Des Fleurs Garden Club began the delightful task of creating a hands-on children’s gardening experience on the grounds of OCAC in 2007. The third phase continues this spring.
Ready, Set, Grow! Immerse your child in the magical world of a garden where experience-based learning creates connections through gardening, play and the inspiration of story ...
In January of 2007 OCAC partnered with the Des Fleurs Garden Club and the Environmental Mobile Unit (EMU) to develop a unique summer experience that would immerse children in the magical world of a garden where experience-based learning creates connections through gardening, play and the inspiration of story…A place just waiting for the child’s imagination!
Gardeneering Camp 2009
Take an adventure this summer exploring plants, pollinators, and the dynamic ecosystem in which we live. Campers will learn about seeds and how to grow them, how plants produce energy through photosynthesis, garden games and maintenance, and ways to prepare nutritious organic snacks. Explore the world of worms, meet and eat amazing plants, and exercise your science skills. The Gardeneers will produce a beautiful garden for Oxford residents and its visitors to enjoy!
WHO: Children ages 6-12
WHAT: Children’s Gardeneering Summer Camp 2009
WHEN: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, Saturdays
Unit I: SEEDS May 2, 9, 16, 23
Unit II: LEAVES May 30, June 6, 13, 20
Unit III: FLOWERS June 27 & July 4, 11, 18
Unit IV: FRUITS August 1, 8, 15, 22
WHERE: The Children’s Garden at Oxford Community Arts Center
COST: $30 per Session
Each unit is limited to 14 children. Depending on enrollment numbers, we may add another class. You may sign up for more than one unit. Substituting a Saturday in one unit for a Saturday in another unit may be possible in order to accommodate family schedule. Please arrange those changes with the Gardeneering Camp teaching staff.
Mary Keppler will be guiding the campers through each unit this summer. Mary is a graduate student at Miami University specializing in youth centered botanical programs, as well as a native of Oxford. Mary spent last summer at the Cincinnati Civic Garden Center doing children’s programming in five inner-city gardens. Besides being a total nature freak, a gardening guru and an awesome teacher, Mary is CPR and First Aid certified!
A limited number of scholarships are available. To receive a scholarship the child must write a paragraph or draw a picture explaining why he or she wants to attend camp and send or bring it in with the camp application.
Gardeneering Camp 2009 is supported by:
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation - Summertime Kids
Gardeneering Camp 2009 Flyer/Signup Sheet
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Des Fleurs’ Garden Club investment in The Children's Garden a
t OCAC is paying big dividends! As part of their unit on seeds, second graders,with teachers, parents, and other helpers, hike from Kramer School to the Children's Gardenonce in the fall and once in the early spring. There they meet the
Environmental Mobile Unit naturalists and helpers. In the garden’s center the students are briefed on the "ground rules" including safety, proper use of tools such as hoes, rakes, and hand lenses, and the
purpose of the trip.
The students and adults are divided into small groups given directions, and then rotate through the various jobs, including: Observe what’s growing in the beds; observe what's living in the soil or on the plants; identify and pull unwanted plants; haul weeds to the composter; harvest what’s ready; loosen the soil; and examine and plant seeds, bulbs, and/or seedlings. The last class of the season waters the new plantings if they have time. Generally we plant peas, lettuce, radishes, and spinach. In the fall the students take back to the classroom for further study pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn; popcorn, and/or flower seed heads.
The children's garden experiences extend what they learn from their experiments with growing seeds indoors, increasing their knowledge about seeds, food, and gardens. Teachers refer back to their experiences at the Garden throughout the year. The students remember their trip and what they did long after, and many tell the EMU naturalist later about what they plant at home.
Sharon Edwards, EMU Naturalist
The Children’s Garden at OCAC is a collaboration between the Oxford Community Arts Center and Des Fleurs Garden Club. Des Fleurs Garden Club is entirely responsible for building and maintaining this beautiful addition to the community.
The Oxford Community Arts Center is responsible for the education programs that take place in the garden.
Our joint mission is to provide a unique and joyful garden environment designed to inspire, empower and connect children with the importance of plants and the natural world in their lives.
Research shows that children have a basic need to establish a deep emotional connection to the natural world.
- Children with views of and contact with nature score higher on tests of concentration and self-discipline. The greener, the better the scores.
- Children who play regularly in natural environments show more advanced motor fitness, including coordination, balance and agility, and they are sick less often.
- When children play in natural environments, their play is more diverse with imaginative and creative play that fosters language and collaborative skills.
- Exposure to natural environments improves children's cognitive development by improving their awareness, reasoning and observational skills.
- Nature buffers the impact of life stress on children and helps them deal with adversity. The greater the amount of nature exposure, the greater the benefits.
Gardeneering Camp is made possible by the generous contributions of the following organizations:
