Grant Stories
Local youth spend summer camp learning healthy cooking, farming and sustainable living
Learn to Live Local campers take part in a hands-on activity focused on food, nutrition and healthy choices. The two-day camp gives area youth practical skills they can take home and share with their families.
Learn to Live Local campers put their lessons into practice at People’s Food Co-op, where they learn about choosing fresh, healthy foods and supporting local food producers and businesses.
Campers learn about the ingredients that go into the foods they eat as part of Learn to Live Local, a free youth day camp organized by Mormon Coulee 4-H and supported by a $10,800 grant from La Crosse Area Community Foundation.
Instead of spending the day indoors, dozens of area youth are rolling up their sleeves on a local farm, learning where food comes from and how healthy choices can benefit both their families and the community.
The Learn to Live Local Youth Day Camp brings together children in grades 3-6 for two days of hands-on experiences in local agriculture, nutrition, and sustainable living. The free camp is organized by Mormon Coulee 4-H and made possible through a $10,800 grant from La Crosse Area Community Foundation.
During the camp, participants visit Deep Roots Community Farm, People’s Food Co-op and Larson’s General Store, where they learn about growing food, preparing healthy meals, reducing food waste and supporting local businesses. They also work alongside older youth mentors and receive gift cards to purchase healthy foods with their families.
“We want young people to see that healthy eating doesn’t begin at the grocery store. It begins with understanding where food comes from and the people who grow it,” said Kaarina Dunn, project coordinator. “By giving youth hands-on experiences, we’re helping them build skills and confidence they can carry home and share with their families.”
About half of students in the School District of La Crosse qualify for free or reduced-price meals, making access to fresh, healthy food and nutrition education more challenging for many families. The Learn to Live camp was created to help remove those barriers while introducing youth to local food resources and practical skills they can use every day.
“This program brings together so many things that help communities thrive,” said La Crosse Area Community Foundation Impact Director Lauren Journot. “It introduces young people to local agriculture and healthy food, creates meaningful relationships with mentors, and strengthens connections between families and local businesses. When young people understand and value the community around them, they’re more likely to become engaged community members themselves.”
In addition to the grant funding, the program is made possible through partnerships with Deep Roots Community Farm, People’s Food Co-op and Larson’s General Store and by sponsors: J.F. Brennan Company, Performance Food Group, Organic Valley, and Lone Willow Tree Farm.