CULLMAN, Ala. – This summer, the North Alabama Agriplex is giving kids a chance to try new adventures. Along with popular returning programs, kitchen-based activities have been added.
Executive Director Rachel Dawsey explained that the new Kitchen Camps are possible because of the Agriplex’s teaching kitchen, which opens May 1. With this upgrade, staff can offer more hands-on cooking and baking than before.
Sewing Camps are also coming back after a break during construction, thanks to strong interest.
The Agriplex’s long-running programs still focus on connecting kids with local agriculture.
Touring Farms for Kids takes children to different farms around Cullman County and nearby areas. This program gives families a chance to experience farming up close, often for the first time. Garden Camp gives kids another hands-on experience, letting them harvest, plant and taste fresh produce. Activities include digging up vegetables like potatoes, carrots and onions, making floral arrangements and working on planting projects they can take home to keep learning after camp.
The Agriplex is also keeping its Nature Day Camp, which it runs with 4-H, part of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. This camp started as a program from a retired educator and has grown with help from local groups like Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism and the Cullman County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Besides teaching about agriculture, Dawsey said the camps help kids build confidence and feel supported. Many families return each year because they enjoy the strong sense of community these programs foster.
The camps are designed for all ages, from preschoolers to teens. Younger kids often join with a parent, while older children attend on their own in groups for their age. Organizers keep things interesting with animal encounters, garden projects and new features like a sunflower house and an aeroponics tower garden.
Learn more at www.agriplex.org.
