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 10 days ago
    Edited by Tina Steiner 10 days ago

    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.