Rochester Garden Club Awards Science Camp Scholarships

The Rochester Garden Club encourages young people to get outside and explore nature. To accomplish this goal, the club sponsors scholarships for local middle school students to attend the Michigan 4-H Great Lakes and Natural Resources Camp. This past summer six eighth grade students enjoyed a week of environmental science studies and outdoor experiences designed to pique interest in nature studies and develop career interests and leadership skills. Four boys were from the Rochester Community Schools: Charlie Anderson, Caleb Maier, Abhay Awasthi and Tommy Washburn. Also attending were Eduardo Velasques from the Avondale GATE Magnet School, and Stepphanie Vasquez Garcia from the Pontiac International Academy.

Nestled along the shores of Lake Huron near Alpena, the camp is hosted by the Michigan 4-H organization, in conjunction with the Michigan State University Extension, Michigan Sea Grant and the MSU Department of Fisheries, among others. While at camp, students hike trails, kayak and sail on Lake Huron, and wade in wetlands. While working with professional experts, the students evaluate water quality, study the negative effects of invasive plants and animals, go on a charter fishing adventure, and investigate evidence of pollution.

The six scholarship recipients said that they developed a new respect for nature because the camp exposed them to experiences and ideas that were fun, exciting and new. From paddleboarding and snorkeling, hiking through wetlands (even though the bugs were biting), learning about watersheds and lakes, and doing projects with others, the campers were amazed at what they were able to learn in just a week. “I was able to go on a wetland hike, and I learned to appreciate the ecosystem and its importance,” said Eduardo. Tommy was amazed at the core sampling lesson, where a tube is inserted into a lakebed and they ran tests on the soil. Kayaking, sailing and socializing around the campfires were also favorite activities.

As a local nonprofit, Rochester Garden Club is pleased to offer these experiences to encourage our future environmentalists. In addition to scholarship programs, the club serves the community in the areas of conservation, education, horticulture therapy, and civic beautification. Funds for these projects come from the annual Gifts and Greens Market, a holiday themed market, held this year on December 4, 5 and 6 at the Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Rochester Hills. See www.rochestergardenclub.org or Facebook for details.