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Home » Education Programs » Families & Children

Programs for Families and Children

Children's Garden Spring Classes

Your kids don't like vegetables? Maybe they should grow their own! Kids actually eat the peas as well as carrots, turnips, and salad greens galore that they grow and harvest in the Spring Children's Garden. All of our Children's Garden classes are designed with a low child-to-teacher ratio to help ensure quality programming. Register now to save a space in our popular Spring programs. The Independence Community Foundation Scholarship Fund for the Children's Garden provides limited scholarships for all age groups based on need. For information, call the Registration Office at 718-623-7220.

KinderGarden: Trees and Saplings

For three- and four-year-olds with a caregiver

This hands-on program introduces young children, with the support of their caregivers, to the wonders of plants, gardens, and the outdoors at BBG. We listen to gardening stories, participate in fun planting activities, and (weather permitting) go on sensory tours of different parts of the Garden. Consistent attendance of one adult per child is required. No infants or older siblings, please.

KinderGarden: Seeds

For Pre-K through Kindergarten (four- and five-year-olds)

Our youngest gardeners work communally in the KinderGarden plots. Structured play, games, and arts and crafts are used to teach the basics of gardening both indoors and out! Children plant and maintain cool-weather crops and help to build our vine house to keep us cool in the summer. Kids take home flowers and vegetables they have grown and harvested themselves. This is a drop-off program.

KinderGarden: Seedlings

For Kindergarten–First graders

The Seedlings plant and maintain cool-weather crops in the Children's Garden communal plots. Later in the season, we will plant warm-weather crops for the upcoming summer. Kids take home vegetables they have grown and harvested themselves. Children listen to garden-related stories and participate in structured play, including games and arts and crafts, to learn the fundamentals of gardening. Each class will focus on a different gardening topic, from plant parts to garden wildlife.

City Farmers

For Second–Seventh graders

Spring gardeners dig, line rows, plant seeds and seedlings, weed, cultivate, and harvest a variety of crops. City Farmers work in twos or threes on their own plot of fertile soil. An instructor leads each small age-based group. Nature activities, science projects, cooking and crafts are often part of the day's program.

City Farmers Spring Break Mini-Session

For Second–Fifth Graders

Kids can help jump-start our Children's Garden during the Spring Break Mini-Session! Activities include measuring and lining out garden beds, planting seeds in the garden and greenhouses, and preparing window boxes and other planters. Kids take home some of their own plants and seeds, as well as a rare early-spring garden experience.

Summer Classes

KinderGarden: Trees and Saplings

For three- and four-year-olds with caregiver

Caregivers and children learn about BBG while developing a love of plants, gardens, and the outdoors. We listen to gardening stories, participate in fun planting activities, and, weather permitting, go on sensory tours of different parts of the Garden. This program is open to one adult and one three- or four-year-old per family only. No infants, please.

KinderGarden: Seeds

For four- and five-year-olds

The Seeds work side by side to learn basic gardening skills. Seeds spend time planting and maintaining communal plots. Children take home flowers and vegetables they have tended and harvested themselves. The Seeds hear garden-related stories and participate in structured play, games, and arts and crafts activities in order to learn the fundamentals of gardening. Each class focuses on a different gardening topic, from planting seeds to tugging weeds.

This is a drop-off program. Children must be four years old by July 1 in order to enroll. We recommend this program for younger children and first-time KinderGardeners.

KinderGarden: Seedlings

For five- and six-year-olds

The Seedlings work in pairs to learn more advanced gardening skills. Each pair spends time planting and maintaining communal plots. Children take home flowers and vegetables they have tended and harvested themselves. Seedlings listen to garden-related stories, participate in structured play, games, and arts and crafts activities in order to learn the fundamentals of gardening. Each class focuses on a different gardening topic, from planting seeds to tugging weeds.

This is a drop-off program. Please note that this program is designed for five- and six-year-olds only. Children must be five years old by July 1 in order to enroll. We recommend this program for older children and children who have already gardened in the Children's Garden.

KinderGarden: Buds

For four-, five-, and six-year-olds

The afternoon Buds begin their lesson indoors with a fun planting activity, then go down to the Children's Garden to harvest. This format provides young children with a fun-filled and cool summer afternoon in the Garden. Must be four by July 1 to enroll.

Each child may enroll in ONLY ONE KinderGarden session per month (a.m. or p.m.).

City Farmers

For children entering 2nd through 7th Grades

The City Farmers program is an opportunity for kids to grow food and flowers from seed for their family table while meeting new friends, acquiring new skills, and having a good time in the garden. Summer gardeners dig, plant, weed, cultivate, and harvest a variety of crops. City Farmers work in pairs within small age-based groups led by an instructor. Nature activities, science projects, storytelling, and crafts are often part of the day's program. Children get to see—growing right out of the ground—radishes, carrots, lettuce, scallions, squash, eggplants, cucumbers, tomatoes, beans, and much more. It's a great place to learn about gardening and nature!

Limited scholarships are available based on need; call 718-623-7220 for information.

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