My daughter picked up a flyer on the Local Food to Local Kids camp. Can you tell me more about it?

This is going to be an awesome experience for youth ages 12-14. The camp will give youth the opportunity to know other kids from across the county and gain a good understanding of how our local food is produced, marketed and prepared for consumption. It brings together the whole concept of “from our land to your hands.”

Each of the five days of the camp will focus on a different chamber of the food pyramid. Farm tours, lunch and nutrition education activities will coincide with the day’s food group. Guest speakers and local chefs will share their expertise.

The week will culminate in a dinner the kids will prepare using fresh, local ingredients. Each camper will be able to choose one hero in his or her life to invite to this feast. Following the meal, the youngsters will have an opportunity to share some of what they’ve learned during the week.

When and where is the camp?

The camp is July 8-12 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St. It will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday.

Who is sponsoring it?

The camp is co-sponsored by the Community Mercantile Co-op, the Community Mercantile Education Foundation and K-State Research and Extension-Douglas County. The camp is being funded in part by a U.S.D.A. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant that was awarded to the Community Mercantile Education Foundation in the fall of 2000.

The planning team includes Nancy O’Connor, project coordinator for Local Food to Local Kids and a nutrition educator at the Community Mercantile Co-op; Connie Detweiler, camp coordinator and Extension family nutrition program assistant for Douglas County; Hilary Kass, camp food coordinator and wellness educator, and myself. We will be assisted by several student interns and several community volunteers.

How much does the camp cost?

It costs $75 to participate in the week-long camp. A limited number of scholarships are available for those children who qualify for the free or reduced lunch program. These scholarships will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Enrollment is limited to the first 50 12- to 14-year-olds that pre-register. The registration deadline is June 14.

Did you say that the kids are going to tour local farms? Where are you going? Are parents responsible for transportation?

A major component of the camp will be to visit four local Douglas County farms: Pendleton’s Country Market and Farm, owned by John and Karen Pendleton, Lawrence; Wild Onion Farm, owned by Dan Nagengast and Lynn Byczynski, Lawrence; C-HO Dairy Farm Inc., owned by Chip and Jan Hornberger, Baldwin; and Clark’s Family Farm Pasture Raised Poultry, owned by Fred and Margaret Clark, Baldwin.

Parents or guardians are responsible for transporting the youths to and from the camp, if they are not able to walk or ride their bikes. The participants will be bussed as a group to the farms.

Who are the local chefs that are taking part in this camp?

They are Don Fortel of Wheatfields Bakery and CafPaige Vandegrift of the Culinary Center of Kansas; Sula Teller, former pastry chef for Prairie Fire; John Thompson of Free State Brewery; Tim Doering of the Community Mercantile Co-op; and Phil Minkin of Headstart.

Where can I pick up additional brochures?

To pick up brochures and for more information, stop by K-State Research and Extension-Douglas County, 2110 Harper St., or call 843-7058. Or stop by the Community Mercantile Co-op, 901 Iowa, or call 843-8544.

Susan Krumm is an Extension agent in family and consumer sciences with K-State Research and Extension-Douglas County, 2110 Harper St. She can be reached at 843-7058.