Camp Teranga succeeds because of the collaboration among Arts Us, RCMG, the Children’s Garden in Residence program, and the Extension Food Nutrition Education program
8/06/2024
Arts Us is a long-standing St. Paul non-profit organization with the goal of teaching leadership to youth through an understanding of the African-American Diaspora. Ramsey County Master Gardeners have been partnering with the organization for many years to create a sustainable garden education program as part of Camp Teranga, Arts Us’ five-week summer camp for youth in grades K-6. This year’s recently concluded program was the most successful since prior to the pandemic. The success was largely due to Arts Us fulfilling its goal of enrolling fifty youth in the camp and to the collaboration among Arts Us, RCMG, the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Children’s Garden in Residence program, and the U of MN’s Food Nutrition Education program.
The youth were divided into three groups by age. On Tuesdays, the youngest and oldest groups participated in one-hour gardening programs led by RCMG Jamie Aussendorf and Nate Galloway with support from a number of other RCMG volunteers.
The first week focused on the youth planting a number of seedlings tied to the African-American heritage, some grown from seed and some obtained from Chidi Chidozie of the U of M’s African Garden. Subsequent weeks focused on pollinators, seeds and seed sprouting, plant parts we eat, planting microgreens of amaranth and mustard greens to take home, making nature rubbings, and harvesting mint to make mint lemonade.
During the time each group was outside in the garden, the other group was inside with Christine Navarro of the U of MN’s Food Nutrition Education program learning about healthy eating and making and enjoying a weekly snack under Christine’s guidance.
On Thursdays, the middle group joined Ramsey County Master Gardener and Arboretum Children’s Garden in Residence (CGR) Coordinator Marlys Daugherty in the garden for two hours engaging in garden education using the CGR curriculum and again assisted by Master Gardener volunteers. These sessions took place completely within the garden space and allowed each youth to have his/her own garden plot where they planted radish and bean seeds, marigolds, and kale or collard greens. During subsequent weeks, the youth would check the progress of their plants and, in the last week, harvest the radishes to enjoy on site or take home. Other sessions were devoted to plant parts, pollinators, and worms and other decomposers with each session concluding with the youth making a snack tied to that week’s theme.
The youth seemed to have a wonderful time while picking up the basics of garden education. Many of the activities allowed them to roam around the garden and it wasn’t uncommon to see some go their own way when they found something interesting. Ebony Coles of Arts Us observed that several of the camp’s attendees chose to spend their free time going back to the garden to check on their plots or just explore.
The participating Master Gardener volunteers also noted how much they enjoyed the camp and engaging with the youth. These invaluable volunteers included Aimee Schaeffer, Sue Higgins, Judie Ginter, Cathy Miller, Ann Wolfe, Mary McCarron, Tina Dombrowski and Roberta Delfun. Their enthusiasm was reflected in this statement from Aimee Schaeffer:
"After a busy end of the school year as a teacher, I felt unmotivated and tired. On my way to my first time as an Arts Us volunteer, I took the wrong exit and was frustrated that I was late and a bit annoyed. But, my mood improved and energy returned upon my entrance into the garden. Marlys, the instructor, was inspiring but the kids stole the show!
That morning recharged me and reminded me why I love being a volunteer. I adore the kids—watching them explore the garden, dive into learning with curiosity, and sample a variety of healthy garden foods (which they loved...who knew a bunch of kids would love radish greens!) brought me so much joy.
The work we do as Master Gardener volunteers offers kids the opportunity to live in harmony with the earth, respect our soils, and appreciate and eat healthy foods. We are helping to build a generation of youth that will protect the earth and spread the knowledge they are gaining in the program." —Aimee Schaeffer
The classroom for the camp was the wonderful garden space maintained by a number of industrious Master Gardener volunteers under the guidance of Karen Randall.
Another highlight of the camp was that the Arboretum treated all of the youth and Arts Us staff to a field trip to the Arboretum where the youth got to choose from a variety of fun activities, also with assistance from RCMG volunteers. The camp concluded with the Arboretum supplying all of the participants with custom T-shirts reflecting the camp name and the Arts Us/RCMG/Arboretum partnership, a wonderful reminder of the fun activities of the summer.
Ed Shinbach
RCMG Volunteer
Youth Projects Co-Lead