Summer Day Camp at MCES 

The Mercer County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Assistant partnered with Mercer County Elementary School Summer Day Camp to teach a group of first and second graders about nutrition with My Plate. The youth learned that everything they eat comes from a plant or animal. Using the LEAP Program the Assistant read a story each day, asking the children questions about the story. Tops and Bottoms was one of the stories the youth were able to hear which taught them about growing their own vegetable garden and the physical activity needed to grow a garden. They got a better understanding of how plants grow as well as different parts of a plant. They got to eat different parts of the plants as well then determine what part of the plant they were eating. 

100% of the youth tried the different plants with 80% of the youth being correct on what part of the plant they were eating.  The youth could also identify ways that they can be physically active when working in the garden. Examples include using a shovel to dig, picking the plants, carrying the plants, weeding, and watering plants. The youth went home with nutrition information each day and recipes that they could use at home. Several of the youth stated they really enjoy this program over the summer wanted to know if the program assistant could come to their house to tell their parents.