Jun 24, 2014 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – The first few days of Greene County Day Camp had campers literally taking their projects to the skies. Birds, planes and even Superman couldn’t compete with the hundreds of special balloons filling the air over Greene County last week.

Thanks to a partnership with Penn State Cooperative Extension, the first learning program for Day Camp attendees this summer was a very unique one – “Chimp-Pansy Adventures,” an activity involving ape-faced balloons and bags of flower seeds.

The program was presented from June 16 to 20 at all five Day Camp locations: Jefferson Township Park in Jefferson, Lions Club Park in Waynesburg, Mon View Park in Greensboro, Ryerson Station State Park in Wind Ridge and Wana B Park in Carmichaels. Instructors from the extension office traveled to each of the camps and taught campers about the pansy, which has many uses and health benefits.

As part of the lesson, campers released helium-filled balloons in the semblance of a chimp’s face, carrying burlap bags filled with fertilized potting soil and pansy seeds. The hope was for the balloons to travel at least five miles above the ground, at which point they would burst, dropping the soil and seeds down to earth to grow.

All items used for the program are environmentally friendly, with the balloons, burlap bags and jute twine used to tie the bags all biodegradable.

Children learned of the pansy’s many health benefits, as the flower is edible. Pansies are used to reduce blood pressure and prevent heart failure, and are also used to treat skin ailments such as psoriasis, acne, eczema and itching. The pansy herb can be used as a salve or boiled down into a tea. At the end of each program, day campers were served salads dressed with pansy petals.

“Chimp-Pansy Adventures” was designed to teach the children in attendance about horticulture, history, natural science and the impact the actions of humans can have on the environment.

According to psychologist Martin Seligman, there are five elements that support personal well-being and prosperity: positivity, engagement, relationships, meaning and achievements. All of these can be found through our connection to nature. From learning about relationships through the connections within an ecosystem or understanding engagement through the mindfulness of nature around us, day campers will benefit and lay the foundation for a better life. Research shows that our connection to nature allows us to effectively cope with the pressures of life.

Day Camp will be held through July 25 and is free for Greene County children ages 5 to 15 years old. Campers will experience morning activities and programs, receive a free hot lunch provided by the Pittsburgh Food Bank and participating school districts and enjoy a swimming session at a discounted rate of $2 per day. Day camp hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the exception of July 4.

The Day Camp program is funded through various sponsors, the Greene County commissioners and Department of Recreation fundraisers. Major sponsors of this year’s Day Camp include Alpha Natural Resources, Chevron, Consol Energy and Noble Energy.

For more information about Day Camp or “Chimp-Pansy Adventures,” call the Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323.