Sustainability Programs
Let’s face it – you’ve heard people talking about “going green” so many times that it’s likely your head is spinning by now. But at Vanderkamp’s Summer Camp and Retreat Center, we are doing our best to do our part. If your group or child has an interest in learning how to better care for the Earth, grow a garden, raise chickens, and better take care of yourself – you’ve come to the right place! James Davis completed Master Gardener classes in February of 2011, and quickly got to work using those skills at Vanderkamp!
Caring for God’s creation in this day and age starts with doing the basics. Since May, we have cut our electricity usage on a year over year basis by roughly %50. Not a bad result from shutting off a few lights and fans, huh? When each counselor and camper buys in to helping the camp’s bottom line and the world’s environmental future, a huge impact can be made!
We’ve communicated the message of caring for God’s creation in a few very important ways.
We took a look at all of the land that had gone unused at Vanderkamp in the past and it occurred to us – Couldn’t we serve our retreat guests and summer campers better by having some organic and local food grown right here on site? We tilled an area behind the dining hall and fenced in a garden and compost pile using all re-purposed wood from old bunk beds (with the help of super volunteer Bill Myers!). Children throughout the summer got to pick vegetables right off the vine and know that no chemicals or preservatives ever got there first. We were able to fix salads for Spring retreat groups with our over-abundance of greens, and enjoy more tomatoes than we could possibly eat! Several jars of tomato sauce were made with our over-abundance at the end of the season!
Our wonderful partners – C and J Greenhouses and Farms donated nearly all of the plants you see in our garden – with some additional plants from Diana, Cole, and Hannah Luscombe. Their incredible generosity made it all possible, and for that we are forever grateful!
We didn’t want to just stop at gardening. As we cleared out an old farm stall to get the wood for the garden’s fence, we decided we wanted to bring in a group of laying hens to give us fresh, organically grown eggs! Bill Myers and Jeremy Groneman worked with us to take those old broken beds apart and build a fully functioning chicken coop for six lovely ladies who supplied our camp with eggs every day. Retreat guests and summer camp kids also have the opportunity to interact with the chicken directly, 
and learn about how they are raised, fed, and kept healthy. Chickens are fed with scraps from the garden, and their eggshells and waste goes right back into the compost. Children who attend have the option to learn all about this amazing cycle of eco-sustainability, and to have fun while doing it!
We hope to ramp up our efforts for sustainability next year. We plan on at least tripling our chicken population, and bringing in some milking goats as well. If your group would like to learn more about organic gardening, raising chickens, or eco-sustainability in general, simply let us know! We’ve already had three school groups and our family camp come and learn – your group should be next! We’re happy to spend as much time as you’d like to help you learn what you’d like to know.
If you have any interest in volunteering some time at Vanderkamp to help us serve the Earth better in the future, please contact us!
