Students in a leadership camp at Jim Hill Middle School potted geraniums last week and later delivered them to homes in neighborhoods that were flooded last summer.
"A lot of people were so surprised," said Jane Malsom, one of the teachers of the three-day camp. "They thought we were selling flowers. They were really surprised that they were free."
The 25 fifth- through eighth-graders planted 250 potted geraniums. Other camps will be held throughout the month and other students will also be planting geraniums and delivering them to flooded homes. A total of 1,500 plants, two per pot, will be planted and delivered.
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Andrea Johnson/MDN
Students in a leadership camp plant geraniums last week in the greenhouse at Minot High School-Magic City Campus. The students later delivered the geraniums to homes in flooded neighborhoods.
"We call the project Beautify Minot," said Malsom.
The leadership camp is funded by the Character Leadership Foundation and is offered free of charge for the students. Malsom said the students also did activities that relate in some way to the Character Counts! program. Kids focused on listening skills, trustworthiness, honesty and integrity, leadership qualities and standing up against defining group dynamics.
"It helps me to see what I can do (in the community)," said Miranda Besemann, one of the students who participated.
Miranda agreed with her classmates who said they enjoyed the camp. Several of the students had also participated in a leadership camp that was held last year. Other kids said the camp helped them learn leadership skills and to be more caring.
"It was really hot in the greenhouse," said Malsom. "They worked really, really hard and they did a lot of walking."
Malsom said the students last week delivered flowers to just about every home in the Perkett Elementary neighborhood. They also delivered some plants to homes behind the Arrowhead Shopping Center. The group that will be in camp this week will deliver flowers to the homes in the neighborhoods near Lincoln and Longfellow elementaries.
"It's good for the kids," said Malsom.
The camp is also taught by instructor Melanie Kavadas. For more information about the program and future camps, call director Cindy Mau at Jim Hill.