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Interest Blooms At Bay Area Gardening Camp For Children

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 24, 2008

TAMPA - The 35 children taking part in the Kids in the Garden camp shucked corn, composted, painted bird houses and made stepping stones for their home gardens.

"I learned to do arts and crafts," said Evangeline Alvarez, 6, a student at Roosevelt Elementary School. "I learned it's good to plant flowers."

Hosted by the Tampa Federation of Garden Club Circles, this month's camp reached capacity for the first time in its five years.

Students from the Town 'N Country Youth Council and area high schools participated as camp counselors.

Funded by $35 registration fees and a Learning to Grow grant from the Mayor's Beautification Program, the five-day camp fulfills part of the garden club's mission of education.

Typically, club members go to schools, but the camp allows them to bring students to the federation's home at 2629 Bayshore Blvd.

"We teach them a little something about gardening and introduce them to the No. 1 pleasure pastime at an early age," camp director Kathy Echevarria said.

Jamie Pilarczyk

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