July 18-20, 2023 the Robertson County 4-H/ANR Agent, Fleming County 4-H Agent, and Fleming County ANR Agent hosted the 3 days Plant Camp Youth Education Series.  The day camp focused on plant and pollinator education.  

DAY 1 

On the first day, youth participants ages 9-12 visited a cut flower farm where they learned about sustainable gardening, learned plant propagation through a hands-on activity with a Horticulture Specialist with Kentucky State University and learned about honey bees and were able to gain hands on experience of using a honey extractor machine.  The group was able to sample the honey they extracted. 90% of the kids polled enjoyed the honey extraction lesson, with 70% enjoying the taste of the honey.   

DAY 2

The second day focused on learning about trees and plants native to Kentucky by hiking at Blue Licks State Park as well as visiting a black berry farm where they learned about growing black berries and how a farm handles "you pick" options in their marketing strategies.  The group was able to pick their own pint of blackberries to take home with them.  100% of the kids polled tried a blackberry while at the blackberry farm.  20% of the kids had never tried a blackberry before attending the program.  91% of the kids liked the taste of blackberries.   55% of the kids shared their blackberries with family members when they got home.  

DAY 3

The third and final day of the camp was spent visiting a High Tunnel farm where they learned about growing vegetables as well as a surprise addition of sampling and learning about growing microgreens.  100% of the kids enjoyed the farm tour.  90% of the kids had never tried swiss chard prior to attending the program.  73% of the youth participants tried Swiss Chard at the high tunnel farm with 40% of the kids indicating that they liked the taste.  27% of the participants had tried microgreens prior to the program.  100% of the attendees sampled the microgreens during the program with 55% enjoying the taste, and 55% planning to use microgreens at home.  Attendees were also able to sample the high tunnel tomatoes.  64% of the attendees had eaten a tomato prior to attending the program with 45% of the attendees sampling the tomatoes at the high tunnel.  The day was wrapped up with learning about butterflies and plants that attract them, as well as building fairy gardens.  100% of the attendees enjoyed the lesson on monarch butterflies as well as the fairy garden activity.