Tenants Harbor, Maine (March 24, 2008)—At Tanglewood’s Blueberry Cove Camp, a program of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, in Tenants Harbor, springtime change is already underway. A work crew from the Maine State Prison’s Building Trades program has been helping to renovate old camp buildings in preparation for an expanded residential camp program offering this summer. 

The good-natured, jovial 3-man crew is under the direction of Building Trades Instructor Barry Roe and has been busily leveling and re-siding a camp building known as the “Skylight.”  Roe says that the project “is a good way for the guys to get experience and to give back to the community” and that he is pleased to be able to work for a 4-H project. 

The structure will be used as a garden program space containing a potting work bench for seeds, a garden library, and curriculum materials which will be used this spring with students participating in the St. George School garden project and also this coming season as a program classroom for summer campers.

“The Skylight, which overlooks our seaside garden, will provide a great space for learning both before and after hands-on exploration in the garden, said Hanna Wheeler, Blueberry Cove Program Coordinator. “School field trips, tours, and our outdoor education camps will all use this building.”

Building materials for the siding have been generously donated by Jim Robbins, President of Robbins Lumber of Searsmont.  The lumber is white pine, certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and grown locally in Maine—in keeping with Tanglewood’s mission to promote environmental sustainability and the local use of natural resources.  

In addition to environmental education-themed day camp sessions—which have run at Blueberry Cove Camp for the past three seasons since Tanglewood purchased the camp in 2005—this summer a two-week residential camp will be available for children ages 10-14 in late July, with available focus activities in marine, art, and sailing education.  Financial aid is available and local children are encouraged to apply.  A week-long family camp is also planned for August. 

Space is still available in all of Tanglewood’s summer programs in both Lincolnville and Tenants Harbor. To give your child an affordable, nature-based experience visit www.tanglewood4h.org or contact Tanglewood at 789-5858 or via e-mail at bkoster@umext.maine.edu.

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