Hispanic Heritage Spanish-speaking youth in Indianapolis had the opportunity this summer to experience a unique two-week summer camp partnership between Growing Places Indy and Estamos y Somos. The camp, hosted at the Eiteljorg Museum and Growing Places Indy farm sites, combined fun-filled, educational activities with hands-on learning experiences in gardening and nutrition. The half-day camp engaged participants in robust Spanish vocabulary-building tasks, STEM and math activities, interactive science experiments, social-emotional learning (SEL) activities, and fostered a deep connection to urban farm resources and the community. Grants awarded to Growing Places Indy through the Summer Youth Program Fund and Cummins made the summer camp partnership possible.
Week 1: Un Grano del Mismo Elote (A kernel from the same cob) at the Eiteljorg Museum & Growing Places Indy Garden in White River State Park
The first week the participants expanded their Spanish vocabulary through immersive activities like plant dissection, where they learned about “photosynthesis.” They extracted DNA from strawberries and explored mathematical concepts with Legos. Using corn kernels, they delved into terms like “density” and “volume,” comparing kernels to popcorn. Cultural enrichment was a highlight, with storytelling that introduced “legend” and teosinte, and a visit to the Growing Places Indy Garden in White River State Park where students learned about “domesticated” species and “migration.”
Health and wellness were seamlessly integrated with yoga sessions, enhancing their understanding of course vocabulary. Students discovered traditional drinks like la chica morada, made tortillas while learning about “Nixtamalization,” and crafted corn husk dolls connecting them to the legends of The Three Sisters and The No Face Doll.
Week 2: Granja a Mesa (Farm to Table) at Growing Places Indy Urban Farm
The second week students meet daily at Growing Places Indy’s primary education and training farm, located on the campus of Arsenal Tech HS at the Boner Fitness & Learning Center. Students followed a daily farm checklist. They harvested vegetables and conducted experiments, like mummifying a tomato and exploring “osmosis” with a cucumber, covering terms like “natron” and “chemical reactions.” They created simple dishes with the vegetable of the day, recorded nutritional values, and built vocabulary around balanced diets, including terms like cholesterol/lipids, iron, folate, and sodium.
Physical activities like weeding, free-play, and soccer balanced healthy eating with a healthy lifestyle. Students learned about farm tools and planted mini-gardens to take home. The camp culminated in a community meal where students recreated dishes like tomato salad, zoodles, cucumber sushi, and salsa to share with their families.
Youth Volunteer Training Conference
To prepare the camp volunteers, youth leaders attended a one-day training conference organized by Estamos y Somos and hosted by Growing Places Indy. The training conference featured a panel of experts who prepared students for their first work experiences. Panelists included an educator, a business owner, a recruiter, a mental health specialist, a photographer, and a safety expert. Along with the basics of volunteer work and leading programming created by Estamos y Somos, each speaker modeled and highlighted the value of being bilingual and how volunteer experience can enhance resumes, college applications, networking, and contributions to developing global mindedness.
Estamos y Somos provided a unique opportunity for Hispanic Heritage Spanish-speaking youth leaders and students to build robust language skills through engaging experiments, games, and projects. This summer camp has not only enriched the participants’ knowledge and skills but also strengthened their connection to the community and language. It’s clear that programs like these are vital in nurturing our future leaders!
