OWC therapeutic horticulture program located at Camp Quinebaug

Address:
54 Taos Dr
Danielson, CT 06239

Weekdays: 8:30am – 2:30pm

Phone: 860.412.9240

About the Program

We have blended our Camp Q Horticulture Program to include Programming for both Group Support Employment (GSE) & Day Service Option (DSO) Individuals!

The Therapeutic Horticulture Program for Day Service Option (DSO) Individuals was established as the roots of our programming at Camp Q in 2018 as an unpaid support group. This DSO program has the traditional components of a vocational Day Service Option Program. Individuals enjoy activities like culinary, crafts, music therapy, community outreach & horticulture therapy.

DSO outings in this location are horticulture related with goals of connecting to the community and giving back nature. Examples: Flower shows, garden visits, educational visits to bird or butterfly sanctuaries, dropping off vases of flowers to area churches, etc.

Transitional Services is designed to offer educational and vocational skill development. This program is aligned with the federal governments initiative, Employment First; those that live in the community and socialize in the community should also have the opportunity for community based employment.

In the classroom setting, some areas we focus on are; soft skills, money, self-advocacy, mock interviewing, and time management. In the community setting, some areas of focus are; exposure to different jobs in the community, gaining transferable job skills, expectations that future employers will have, and trips to the library for computer use.

What Individuals Do

The Individuals that participate in the DSO program here are expected to perform volunteer activities such as maintaining the 26+ gardens on the grounds of Camp Q.

  • Activities include but are not limited to: growing the plants, re-potting of the plants, watering, getting gardens together each spring, clean up and planting, creating the signage for gardens, cleaning them out and preparing for winter in the fall, planning for the next year.
  • They also work on growing items that will be used in the gardens at camp by completing tasks such as pot cleaning, soil sifting, repotting, watering, weeding, etc.
  • To increase community involvement they create floral arrangements from donated items to be given away to the community. Other efforts to engage with the community include contacting donors and picking up donations, creating arrangements, anssending thank you cards.
  • They also participate in the Therapeutic Horticulture activities prepared and led by the onsite GSE Program.

Skill-sets & Tasks

The Group Support Employment Program (GSE) at Camp Q employs Individuals at minimum wage to help maintain campground gardens, the greenhouse, & help prepare/instruct at our therapeutic horticulture sessions 2 days a week at the greenhouse.

  • Planning what and when projects are going to be done
  • Gathering and prepping all materials for each project
  • Creating the email newsletter about the program and sending it out each month
  • Shopping for or picking up donations of items that will be used for these projects
  • Making a samples
  • Checking people into the classes and collecting monies
  • Assist with the instruction of the projects and hands on assist individuals to complete it
  • Organized & store all attendance sheets, direction sheets, contacts and schedules
  • Make a cash deposits 1 time a week to the main office
  • Plan Alumni group projects
  • Plan for all 6 weeks of camp projects about 120campers each year
  • A planned activity for family day
  • This group also works on growing plants to be sold at the OWC Floral and Gift shop in Putnam.
  • Purchase seedling plants or starter plants to grow
  • Re-pot, water, weed as needed
  • Work with Floral & Gifts of OWC from time to time to assist with deliveries, pot cleaning, soil sifting etc. to benefit the growing of flowers that will be sold at the Florist.

Both programs are involved with the upkeep of the facilities and the annual calendar for the greenhouse upkeep:

  • All daily, weekly and monthly cleaning schedules of the facilities, building and greenhouse.
  • Checking for insects in greenhouse
  • Proper usage of fans, heating pads, shade screen in greenhouse
  • Up-keep of the Koi pond