The Discovery Center
One thing that we have really emphasized is our gardens this year – we have provided a living outdoor laboratory for the children. The kids have been a vital part of this process from start to finish. We started early Spring talking about what we would like to plant in the gardens and how we were going to maintain them. From the very beginning we gave them a hands on opportunity to be active participants. They got the garden beds ready, made holes to plant seeds, have watered the seeds and watched and waited patiently for the seeds to start growing and producing fruits/vegetables. It has also given the children a sense of responsibility – this is something they have to take care of and maintain. It has been one of the most rewarding things to watch these kids take care of the gardens and especially, eat what we have grown, with their own hands. The kids are excited daily to check the garden to seeing if anything new has come up. It has also given them a chance to try new things that maybe they did not like before. I am confident that we have given the children a new understanding of what being respectful to our environment means and when you are, what it can do.