There is a certain magic that happens at summer camp. It comes in the form of a perfectly roasted marshmallow while laughing with new friends around a campfire or when a group sits on top of a mountain peak to watch the sunset. There is magic in watching a camper taste the first bite of a meal they have cooked from scratch or when a camper watches the rocket they built soar through the sky. There is something special about camp when young people are given the opportunity to learn and grow outdoors. According to the American Camping Association, camp is “valuable in helping children mature socially, emotionally, intellectually, morally and physically”. Bottom line, camp is good for kids – the magic awaits!

Each summer Pima County Cooperative Extension's Tucson Village Farm offers a wide variety of camps. Experiences include exploring gardens, building rockets, hiking to the tops of mountain peaks, and swimming in lakes. While all of these educational activities are great, the overarching goal is that young people learn to set goals, enhance their problem-solving skills, gain knowledge on a variety of subjects and develop their self-confidence in a way that helps them transform into competent, caring adults. This year, we are excited to share that 4-H is offering Military Teen Adventure Camps in various states across the country, including Arizona. We will be holding two week-long sessions in Tucson and one in Flagstaff. These are great opportunities for youth, ages 14-18, to experience adventure, learn, grow, and thrive!

- Sprouts Camp (ages 5-6), and First Farmers Camps (ages 6-9), sessions start June 1

- 4-H Adventure Camp (ages 9-14), starts June 14

- Culinary Camp (ages 10-13), sessions start June 28

- Outdoor Leadership Camp (ages 12-16), sessions start June 7

Did you know that 90% of a child’s brain is developed by the age of 5? Children are sponges, soaking up sensory experiences in their surrounding environment, and parents play a critical role in providing reliable patterns and a safe place for their children to grow. Parents and caregivers are key to creating environments that set children up for success and maximize this critical early childhood development time. When children are in a loving and safe environment, children have healthy stress levels and a well-functioning limbic system, which is the emotional center of the brain. These children are easily able to access their prefrontal cortex where creativity and critical thinking thrive. However, when children are exposed to extreme negative emotions or dangerous circumstances, their brain stem and limbic system are flooded with stimuli that prevent access to higher-level thinking. This also happens to us as adults. For example, during moments of high emotion, such as an argument, we may find ourselves unable to find constructive words.

The PCCE Family Engagement Program works on these issues and our classes share strategies to promote child brain development and to use discipline for teaching rather than punishment.

One of the coolest things about working for the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension is the ability to create experiential learning. Building a hands-on gardening experience is what inspired former horticulture agent George Brookbank to start a community garden in 1989. George worked with residents in the Limberlost neighborhood near the campus farm to turn a vacant lot into a gardening education site. In 1995 George (and volunteers from the Master Gardener program; founded in 1986) turned this project into the 501(c)3 non-profit known today as Community Gardens of Tucson (CGT). Over the past thirty years, CGT’s presence has grown to include 21 gardens and more than 300 members. Plots are typically 3 x 20 feet and members pay a plot fee to cover water, tools, and other supplies. To ensure that all Tucsonans have an opportunity to engage in gardening, CGT offers many types of scholarships and financial assistance. The experiential learning project that George started three decades ago is still going strong and Community Gardens of Tucson is still helping Tucsonans gain new skills and to grow their own food.

PCCE brings the joy of gardening to Pima County residents through seed-to-table programming at the Garden Kitchen, by empowering youth to grow and cook their own food at Tucson Village Farm, and by example at the Master Gardener display gardens located in Tucson and Green Valley. Get your hands dirty and help make all of Tucson a greener and more food secure connected community.

A delicious new salad is a great way to liven up a meal or be the centerpiece of a gathering. Enjoy this hearty and refreshing treat from our Garden Kitchen and Community Nutrition Education programs.

Ingredients: 1 can black beans (drained); 1 can garbanzo beans (drained); 1 tomato (diced); ½ - 1 cucumber (diced); ½ cup red onion (diced); 1 cup corn or whole can (drained); ¼ cup or 5 sprigs, cilantro; chopped avocado (optional); 1 cup quinoa (cooked)

Dressing: 1 Tbsp white vinegar; 1/3 cup olive oil; 1 Tbsp mayonnaise; ¼ tsp ground cumin; salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Boil 1 cup Quinoa with 2 cups water with a touch of salt for 15 minutes. The water will evaporate or be absorbed kind of like stuffing. Fluff with a fork and let cool. In the meantime, clean the tops of the cans, put the rinsed black beans, rinsed garbanzo beans, washed and diced tomato, cucumber, and avocado (optional) into a serving bowl. Wash, dry, and chop the cilantro well and add to the bowl (you may want a lot or a little it is up to you). Put your dressing ingredients into a separate mixing bowl, whisk together and let stand. Once your quinoa is cooled add to your bean and veggie mixture. Top with your freshly made dressing and mix. Enjoy!