Food Camp: Day 1

Welcome to the first day of Food Camp! We are so happy that your camper has decided to join us here at MSU Tollgate for the week and we can’t wait to learn about different kinds of food!

Family and friends can use this blog to stay up to date on the activities and lessons that takes place at camp. Photos will be posted everyday along with an explanation of what the campers have accomplished. This blog is a great tool for parents to use as a conversation starter at home. A crucial part of experiential learning is reflection and your involvement at home will solidify the lessons we’re teaching here at camp.

The campers are divided into four “pepper groups” that are each led by one Education Leader and a few teen Stewards. The Green Peppers are led by Ms. Mandy; the Yellow Peppers are led by Ms. Erika; the Orange Peppers are led by Ms. Nicole; and the Red Peppers are led by Ms. Jenny. Check out our 2015 Summer Staff page to learn more about our camp leaders!

Checking out a snail

Checking out a snail

We begin each day of camp with a flag ceremony and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and 4-H Pledge.

Because MSU Tollgate is a working farm, it’s important to keep up on chores and maintenance for everything to run smoothly. The campers are responsible for taking care of the farm animals each morning and part of that is giving the animals fresh food and water. There are ducks, chickens, dairy goats, cattle, a rabbit and a goose. Ask your camper what chores they did this morning! What was their favorite part?

Orange Peppers feeding Jackson and Duke.

Orange Peppers feeding Jackson and Duke.

Collecting the eggs!

Collecting the eggs!

Campers went on a hayride to introduce themselves and tour the farm. They also took a break from the hayride to do an activity called Birthday Harvest in Garden. Each camper was split into groups depending on their birthday month and then were sent into the garden to find vegetables that grew or were harvested during their birthday month. Each group created sticks and once they found their vegetable, they planted their sticks so they could remember to go back to them. Some of the vegetables mentioned were potatoes, peas and carrots. Ask your camper what vegetable matched their birthday month! Were they able to find the vegetable?

Two Green Peppers looking for vegetables that match their birthday month!

Two Green Peppers looking for vegetables that match their birthday month!

A few Yellow Peppers want to remember where they found their vegetable!

A few Yellow Peppers want to remember where they found their vegetable!

We also learned about the importance of washing hands in Garden Kitchen. We visited the garden so campers could pick broccoli and carrots. We also taste tested tomatoes, shredded zucchini and cleaned the carrots we picked!

Orange Peppers washing their hands before Garden Kitchen.

Orange Peppers washing their hands before Garden Kitchen.

Orange Peppers picking out broccoli.

Orange Peppers picking out broccoli.

Red Peppers working as a team to pull up carrots!

Red Peppers working as a team to pull up carrots!

 

Yellow Peppers making Spider Oat Bites.

Yellow Peppers making Spider Oat Bites.

Each week we work on a unique STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) project that is focused on the week’s theme. Today, campers made Cocoa Dough and each camper had the chance to add an ingredient into the mix. Ask your camper what ingredient they put in and how much!

Red Peppers mixing ingredients for their STEM project.

Red Peppers mixing ingredients for their STEM project.

Orange Peppers

Orange Peppers

The first day of Food Camp was a blast and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the week holds! Thank you for sharing your camper with us!


Spider Oat Bites

1 cup oatmeal (dry)
2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes (optional)
½ cup sunbutter
½ cup wheat bran
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 cup chocolate chips

Directions
1. Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed.
2. Cover and let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour
3. Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like (mine were about 1’’ in diameter)
4. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week
5. Make about 20-25 oat balls.

This entry was posted in Camp Blog, Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.