Farm-based Education

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  • 1.  How to communicate garden projects to counselors/other educators

    Posted 05-07-2026 09:14:00 AM

    How do you communicate garden projects to camp counselors or other educators on your team?

    I am in charge of our Education Garden and I am looking for new ways to communicate garden projects and to-dos with camp counselors and other educators during the summer. Last summer, I tried a white board in the garden area and asked folks to sign up, but no one really used it. Maybe I just need to put this list in a more central location?



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    Melody Larson
    (she, her, hers)
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  • 2.  RE: How to communicate garden projects to counselors/other educators

    Posted 05-08-2026 01:55:00 AM

    Hi Melody!

    Thanks for sharing! I think part of that might just be that white boards are more of a passive communication tool, especially in a camp setting where everyone is busy and moving nonstop! I wonder if it would help to bring garden projects/tasks up during staff meetings or morning huddles or send quick reminders in a groupchat or email and also break projects into really concrete/specific tasks like "water beds Monday," "prep supplies for Thursday gardening workshop," etc and assign rotating or fixed ownership roles so staff feel more connected to certain projects. I also think people tend to engage more when they understand the "why" behind the tasks and how they connect to camper experience/programming rather than just feeling like extra tasks for staff.

    Hope that helps Melody! Thank you kindly,

    Kalie :)



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    Kalie Johnson
    Community Connector
    Cleveland, Ohio
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  • 3.  RE: How to communicate garden projects to counselors/other educators

    Posted 05-11-2026 10:02:00 AM

    Thanks Kalie! I'm more so thinking about how to communicate projects they can do with campers i.e. mulch this area, seed lettuce, start herbs in GH. I think our morning huddles staff meetings could be a great place to remind folks of these tasks though! Thanks again!



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    Melody Larson
    (she, her, hers)
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: How to communicate garden projects to counselors/other educators

    Posted 08-09-2026 11:55:00 PM
    Edited by Tina Steiner 08-09-2026 11:57:27 PM

    I’ve found that communication about garden projects works better when it’s built into the normal flow of the day instead of depending on people to remember to check a board in the garden. Last summer, I tried using a whiteboard for sign-ups, but it did not get much use. I think part of the problem was that it was not in a place staff regularly stopped to look.

    If I were trying it again, I would probably move the project list to a more central location and pair it with quick reminders during staff check-ins. I also think it helps when tasks are specific and clearly assigned instead of left open-ended. A short weekly update with garden needs, project steps, and supplies could make it much easier for camp counselors and other educators to support the work.

    Overall, I do think a central location would help, but making garden communication part of the regular team routine would probably make the biggest difference.



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