The Children’s Garden at OCAC

 

CHILDREN'S GARDENING OPPORTUNITIES

 

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 … A place just waiting for the child’s imagination!

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 2011

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 2010

WHEN:     9:30 am to 12:30 pm, Saturdays

           Unit I - June 4, 11, 18th

           Unit II—July 9, 16, 23th

           Unit III—August  6, 13, 20

           August 28th is Community Arts Centers Day!  The Children’ will have made  masks

           and costumes so they can participate in the Parade and Ice Cream Social.  Plan on

           coming!

WHERE:     The Children’s Garden at Oxford Community Arts Center

COST:        $35 per Unit

Each unit is limited to 14 children. You may sign up for as many units as you wish . Substituting a Saturday in one unit for a Saturday in another unit may be possible in order to accommodate family schedules. Please arrange those changes with the Gardeneering Camp teaching staff.

Caroline Croswell will be guiding the campers through each unit this summer.  Besides being the Executive Director of the Community Arts Center, Caroline is a master gardener and a total plant freak who has received numerous awards in horticulture.  She will be assisted by student and   garden club volunteers. 

Visiting educators will also be part of this years program; with mini workshops in honeybees and other pollinators, how to attract songbirds to the garden, gourds as art and musical instruments and many other fun activities. 

Thanks to Mary Keppler’s hard work, the Gardeneering program is kid tested and aligned with the Ohio Academic Content Standards.

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.  

The Children’s Garden at OCAC is a collaboration between the Oxford Community Arts Center and Des Fleurs Garden Club.  

 

Gardeneering Camp 2011 Flyer/Signup Sheet

(Requires a PDF Reader)

 

ENVIRONMENTAL MOBILE UNIT

Des Fleurs’ Garden Club investment in The Children's Garden at 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

 
Why A Children’s Garden? 

Children’s gardens replace the free exploration of the natural world that no longer occurs in today’s era of TV, video games and concern over safety. Allowing a young child to experience the natural world is not just a nice thing to do. It is vital - for the future of our children, the future of our culture and indeed the future of all life.

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.

MISSION AND OBJECTIVES

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.