Thursday 2 June 2016

2016 Agriculture Enrichment Camp Taking Applications


Applications are available for the 2016 Agricultural Enrichment Summer Camp which will be conducted June 27 – July 22, 2016 on the St. Thomas campus of the University of the Virgin Islands. The goal of this four week program is to increase knowledge and create awareness of career and work opportunities in the field of agricultural science. The second objective of this initiative was to equip the participants with job preparation skills through classroom presentations, practical exercises and field activities. The Agricultural Enrichment Summer Camp represents a partnership between the Department of Human Services, the Department of Labor, the Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and the UVI Cooperative Extension Service (UVICES). The students will participate in numerous field trips and engage in a wide variety of learning and fun-filled activities to stimulate their interest in the various fields of agricultural science. They will work directly with a diversity of agriculture professionals, including crop and livestock producers, landscapers, agricultural instructors, inspectors, enforcement officers, etc.

Exploratory exercises of career topics in agriculture will include:
  • Horticulture
  • Veterinary medicine
  • Livestock and poultry science
  • Landscaping 
  • Irrigation Technology

Field trips and hands-on activities will include:
  • Ivanna Eudora Kean High School aquaponic farm
  • two local landscaping & plant nurseries
  • tool safety & usage demonstrations
  • Introduction to 4-H & FFA Organizations
  • UVI Marine Science Center
  • US Customs and Border Protection canine inspection demonstration
  • plant propagation (e.g. grafting, air layering)
  • local farms
  • plant Identification
  • seedling production
  • irrigation system assembly


Learn what the students were taught from their various experiences in 2015 shown in these facebook pictures and this video collage:


Some of the areas taught to youth had to do with fruit production (horticulture) and veterinary science. We also exposed them to livestock production, poultry production and landscaping. They even got to do to lots of hands on activities such as putting together irrigation systems, planting their own seeds, starting their own seedlings and transplanting. Other skills that the campers picked up last year had to do with grafting. They learned how to graft plants properly and how to prune trees. We also got support from We Grow Food, Inc., as one of the field trips that we took was to Estate Bordeaux and Sister Benita gave us a really good presentation. Additionally, one of the farmers Charles Leonard and his daughter Brittany came in and spoke to the topic of agri-business.


It was a very dynamic and successful venture and we intend to do so again this year. The age range last year was from 14 – 18 years old and we intend to keep that in place for the next time. We are looking forward to another program this summer and are informing the public that if they know youngsters interested in being a part of this summer camp, please let us know.

2016 AGRICULTURE ENRICHMENT CAMP BASIC INFORMATION

What: Youth Summer CampWhen: June 27 – July 22, 2016

Where: Cooperative Extension Service Office Bldg., UVI St. Thomas CampusCost: Free to participants

Contact: Cooperative Extension Service at (340) 693-1080 or Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr.at lpeters@uvi.edu 


CLICK HERE TO APPLY!
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