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- Author or Editor: Brenda J. Vander Mey x
“Garden Experiences in Youth Development” is a two-credit, (one lecture, one lab) 400-level course offered each spring semester by the Dept. of Horticulture at Clemson Univ. For the past 3 years, the course has met the following specific needs: 1) requests by horticulture students for more experiences related to horticulture and human well-being; 2) opportunities for other majors whose careers will or may focus on children to learn and to use horticulture with children; 3) a source of adult leaders for an after school children's gardening program at the South Carolina Botanical Garden. The lecture portion addresses issues related to children in horticulture, planning nature and gardening related activities with children, as well as a general background in gardening for nonmajors. During the lab, the students gain hands-on experience working with children who participate in Sprouting Wings, an after school gardening program offered by the South Carolina Botanical Garden. A multi-source evaluation of the effectiveness of the course and the youth program is being conducted. The poster will present the course syllabus, copies of selected course readings, outlines of student generated projects, and the results of the program evaluation.
The Charleston Area Children's Garden Project is a community-sponsored initiative affiliated with the Clemson Univ. Coastal Research and Education Center and the Landscapes for Learning Program. The Project transforms vacant lots and other unused spaces into neighborhood outdoor learning centers. Garden activities are free and open to all. The children plan, plant, and tend the garden under the supervision and guidance of adult Garden Leaders. Whatever is grown, the children take home. A “sidewalk learning session” is held in the garden each week. At these sessions, the garden manager, parents, neighbors, or visitors teach the youngsters about garden-related topics from insects to siphons, from origami to pickling, and a multitude of other topics designed to stimulate learning and child participation. The Project is designed to give children a hands-on learning experience outside the classroom setting, to make neighborhoods more attractive, and to build a sense of community. The Project is totally funded by grant monies and has grown from one garden in 2000 to ten gardens in 2004. Gardens are planted with the involvement of neighborhood associations, the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Homeless Shelter, and in conjunction with after-school programs. The Project makes use of such resources as The Growing Classroom and the Junior Master Gardener Teaching Guide. An array of program materials has been developed that are designed for use in the coastal communities of South Carolina.