Sunshine and Smiles at Li’l Sprouts Summer Camp
August 22, 2024
We had a blast this summer at the Li’l Sprouts Academy summer camp! Middle school students started their days with peaceful yoga sessions in the garden before diving into sustainable gardening techniques. They learned how to care for a garden and got hands-on with fun activities like cooking with local ingredients, making recipes such as lechen birenghenas, lemmai mochi, and more. They also got creative with arts and crafts, making beautiful clay flowers and stickers from pressed flowers.
The camp was enriched with a variety of exciting guest speakers. Hila’an San Nicolas introduced the art of jewelry carving, Roman Duenas taught the students how to make slingshots, and farmer-educator Ron Laguana shared the CHamoru names of various fruits and vegetables. Michelle Crisostomo taught them how to grow their very own microgreens, and Lia Barcinas did a weaving workshop with them! Each speaker not only shared valuable skills but also deepened the students' connection to their cultural heritage and the natural world, making the camp a truly immersive and enriching experience.
The students also enjoyed several thrilling field trips. They explored fruit trees at Hamamoto Fruit World, discovered the cultural and natural wonders at Valley of the Latte, and learned about waste management at the Layon Landfill. At UOG, they studied tilapia aquaculture and toured Triton Farms. A visit to Maite Payless included making kangkong titiyas in the EduKitchen, touring the store, and learning how to read food labels for healthier choices. Their adventures also took them on a hike along the ridge trail at War in the Pacific, where they identified many local plants. At a Guam Musuem field trip, they toured the inspiring Ta Nå’i Ånimu exhibit celebrating indigenous art and native land stewardship. These field trips offered hands-on learning and deepened the students' connection to their environment, culture, and community.
On the final day, students embarked on one last field trip to Sagan Kotturan CHamoru, where they were amazed by the giant upo in our garden - the first one ever started by GSC! They also revisited their knowledge of aquaculture from their earlier field trip to UOG’s Aquapark, as they observed the garden’s aquaculture tank.
The day continued with a slinging workshop, where students learned the history and cultural significance of slinging. They practiced their aim and technique with slinger Bernard Leon Guerrero.
For their final activity, artist Roldy Aguero Ablao led a printmaking workshop with the help of Roquin-Jon Quichocho Siongco, guiding students in creating beautiful stories on clothing items using culturally inspired prints like latte stones, Gadao’s Cave pictographs, local sea creatures, and birds.
To close out the camp, we provided each student with a garden kit complete with a bag of soil, watering cans, trowels, and seeds to start their very own gardens at home. The summer camp was a journey of discovery, creativity, and cultural enrichment. Through hands-on activities, engaging workshops, and immersive field trips, the students not only learned new skills but also deepened their connection to the natural world around them. Special thanks to Newman’s Own Foundation for supporting the Li’l Sprouts Academy Summer Camp. We can’t wait for next summer’s adventures!
