Farming for Self-Care: An Organic Farm Camp for Teenagers
Farming for Self-Care: An Organic Farm Camp for Teenagers
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Issue Date
2011
Authors
Ahnell, Adrienne Victoria
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Abstract
This paper presents an organic farm camp program that teaches high school-aged students natural self-care practices to take control of their health and well-being. The camp's mission is to reconnect teenagers with their holistic health by introducing a lifestyle that includes intimate contact with nature, self, and community. This camp program is backed by current research that links direct experience with nature and improved overall health. It also builds from already-established movements that aim to reconnect youth with nature, organic farming, and health. Through farm activities and natural self-care rituals and classes, campers learn an innovative paradigm of health and self-care that is lacking in mainstream health education. To conclude, this paper addresses the potential barriers to implementing this program and the bright future for organic farm camp programs.