Youth discover how to "Bloom Where You're Planted"
By Janelle Stewart

Each summer, Lenawee County’s Bloom Where You’re Planted (also called Project Bloom) involves youth with and without disabilities in hands-on, positive learning experiences through horticultural therapy educational programs.

Youth without disabilities serve as mentors to youth with disabilities. Each year the youth without disabilities experience an educational program to teach them about wheelchairs and youth who have physical limitations and about communicating with people with limited or no communication skills. The aim is to raise the level of knowledge and appreciation and the comfort level of the youth without disabilities toward youth with disabilities.

“My daughter has learned to help others – especially those who are more handicapped. She has learned to do new and exciting projects and activities. She has gained more confidence in her relations with others and communication with them,” said a Lenawee County participant’s parent.

The youth start off by working to prepare beds for planting and draining, learning what types of plants to plant and where and when to plant them. The summer program continues with lessons about weeding, deadheading and watering the beds. These lessons are reinforced each week with hands-on horticultural craft activities.

Twenty-five youth participated in camp this year from June to August.

The youth experience the confidence of completing a project and learn how natural things from the environment can be used for craft projects. Each week the expressions on the faces of youth with disabilities reflects the self-esteem, confidence and joy they experience in accomplishing the day’s task.

By the end of the summer, both sets of youth have established relationships on many levels. Project Bloom breaks down barriers and increases the comfort level and confidence
of youth.

“Clint has learned to communicate with peers that he had not been familiar with. He is nonverbal and uses a communication board. Since his peers and adult leaders can’t ‘read’ him like Mom and Dad, he has been ‘forced’ to communicate his thoughts and needs,” said Mary Poore, a Lenawee County participant’s mom.

“Clint loves 4-H (that’s what we refer to Bloom as). He loves the outdoors and being busy. He gets really excited about his projects and showing them to others. Being an only child, he loves being with other kids. We believe strongly in community integration and inclusion for ALL persons. His peers at Bloom are great role models. We love Bloom and all that it has provided for our son,” she continued.

Project Bloom is coordinated by Lenawee County MSU Extension 4-H and Hidden Lake Gardens with cooperation from the Lenawee Intermediate School District.

Janelle Stewart is the Lenawee County MSU Extension 4-H youth agent.

For more information on 4-H inclusive programming, visit: http://web1.msue.msu.edu/cyf/youth/inclusive/.