Rochester Garden Club Funds Science Camp Scholarships

Thanks to scholarships provided by the Rochester Garden Club, four Rochester Community Schools students had an amazing, outdoor hands-on learning experience this past summer. Louis Bowes (West Middle School), Madeline Crane and Primo Motyka (Rochester High School), and Mo Murray (Van Hoosen Middle School) enjoyed a week of environmental science activities at the 4-H Great Lakes and Natural Resources Camp.

Nestled between the shores of Lake Huron and Lake Esau in Presque Isle, the camp is hosted by the Michigan 4-H, in conjunction with the MSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, NOAA Marine Archeology, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, among others. While at camp, students hike trails, kayak and sail on Lake Huron, and wade in wetlands. They evaluate water quality, study the negative effects of invasive plants and animals, and investigate evidence of pollution.

The four scholarship recipients said that at camp they developed a new respect for nature, learned how to collaborate with other students, and made a lot of new friends in the process. “The camp expanded my thinking about different fields of study in environmental science,” said Mo Murray. The students also enjoyed the hands-on learning offered by the camp. “We pay so much more attention to learning when we get to mess around with things,” said Madeline Crane. When asked whether they would recommend the 4-H Camp to others, all four students enthusiastically replied, “We think EVERYONE should go to this camp!” More details on the Michigan 4-H Great Lakes and Natural Resources Camp can be found on-line through the MSU Extension service.

As a local nonprofit, Rochester Garden Club is pleased to offer these experiences to encourage our future environmentalists. In addition to scholarship programs, the club serves the community in the areas of conservation, education, horticulture therapy, and civic improvement. Funds for these projects come from sales at the annual Greens Market, held this year on November 30, December 1 and 2 at the Rochester Schools Administration Center. See www.rochestergardenclub.org or Facebook for details.