Maine Community Foundation awards funding for new conservation summer camp

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — For the past several years the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) has offered a Natural Resources and Agricultural Summer Camp to children ages 7-12. Starting this summer, the PCSWCD will be offering a Teen Conservation Camp for youth ages 13-18. With generous funding provided by the Maine Community Foundation’s Piscataquis County Fund, the PCSWCD will be offering this new full day, two-week summer camp so that we can provide continuous exciting learning opportunities for youth of all ages in the Piscataquis County region.

    The PCSWCD Summer Camp makes learning fun and gives youth opportunities to learn about agriculture and natural resources first-hand from farmers and natural resource professionals that provide lively presentations, unique demonstrations and engaging hands-on activities. Each day has a different theme to increase the youths’ knowledge about how productive farmland and forests, clean air and drinking water, are all important for a healthy natural ecosystem that benefits our community and the people who live in Piscataquis County.
    The camp schedule for children ages 7-12 is half day sessions from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. Week one is Natural Resources Week and runs from July 15-19. Week Two is Agriculture Week and runs from July 29 to Aug. 2. Registration forms for this camp were sent home via partnerships with local schools. There is an early signup rate for this summer camp for registrations postmarked by June 20. Pre-registration is required by Tuesday, July 9.
    The schedule for youth ages 13-18 is full day sessions from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Week One is Natural Resources Week and runs from Aug. 5-9. Week Two is Agriculture Week and runs from Aug. 12-16. Pre-registration is required by Tuesday, July 30.
    The integrated curriculum for the youth ages 13-18 will also include learning about the history of our region’s agricultural entrepreneurship and technological innovations, as well as sustainable agriculture. The youth will learn about plant and animal science, nutritional aspects of food, and how our local food and fiber are processed and moved to markets. Youth will also have an opportunity to explore our rich natural resource heritage by going on field trips to learn about the forest products industry, watersheds and water quality, renewable energy, wildlife species and their habitats that contribute to our region’s biodiversity, and other related conservation biology topics.
    In addition to the Maine Community Foundation grant for the Teen Conservation Camp, these camps are made possible due to support from the local community businesses and schools, the guest speakers who donate their time to put on presentations, and also the farm families that host our youth. For more information and for pre-registration, please contact the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District by e-mailing info@piscataquisswcd.org, calling 564-2321, extension 3, or stopping by the office at 42 Pine Crest Drive in Dover-Foxcroft.
    The Maine Community Foundation is a statewide nonprofit created by and for the people of Maine. The foundation is a philanthropic leader in building sustainable and vibrant communities for all Maine people. Maine Community Foundation grants cover the full range of nonprofit undertakings, with a special focus in the areas of education, community economic development, the environment, and civic engagement. The Community Building Grant Program, which includes the Piscataquis County Fund, seeks to support organizations and programs that recognize and build on a community’s strengths and assets. The Piscataquis County Fund was established in 1986 by area businesses and individuals to ensure that the county would have the local charitable resources to address community issues. Once a year, grants from the Piscataquis County Fund are awarded to nonprofits to support innovative projects. All grant decisions are made by local volunteers with strong connections to, and knowledge about, Maine communities.