In a world where technology consumes so much of our time, it is more important than ever to provide opportunities and tools for children to explore and connect with nature. The Woodford County Extension Agent for Horticulture along with the Woodford County Extension Master Gardeners coordinated with the Woodford County 4-H agent to provide a 4-H Plant Camp for youth. The camp was open to any youth interested in learning about gardening.

The idea behind the camp was to give children a basic appreciation for agriculture and horticulture. Many kids do not understand where their food comes from, and the camp provided an opportunity to learn and explore these topics in a hands-on environment.  The topics covered included entomology, vegetable gardening, terrariums, soil, plant parts, pollinators, composting and more.

There was a total of 13 youth participants in the camp. It was offered for two days, and all activities were hands-on indoors and outdoors. They took home several projects including a vegetable bucket garden and terrarium, which require care and maintenance at home. These projects can also be entered into the State Fair.  Participants engaged in all activities with 85% stating that they learned something new and plan to use the information at home.