USVI AgDiscovery Camp 2016 Update

By Hope Thomas, UVICES Summer Intern under the direction of DaraMonifah Cooper, UVICES Communications Agent

AgDiscovery Camper Diaz Thompkins

Diaz Thompkins, a young man from Virginia, is on the island on of St. Croix working with the youth at the Ag Discovery Camp. He has worked with agriculture before in Virginia and when he heard about it happening in the Virgin Islands he jumped right on it. He was glad that he was accepted to come and help out. So far he has learned that there are many similar practices that happen in the Virgin Islands that also happen in Virginia. He admires the farmers here in the VI because even though they have less resources they don’t get discouraged and don’t worry about their competition. Mr. Thompkins said that he went to the camp with a blind fold on. He was expecting one thing to happen but instead a whole different thing happened and he was glad about the outcome.  He explains that even though AgDiscovery is a beginning program he was glad that he got to learn some new things that turned him around.

AgDiscovery Camper Camille Adu

Camille Adu, a Future Farmers of America (FFA) state president in upstate New York, has come down to the AgDiscovery Camp on the island of St. Croix. Ms. Adu wants to be a veterinarian so when she heard about this opportunity she has happy. She wants to learn more about veterinary medicine. She explains how there is a different perspective in the Virgin Islands to what they have in the states. However, she is glad to get a different perspective. So far at the camp, they have attended a couple lectures, traveled around the university, and visited the St. Croix white hair sheep farm as well as a local farm. She says that she was interested in going to this camp because it offered an Agriculture emphasis. She wanted to look into that and now she is looking into trade policy.  

 

Counselors Makiel Cepeda and Jewel Cumberbatch

According to Counselor Makiel Cepeda, at the AgDiscovery camp, so far, they have met the CES staff, visited the white sheep farm had orientation of course and had to learn each other’s names. They also meet with Dr. "Bethany," one of the Virgin Islands' great veterinarians. She was teaching the students about horses and other cool things. This young man has heard about agriculture but has never really experienced it. So, now he gets to learn more about farming and the people in agriculture.  He expects to have fun while learning and hear many cool stories about agriculture.

Another Camp Counselor, Jewel Cumberbatch shared that the youth at the AgDiscovery Camp came with a background in agriculture and animal science.  This camp is helping them to get a better understanding of what they already know. It is mainly about students discovering fields in Agriculture. This camp has children from the ages of 14 to 17. They are teaching agriculture within the University. They are also learning how to get more involved. This camp will help the campers figure out what part of agriculture they would like to study when they go to college, now potentially at UVI. The AgDiscovery Camp is teaching and helping these youth a lot of things.

Listen in below to hear from and about some of the staff and campers at the AgDiscovery program on the full radio show that took place on 8/3/2016. Other UVICES 2016 youth camps include Agriculture Enrichment, Sewing, Nutrition and Cooking. For more info visit: ces.uvi.edu | PHOTOS

eXtending Knowledge; Changing Lives! Connect with us online: ces.uvi.edu

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN | SOUNDCLOUD

Up Now or Up Next @UVICES

· St. Thomas – St. John Agriculture & Food Fair
· Farmers Marketing Course STT or STX campus
· Computer Trainings: Classes & Workshops
Call (340) 693-4090 (STX) or (340) 693-1081 (STT)

 CES PUBLICATIONS:

· Tropical Fruits of the VI Book | Book Cover

Listen in to our What’s Going on @UVICES weekly radio show

3-4pm Wednesdays on WUVI AM 1090, FM 97.3 or via online stream!