The American Horticultural Society (AHS) has a long history of supporting gardening and outdoor learning with children and their families. Maintaining a connection with the natural world helps children develop healthy social skills, enhances school curricula, strengthens family ties, and fosters an understanding and appreciation of the environment and our place within it. Through several national programs such as the National Children and Youth Garden Symposium and the Growing Good Kids Book Awards, and several others, the AHS continues to embrace programs that will take youth gardening into the next millennium.

Here at the AHS’s national headquarters - River Farm in Alexandria - in addition to our Children’s Garden designed specifically for kids and the way they play, explore, and learn, we also offer a variety of educational programs for groups, individuals, and families.  To watch a brief video of kids playing and dancing in the Children’s Garden at River Farm, click here.

NEW!! For Fall and Winter 2009-10:

The beautiful grounds of River Farm are a perfect destination for school groups, Boy or Girl Scouts, and homeschool groups. Choose a topic from the list below, or contact us to arrange a special program. Sessions are one hour long, with an SOL relevant lesson, outdoor experience, and hands-on project. Reservations are required, the fee is $5 per child, with a minimum charge of $50.

River Farm Ramble: Slow down and take time to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature with a guided stroll around the River Farm grounds. Stop to examine special flowers, trees, the four-acre meadow and our expansive river view. Appreciate tiny natural treasures such as rocks, cones, seed pods, leaves, and flowers. Decorate a small “treasure box” to take home. (All ages)

Garden in a Glove: Where do plants come from? What do they need to grow? Look at seeds and learn how they become the plants of the gardens. Make a take-home germination kit with a glove, some cotton balls, and five different types of flower seeds. (Pre-K through 3rd grade)

Habitat Explorations: Did you know you could make a garden for insect and animal friends? In this class, learn the basic elements of a good habitat, and visit pond and meadow environments. Play a fun habitat game and create a nature journal to record the things you see. (Pre-K through 3rd grade)

Bees Really Are Busy: How do bees help flowers, and flowers help bees? How and why do bees dance? What are the flower’s parts and what are these parts for? Answer these questions by dissecting flower samples to find the structures inside. After looking at real examples, design and create your own unique flower. Finish the day with a tour of the River Farm gardens to find flowers and bees at work. (Pre-K through 3rd grade)

Pollinator Partnerships: Examine the relationship between plants and pollinators. Learn various ways that particular plants attract their pollination partners. Dissect flower and plant samples. Participants will create a portrait of their dream flower and explain how it works. End the lesson with a River Farm tour to observe pollination partners in the gardens. (3rd through 7th grade)

Dirt Alert: The soil in a garden affects the overall success of the plants. Why do plants need soil? What and who lives in the dirt? What exactly is soil? How does nature’s trash become soil for plants? Learn about the role of soil in the circle of life and get your hands dirty exploring this very important part of our world. (All ages)

The Importance of Trees: It is so easy to take trees for granted, but they are truly fascinating life forms, often dominating our suburban landscape. Take a closer look at trees and learn how to identify different species, how trees grow, how they impact our environment, and how we rely on trees for many of the good things in life. (All ages)

For information, to request a special program, or to reserve a program date, call  (703) 768-5700 ext. 137, or email youthprograms@ahs.org.

River Farm Youth Garden Club

Don’t think there is nothing for gardeners to do just because the weather is a little cooler! Each  weekly session will introduce a new topic, followed by hands-on gardening experiences. Each session will wrap up with a journal entry to reflect on the lesson and activity. The goals of the Youth Garden Club are to promote good gardening practices and stewardship, introduce children and their families to the American Horticultural Society, and to provide a meaningful outdoor learning experience. Great for early release Mondays, here are the lesson topics for the Youth Garden Club Fall sessions:

• Grasses – Beyond the Lawn

• Monarchs and Moths

• Pumpkins, Gourds and other Fall Crops

• Autumn Color

• Seeds on the Move

• Rain Dance

• The Promise of Bulbs

• Garden Critters of River Farm

Drop-in, no reservation required. Ages 3 and up. $5 per child per session. Monday, September 28 – November 23, no class October 12. New Times! Choose either 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. or 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

7931 East Boulevard Drive - Alexandria VA 22308
(V) 703.768.5700 - Toll Free: 1.800.777.7931
(F) 703.768.8700 - Publications Fax: 703.768.7533

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