Kids get earth-savvy at Descanso Discoveries Camp in La Cañada

On a recent afternoon, children from La Cañada’s Child Educational Center toured the wide grounds of Descanso Gardens, learning about plants, seed cultivation and fruit harvesting.

For several years, CEC has offered summertime programs and day camps that make use of local pools, horse camps and other community recreation spots, according to Program Director Lisa Cain-Chang.

So when the idea came along to team up with Descanso to provide a camp experience that would allow children to explore the garden part of the day, and use CEC as a home base for extended-hour parent pick-up and drop-off opportunities, everything fit into place.

“We share such a common vision and goal for children and families, which is to help connect children to nature,” the CEC director said. “(So) we all got in the same room together and developed a concept for a camp.”

Now in its sixth year, the Descanso Discoveries Camp lets kids entering grades 1 to 6 enroll for one-week camp sessions that focus on playing and learning in the great outdoors. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., campers enjoy orienteering — using maps and coordinates to find a specific destination — harvesting fresh finds from the vegetable garden, culinary arts, botany, crafts and more.

Participating children can be dropped off as early as 7 a.m. at the CEC on Foothill Boulevard, and then picked up there when parents or guardians get off work.

A fun by-product of Descanso Discoveries Camp is that kids are learning to appreciate nature and become better stewards of the environment, Cain-Chang said.

“We want them to grow and become advocates of the earth, and to be able to appreciate the amazing beauty of the natural world,” she added.

The last week of the Descanso Discoveries camp, offered by the Child Educational Center, runs July 13 through 17. For more information, call (818) 354-3418 or visit ceconline.org.

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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine