Posted: May 27, 2025
Youth ages 7-12 are invited to join the Penn State Master Gardeners of Cumberland County for five camp sessions of Youth Summer Garden Camp on Tuesdays, June 10, June 24, July 8, July 22, and August 5, 2025, 9am-12pm noon, at the Penn State Extension office located at 310 Allen Road, Carlisle, PA 17013.
Each Tuesday session offers a unique theme where campers will dig in the soil, discover science in action, and take home projects they have created. Youth will grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers, taking home their harvest and donating surplus produce to Project SHARE in Carlisle. Activities include garden work, STEM-based lessons, games, snacks, and exploration of the natural world. Camp is held rain or shine, using both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Youth should wear weather-appropriate clothing, closed-toe shoes, and a hat, and bring a water bottle. A mid-morning snack will be provided. Youth with food allergies or dietary needs should bring their own snack.
A parent or guardian is required to sign in youth from 8:45 AM to 9:00 AM and sign out at pick up promptly at 12:00 PM. Registration is $15 per youth per session. Register online once for one, a few, or all camp dates! Space is limited to 20 campers per session.
2025 Camp Themes & Dates
June 10 – Planning and Planting for a Bountiful Garden
Start your garden journey by learning about seed germination, garden pests, and planting techniques. Campers will receive a garden hat, plant vegetables in the Youth Garden, and plant an upcycled container garden to take home. Register by June 8.
June 24 – Cool Beans
Discover all things beans! Campers will plant a pole bean teepee, dissect bean seeds, and plant wax bush beans to take home. Enjoy a fun harvest of early summer vegetables and play garden games! Register by June 22.
July 8 – Tree-mendous Adventures
Uncover the secret lives of trees through bark tracings, seed studies, leaf pigments, tree rings, and a look at Pando, the world’s largest living organism. Campers will take home their own tree seedling. Register by July 6.
July 22 – The 4Rs of Recycling in Your Garden
Learn to Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle in the garden. Campers will explore composting, create a DIY composter, and play an interactive garden game focused on sustainability. Register by July 20.
August 5 – Garden Chefs
Let’s turn fresh veggies into delicious creations! Campers will make veggie rollups, zesty salads, and guacamole while learning which parts of plants we eat. Register by August 3.
For more information, call the Penn State Extension office at 717-706-6040, email CumberlandExt@psu.edu, visit the website for the Penn State Master Gardeners of Cumberland County, or find us on Facebook at CumberlandExtension. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.
