Have you ever wondered what you can do to keep kids learning and active over the summer? All God’s Children United Methodist Church (UMC) tried a simple solution: They hosted a summer camp with field trips to local food sites. Over a six-week period, 40 children ranging from ages 3-10 visited community gardens, farms, and a local food truck to learn where their food comes from and why it’s important to eat healthy. They also stayed active by helping in the gardens and farms.

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The children visited the community garden at Ahoskie United Methodist Church, where they learned how to identify plants. They also worked in the garden by weeding and planting starters, which are young plants that are ready to be put in the ground. For lunch, they grilled out and got to taste some new veggies grown right in the garden.

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The kids also visited Bob’s Organic Blueberry Farm, where they got to pick their own blueberries.

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Finally, the kids were visited by Y’all Eat Yet?, a food truck that uses local ingredients. The food truck owner talked about why she thinks it is important to purchase ingredients from local farms, like keeping money in the local economy.