Bank Hall campers turn to hydroponics to grow food, community skills

Teen campers at the Bank Hall Church of the Nazarene summer camp are getting hands-on experience in hydroponic farming as they build an agricultural station they hope to take into surrounding communities after the camp ends.

The project, being carried out by campers between ages 10 and 15, is part of the six-week programme being held at the church from July 13 to August 21. The camp is being conducted in partnership with the Division of Youth Affairs.

First-time camp director Donna Cadogan said the hydroponics project fits with this year’s theme, “Each One Reach One”, which encourages campers to “be their brother’s keeper”.  

The campers have already begun planting, although Cadogan said the project experienced a setback and the complete system was still being installed.

For Cadogan, the project is about more than teaching the children how to grow crops but about how “to feed themselves”. She noted that hydroponics is a more contained method of growing food without the same level of daily watering required by traditional farming.

“To set it up right, it will water itself,” she said.

The experience can help campers develop skills that they can use beyond the summer programme, including “stability and how to help themselves”, Cadogan said.

The hydroponics project is one of several activities being used to keep the campers engaged during the summer camp. It caters to children from four to 15 years old and has about 15 counsellors assisting with activities.

While working on their agricultural project, the teenage groups also participated in a joint session with representatives of the FLITE financial literacy programme.

Amid the prevalence of violence among youth, the camp also aims to help children develop the ability to manage conflict and think before reacting, said Cadogan.

“We try hard to teach them not to fight each other, but to work together to get their projects and stuff and things like that done,” she said. “It’s church-oriented so I think the parents feel safer having their children come to this camp… the principles of what we would stand on as Christians… the parents see us as protectors.”

With years of experience as a counsellor and assistant camp director, she said the lessons are intended to remain with the children after the six-week programme.

“I would hope that we have that impact on them that they would see life different… We try to teach them to be more calming, to be calmer, and to look at things differently and don’t react so quick to situations.”

(LE)