Over the years, Quest’s Camp Thunderbird has captured the hearts of our guests with its natural beauty. In the fall of 2021, it was enhanced with a new sensory garden entitled, “Nature Lives Here.” The garden was designed for Camp guests. It features a greenhouse made out of 2-liter bottles, a cement path for wheelchairs, sensory garden (bells, grass, soil, leaves, other textures) and of course plants! The journey for this garden has been a long one but well worth the outcome.
In October of 2021, the conceptual developmental for the garden began. The vision and planning was led by Sarafaith Pekor from Seeds of Inclusion, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating healthier, more sustainable communities which honor all abilities and and empower by inclusion. The greenhouse was designed by a Seeds of Inclusion volunteer Rick Schumann and the UF/IFAS Seminole County Master Gardener Volunteer Program and other community volunteers helped to build it. Camp Thunderbird’s director, Noelle Arcaro, also played a large role in allocating the space for the garden to come to life. Noelle was the liaison between Quest, Inc. and Seeds of Inclusion for the collaboration on this project. Noelle and Sarafaith coordinated volunteers, projects and administrative work to make the garden what it is today.
Since its beginnings in October of last year, the garden has already made its impact on this summer’s guests for Camp Thunderbird. “What I love about the garden program is that the campers take so much joy in planting seeds, helping them grow, caring for the plants,” said Sarafaith. Throughout the summer, the garden has gained a lot of new plants because of our guests! In the morning, guests get to pick out their plant from the greenhouse and get to water them. There’s also more than just watering plants, fun games happen there as well! “There’s greenhouse activities, nature-based games, crafts, sensory nature exploration and play, mind body exercise and song and dance,” said Sarafaith. More than just a garden it’s a safe space for guests and staff to come and get their mind off of things and to be present in the garden.
The future for Nature Lives Here looks very promising with projects in tow and preserving the garden as well. ”We see a very dynamic and innovative future for Nature Lives Here at Quest Camp Thunderbird in which Quest clients are very active in all phases of its evolution,” said Sarafaith. She goes on to mention the possibilities as well as more involvement with the community of non-profits. “Whether it’s the design of new garden features or creation of new program activities, Nature Lives Here is a community space for inclusive connection and opportunity in which all are welcome co-creators and contributors!” Quest is so thankful for the impact Nature Lives Here has made on Camp already and looks forward to the future with the garden!
