in the garden – open doors to a world of enrichment
There are so many opportunities for finding gardening enrichment classes from organizations from all over the country. We have found 10 classes, both online and in-person that focus on gardening and nature to spark your child’s imagination and enrich their lives with science, nature and fun.
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes – En Familia con La Plaza y 123 Andrés
Located in downtown Los Angeles, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes offers many cultural, artistic and culinary programs which focus on the cultural influence of Mexicans, Mexican-Americans and Latinx in the city of Los Angeles. A very special and fun program for kids and parents alike is the En Familia con LA Plaza y 123 Andrés – They offer a new episode of the series online and you can also check out all of their past activities ranging from: “Edible Teaching Garden: Soil Painting” and “Edible Teaching Garden: Poblano Pepper Planting.”
From their website: Join LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes and Latin Grammy-winning duo 123 Andrés this summer for a super special educational series! Premiering exclusively on YouTube, En Familia con LA Plaza y 123 Andrés will inspire you to think about health and wellness in creative ways. Get up and move to the rhythm with music. Go outdoors for fun fitness challenges. Explore instruments, bilingual books, and get creative with hands-on art, garden, and culinary workshops all summer long!
The Arboretum – Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanic Garden, CA
127 Acres of investigating and exploring! Did you know that Los Angeles had so many green spaces. The Arboretum is one of the larger gardens with an arboretum, botanical gardens, and a historical site. If you are an Angeleno, check out their Nature Club Enrichment Program. Here’s a description from their website – “Nature Club is an enrichment program that connects children to the natural world through joyful, hands-on experiences and meaningful peer interactions. Designed for children 5 to 10 years old, Nature Club integrates playful explorations of our gardens with nature-themed science, art, and cooking activities. While fostering healthy child development skills and inspiring relationships with nature, this program unlocks fun, new avenues for children to learn and explore at their own pace with the garden as their classroom.” We’ve posted a sample schedule of their October classes here:
From their website:
OCTOBER TUESDAY/THURSDAY Series October 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28, November 2, 4 3:30 – 6:30pm $265 Members, $275 Non-Members
FOUR Week OCTOBER SATURDAY Series October 16, 23, 30, November 6 9:00am-12:00pm $135 Members, $145 Non-Members
If you can’t make these classes be sure to check back to see what they offer when it can fit your schedule.
If you do not live in the area, check out their “AT HOME NATURE ADVENTURES”. https://www.arboretum.org/digital-arboretum/at-home-adventures/
You have to see the list of activities for yourself, I wouldn’t be surprised if you marked this page as a favorite on your toolbar. They have activities that range from “Discovering the aerodynamics of seed dispersal” in their Helicopter Seed activity to “Painting an autumn tree while learning about Photosynthesis” in their Broccoli – Brushed Autumn Art lesson. There’s more, when you are done with exploring activities, head over to the Digital Arboretum and go Virtual or browse the library from home. Check out the Digital Arboretum here: https://www.arboretum.org/digital-arboretum/
The Phipps Conservatory – Virtual Summer Camp
At the Phipps Conservatory, their Virtual Summer Camp highlights ecology, conservation, healthy living, art concepts and more! I was so impressed with the sessions they offered. Theirs programs are for all ages, you just have to find the right one for your child’s own special interests. They offer great programs like the Phipps Virtual Explorers Academy, Discovery Programs, Programs for Scouts, and Home Schoolers. If you are interested in the Virtual Explorers Academy, here’s a little sample of their offerings:
- Habitat Explorer Series
- Wild Wonder Series
- Let’s Move Pittsburgh Winter Explorers Playful Pop Ups
Please check their website regularly for summer camps and more classes.
UC Berkeley Botanical Garden – Green Stuff Summer Camp
This camp is sold out but, with such small classes and great kid to counselor ratio, we had to mention it for your future summer camp planning.
