On May 16th, staff and campers at “Clapping Hands Farm” looked on as Grand Trees of Chatham (GTOC) Board members Connie McAdams, Andy Upshaw and Rouse Wilson presented Louise Kessel, Director of “Clapping Hands Farm”, with scholarship funds for the camp’s nature based programs for children of all ages. Surrounded by trees of many species, cicadas sang their hearts out as the scholarships were presented. After the presentation the group discussed the life cycle of cicadas and identified numerous trees that were surrounding them: Pawpaws, figs, a huge Maple, the bump-barked Hackberry and a mulberry tree with tasty fruit!
The scholarships will be provided yearly to Chatham County programs that are focused on nature-based education. This will further the educational goals of GTOC as well as help create new tree lovers!
The scholarship program is named “The Walton Haywood Memorial Scholarship Fund” in honor of Walton Haywood, who was instrumental in establishing The Grand Trees of Chatham in 2009.
Grand Trees plans to distribute scholarships on an ongoing basis from funds made available through its generous donors as well as from its sale of tree identification books and its “Naturally Chatham” yearly calendar, which features the natural beauty of Chatham County.
A big “Thank You!” to our generous supporters who make this scholarship program possible!
A note from Louise Kessel:
Dear Grand Trees of Chatham!
Thank you so much for your wonderful appearance at Artful Life Camp! The campers LOVED the great explore and the sharing of mulberries, snakes (big and little), trees and all of you!
The scholarship gift will be put to great use with our campers. This particular camp for young adults who are just getting established or some still in college, has an especially high ratio of scholarship participants, so the timing is perfect. I was expecting ONE sponsored camper, but you brought 1, 2 checks! Thank you so much!
Louise, thank you for all the great work you and your staff do to help others learn about the wonders of the natural world! 🌳🐝🦉💕
Grand Trees of Chatham 