Classroom in the garden
Educational project helps children learn about environment
June
17, 2004
Did you know there is an outdoor classroom in our area where children can
explore the environment through created habitats for plant and animal life?
This outdoor learning site helps guide young people and adults to a lifelong
appreciation for the living world and their part in its ecosystem. This
wonderful garden has so much to offer children of all ages, and it is only a
short distance away.
The garden I am talking about is
According to an article published by
http://benton-franklin.wsu.edu/garden/plantsgrowchildren.htm
gardening programs do more than teach plant
science and stimulate an interest in gardening. Classroom gardening projects
have been documented to increase the understanding of specific concepts,
increase enthusiasm and interest in science, plants, and learning, and increase
a sense of pride, a sense of accomplishment, self-esteem and confidence while
improving environmental awareness and concern.
While in the vegetable garden, a volunteer may read the book "Growing
Vegetable Soup" to a group of young children, then show them vegetables in
various stages of growth, allow them to pick some vegetables, and teach them
that in many cases the flower of the vegetable plant produces the fruit. This
helps youngsters understand where food comes from. Young children are
fascinated in seeing the food when it is picked from the plant, and they notice
the similarities and differences from their garden vegetables as compared to
the produce from the grocery store.
One of the favorite sites among the children is the bigger-than-life-size
birdhouse classroom. Here you will see children hopping through the door and
window openings pretending to be birds nesting in the birdhouse. Inside are
benches the new fledglings perch on while learning all sorts of information
about the favorite berries and seeds the birding area provides. Some students
have dissected flowers to identify the various parts and develop an
understanding of pollination along with its connection to producing berries,
seeds, and fruits.
Often our young visitors pretend they are butterflies flitting around
looking for milkweed on which to lay their eggs, or they may imagine themselves
to be hungry caterpillars lazily munching on passion vine leaves, while passing
the time until they change into a chrysalis. Of course the most exciting time
is emerging as a beautiful monarch or gulf fritillary butterfly, only to begin
the cycle all over again.
The sensory and native gardens host many pleasurable experiences for the
young learners where sight, sound, taste, texture, and smell are used to enjoy
the many opportunities of outdoor learning and entertainment. Children listen
for the sounds of the deer chaser fountain, the sounds of the bamboo wind
chimes, and the rush of the breeze through the lemon grass. Colors, textures
and fragrances of the many herbs, shrubs, and flowering perennials abound here.
Often curiosity and imagination can lead the learner on an enchanting
adventure.
Other areas of interest are the rainbow gardens where the youngest learn the
colors in the rainbow and can experience the hues first hand. Also intriguing
are the animal alphabet gardens where they observe and touch plants such as
alligator plant, bee balm, cat whiskers, dragon wing begonia, and elephant
ears.
There are numerous other activities for inquiring minds. Visitors use
recycled paper to construct grow cards, garden hats
and flower pots. They may investigate compost and different types of soils and
learn about beneficial bugs, plant propagation, flower parts and pollination.
There is even a scavenger hunt that can be enjoyed by any age. If you want your
child to explore nature first-hand, visit the VEG where children love to learn!
The Victoria County Master Gardeners are exceedingly proud of their longterm ongoing project, affectionately known as
"VEG." Members frequently talk about "Vegging
out at VEG" although they do far more than "veg
out" at the site.
VEG was made possible by generous support from the community, both directly
and indirectly, coupled with thousands of hours of master gardener volunteer
service. And it did not stop with design and construction; continual efforts
are expended weekly and sometimes daily (in the heat of the summer) with tender
loving care and maintenance. The Children's Garden and
Phases II though VI, the latter of which will encompass a covered pavilion
and restroom facilities, are in planning stages with focused fund-raising
efforts to soon again approach the community and physical work on new areas
intended to begin in the latter part of this year. There will be something for
everyone interested in what VEG has to offer - both for the young and young at
heart. With community support, VEG will continue to provide satisfaction to
local educational classroom and area garden club field trips as well as
tourists from outside of our region, and for the casual lover of beautiful
gardens as well as the serious gardener who seeks to continue to learn from
such a hands-on learning site.
Seeing and learning about nature in a planned setting furthers the educational
mission of the master gardener and extension programs. Continued interest and
community support energizes the master gardeners at VEG, and together, we can
continue to provide the "Classroom in the Garden" for the young and
old alike.
The Victoria County Master Gardeners Association is sponsoring a summer Junior Master Gardener program at the Boys and Girls Club. Enrollment in the program is open. For more information about this program or to arrange children or adult group activities and tours at VEG, call the Victoria County Extension Office at 361-575-4581.