From the website: “Have your child spend a magical week at the UC Botanical Garden’s award-winning nature camp. Green Stuff camp is a fun hands-on science day camp for children ages 5 to 10, with a special alumni week for returning campers 10-12 years old.” Examples of activities campers do, include: Going on a five senses tour of the Garden, learning about amazing plant adaptations and habitat diversity, tasting foods growing in our Crops of the World garden and much, much more.
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
Wow, what a compilation of offerings. I am just going to link to their website and let you explore. Plus, they post some of their reviews, which always gives parents a little insight. Be sure to check out their Holiday Camps as well. I will say they are doing things a bit different than most. They offer a combination virtual and in person program. Families attend on Mondays and Fridays, then go virtual the rest of the week. Also, please note their programs are for incoming 3rd – 6th graders. If you don’t have an incoming 3rd – 6th grader, don’t let that deter you, as you can find other offerings: DIY Gardents, Energy Explorers, Dino World, Chef Camp and Sci Quest. Don’t Forget to check out their STEM AT HOME programming!
Children Storybook Garden and Museum in Hanford, CA
Located in Hanford, CA, this lovely garden offers so many fascinating and educational activities for children. One of my favorite weekly activities is “Dig in Day” on Wednesdays in which children and a parent/guardian help the local horticulturist perform garden tasks such as planting, pruning or picking. How fun is that?
From their website: “Our Mission: To strengthen the communities and families of Kings County and beyond through unique hands-on educational programs which promote and develop an interest in healthy eating and fitness, gardening, farm history, literacy, nature studies, and the arts.”
Conejo Valley Botanic Garden in Thousand Oaks
There are so many spaces to explore at the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden in Thousand Oaks, CA. They have a Kid’s Adventure Garden geared especially to showcase the splendor of nature, but they also have a butterfly garden, a rare fruit orchard and a bird habitat. So many amazing nature experiences to discover and amaze children and parents alike.
From the website: “The mission of the Kid’s Adventure Garden is to establish a place that will encourage children of all ages to run and play and learn about science as they discover the beauty and wonder of nature. The garden features a tree house, zoo garden and much more.”
Cheyenne Botanic Gardens – The Paul Smith Children’s Village in Cheyenne, WY
The Paul Smith Children’s Village in Cheyenne, WY looks like such a wonderful space. It looks like an almost perfect playground and garden combination. The garden offers Field Trips, Drop-in Classes and Group Visits. Check out their monthly calendar event for more info.
From the Website: “The Paul Smith Children’s Village is a must-see children’s garden for all ages, even the grown up kind! The garden features a wetlands area, sheepherder wagon, a secret garden, farmers windmill, outdoor giant Jenga and more!”
Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks in Fayetteville, AR
From the website: “The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks is a captivating destination in Northwest Arkansas that draws more than 70,000 visitors a year. Our education programs include workshops, classes, and lectures for adults in horticulture, conservation, and other topics of interest to gardeners of all skill levels and others who admire the beauty and science of the natural world. The majority of our education programs are for children of all ages. We work with area school districts to provide hands-on nature and science learning experiences. Our programs such as Little Sprouts, Earth Day, Butterfly Days, and Firefly Fling offer unique outdoor experiences to thousands of children each year. ” The Little Sprouts program is an open air event that goes through October!
International Peace Garden in Dunseith, ND
The International Peace Garden in Dunseith, ND offers a long list of attractions that include: hiking and biking trails, the Sunken Garden and Friendship Rock “Originally conceived as a “Circle of Friendship” displaying rocks from all over the world, the Friendship Rock represents international cooperation and partnership, much like the Garden itself.”
The International Peace Garden also offers some virtual activities that are available to families who are not able to attend like a backyard bingo print out, a digital puzzle and a lovely virtual tour of the Conservatory. Bring the International Piece Garden to your home!
From their website: “WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE GARDEN Nestled in the Turtle Mountains is a garden. A celebration of peace, a living monument to the ideals of friendship and cooperation among nations. Acres of uninterrupted prairie, forests and radiant floral gardens are defined by nature, not borders.”
