One-day youth gardening camp Thursday

Jul 7, 2015 2 min read

The Lee County 4-H Club and Lee Parks and Rec will team up Thursday to host a one-day camp for youths who want to develop green thumbs or make fine art out of what we grow.

A youth summer garden craft camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the North Fort Myers Community Park 4-H building behind the concession stand between the football fields.

The event is open to youths between ages 9 and 18 and membership in 4-H is not required. Campers should wear old clothing and shoes, since they will be getting messy in the dirt and concrete.

They will be learning about herbs, seeds and worms and will create their own herb garden (which can be entered into the Lee County Fair next year), seed tape, a pomander (oranges with cloves stuck in them to help the closet smell good), garden markers and a shoebox worm bin to take home with them.

Karen Harty, instructor and 4-H leader, said they will also create stepping stones out of Hyper tufa.

“It’s a blend of cement, peat moss and pearl white. They can decorate them and take them home to put into their garden,” Harty said. “For the herb garden, you don’t have to be a 4-H member to put them in the fair.”

Lee County 4-H agent Cathy Suggs said the camp is about teaching life skills and should be a lot of fun for the campers, especially those who aren’t in 4-H.

“You’re a 4-H member for the day. We learn as much when we teach as the students. The youth adult partnership is great,” Suggs said.

The cost is $10 and includes all supplies. Class size is limited to 20 and most have already been filled. Bring your own lunch, as it will not be provided.