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Garden Camp Experiences Growth Spurt

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

BAYSHORE GARDENS - The 35 children taking part in the Kids in the Garden camp shucked corn, composted, painted bird houses and made stepping stones for their home gardens.

"I learned to do arts and crafts," said Evangeline Alvarez, 6, a student at Roosevelt Elementary School. "I learned it's good to plant flowers."

Hosted last week by the Tampa Federation of Garden Club Circles, the camp reached capacity for the first time in its five years. Students from the Town 'N Country Youth Council and area high schools participated as camp counselors.

"This is a good way for kids to get outside," said Plant High senior Christina Echevarria, granddaughter of camp director Kathy Echevarria.

On Thursday morning, children learned about the properties of water. Stephen Holiman, a Hillsborough High senior and youth council member, patiently guided his students' hands as they floated paper clips in cups of water.

"It's tormenting children with the magic of physics," Holiman said.

Funded with a $35 registration fee and a Learning to Grow grant from the Mayor's Beautification Program, the five-day camp fulfills part of the garden club's mission of education. Typically, club members go to schools, but the camp allows them to bring students to the federation's home, 2629 Bayshore Blvd.

Some participants use the camp as a stepping stone to the overnight Wekiva Youth Camp at Wekiva Springs State Park in Apopka, hosted by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs in the summer.

"We teach them a little something about gardening and introduce them to the No. 1 pleasure pastime at an early age," Kathy Echevarria said.

GROWING INTEREST

For information on the Tampa Federation of Garden Club Circles, call (813) 251-5059 or go to www.tampagardenclub.com. For information on the Wekiva Youth Camp, go to www.ffgc.org and click on "Youth."

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 259-7661 or jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com.

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