Cooperative Extension 4-H Blueberry Cove Camp featured in St. George Dragon

An article in the The St. George Dragon featured Blueberry Cove Camp, part of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H program, which is taking initiative to involve youth in food systems education. The camp, located in Tenants Harbor and running from the end of June through most of August, gives children all the traditional fun activities of a summer camp in Maine, plus the opportunity to help with the gardens and raise livestock to produce food for the camp, The St. George Dragon reported. Campers help weed, water and harvest produce, and then are able to eat the fruits of their labor. Since the growing season extends beyond the camp season, plans are in place to continue the community aspect of the camp’s efforts, according to the article. “So our big dream is to become a year-round environmental learning center, a resource and asset to this and other Maine communities,” said Ryan LeShane, the camp’s director. The camp plans to winterize its dining hall, and renovate an adjacent building that will serve as a science center and leadership training center, where technology will be used to connect with UMaine directly to share resources, LeShane told The St. George Dragon.