How Cherryvale Day Camp Turned Sustainability into a Season-Long Celebration

This summer, Cherryvale Day Camp proved that caring for the planet isn’t just a lesson; it’s an active, daily adventure. By embedding eco-friendly practices across every program, from science experiments to theatrical performances, the camp transformed sustainability from an abstract idea into a hands-on community movement.

In the camp’s STEM activities, campers explored environmental science through interactive projects. Campers used solar ovens to make baked goods and learn about renewable energy. These hands-on lessons helped campers understand how small technological design choices directly impact ecosystems.

The weekly Havdallah service marking the transition from Shabbat to the new week served as a spiritual anchor for these environmental efforts. Counselors and campers connected eco-conscious habits directly to foundational Jewish values:

• Bal Tashchit (Do Not Destroy): Emphasizing mindful consumption and avoiding unnecessary waste.
• Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World): Framed environmental stewardship as an active responsibility to protect Earth’s natural resources.

Creativity thrived without relying on single-use plastic. Campers swapped out brand-new supplies for upcycled, reclaimed materials:

• Arts & Crafts: Campers created cardboard art with old cardboard, painted plant pots to decorate for the musical, and turned egg cartons into coral.
• Summer Musical: The theater department took eco-theater to the next level. Stage backdrops were built entirely from chicken wire and greenhouse roofing from the farm and leftover cardboard from crates, while costumes were borrowed from the Lafayette Arts Hub and Parlando School of Music.

Cherryvale’s eco-conscious vision extended beyond the campers to involve entire households. The camp hosted community Sustainability Swaps, where families brought gently used clothing, books, and toys to trade. This circular initiative kept hundreds of items out of landfills and fostered a culture of shared community resources. Through integrated learning, shared traditions, and creative arts, Cherryvale Day Camp demonstrated how summer camps can lead the way toward a greener future.