
contact Meg Jordan at 604- 546-0338 or search 2017 Ready. Set. Grow! Summer Farm Camp on [
Eventbrite.ca] to purchase attendance for $190 per child.
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