This fall, our bilingual youth educators Laura Calderon and Paula Thomas have been leading a K-2 Garden Club called Semillitas (little seeds) at Valdez Elementary in Denver’s northside.
The club is dedicated to welcoming kids into the garden space and planting the seed of gardening in their minds as a vital part of their lives. Research has shown that kids who get exposed to gardening go on to eat more fruits and veggies!
Following a learning-by-playing model, Semillitas Garden Club is a place for children to explore the world of gardening, from seed to flower. The kids are exposed to gardening books, arts and crafts, and direct hands-in-the-soil gardening. Through guiding questions, our instructors connect kids with key concepts like soil composition, parts of the plant, ecosystems, and more.
Garden Club Guidelines
1- Respect all living things
2- Move carefully in the garden
3- Pick only with permission
4- Use tools carefully and return them when finished
Objectives and Outcomes:
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To introduce kids to the garden, the practice of gardening, and the many creatures that form a garden ecosystem
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To grow future garden lovers in the different communities
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To spark curiosity about the natural world
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To instill joy in tending a garden
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To connect children to healthy foods – from garden to plate
