Camp 2002
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PFI’s 8th Annual Summer Camp

Shelly Gradwell

Images from Camp
(Click on thumbnails for larger view.)
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From high ropes confidence-building (above) to service learning projects (below), PFI camp is designed to develop leadership skills while provoking plenty of smiles.
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Friendships are stronger every year at camp. Some may last a lifetime.
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Camp EWALU in Northeast Iowa provided a beautiful setting for this year’s theme of “Exploring the Diversity of our Natural and Cultural Heritage.” Even though it rained quite a bit that week, May 31- June 6, 2002, we had a great time for our 8th summer together!

Sustainable Agriculture Student Leadership Program

The Sustainable Agriculture Student Leadership Program, new in 2002, featured a weekend of group and personal leadership development activities for 20 students ages 14-college. On Friday the whole group worked as a team on the low-ropes course and in small-groups for leadership activities. Daryl Mills from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, joined us for natural resource leadership presentation. Boundary Waters canoe guide and conservation educator Detra Dettmann-Easler conducted a wilderness canoe trip-planning workshop. Saturday featured more individual challenges on the high ropes course; canoeing the Turkey River; wilderness cooking, and camping out at the historic Motor Mill. On Sunday we focused on counselor training and preparing for camp which began the same day.

Youth and Family Camp

The Youth and Family Camp began with a potluck picnic full of delicious foods catered by GROWN Locally and from PFI farms and gardens. Camp featured many guest speakers who led fun learning activities and shared information on careers in agriculture and natural resources. The week’s highlights included: stream ecology, forestry, wildlife biology, and geology sessions; field trips to Effigy Mounds National Monument, Pikes Peak State Park and the Osborne Nature Center; organic and sustainable farming and marketing; writing and cultural history/hobby sharing workshops; stream and pond fishing, archery, basketball, volleyball, swimming, and crafts; backpacking workshop, backpacking trip, campfire cookout, and camp out in tents and covered wagons; and prairie and tree planting.

Each year the PFI campers and counselors share a great deal of kindness, intelligence, leadership and dedication to the land and each other.

Camp concluded with excellent presentations researched and prepared by cabin groups all week. The Woodland boys led a guided hike on unique uses of woodland plant and trees; the Prairie girls drew lovely pictures and explained prairie history, fires, wildlife, and plants. Wetland boys built a model of a wetland and discussed the benefits and wildlife of wetlands. The Riparian girls taught us about how riparian buffer strips can benefit farms, towns, and wildlife by decreasing erosion, providing habitat, and improving water quality.

Each year the PFI campers and counselors share a great deal of kindness, intelligence, leadership and dedication to the land and each other. It is always an honor to work with these amazing young people and their families. Thanks again to PFI members for your support of these youth education programs through the silent auction fundraiser and other camp donations. And thanks to the guest speakers, staff, and counselors who volunteer much of their time to help create a great camp experience!