Since its official opening in 1997, the Carolina Children’s Garden has been a retreat for families, children, and school groups to picnic and play among plants surrounded by storybook characters and wildlife. Seasonal festivals, storytelling events, and workshops on such topics as composting, butterfly gardening, and building bluebird houses have attracted visitors to the garden too.

Since September of 2009 the Carolina Children’s Garden embarked on a new environmental education initiative. Through a grant from the Richland County Conservation Commission and a cooperative venture with the South Carolina Midlands Master Garden Association (SCMMGA) and the Richland County Master Garden Association (RCMGA), the garden is developing an environmental education program for a variety of audiences: pri- vate and public school children, homeschoolers, scouts, daycares, teachers, and parents.

The newly refurbished bird house is ready for playful occupants. Chanda Cooper, environmental educator, develops and teaches the programs. Cooper, a graduate of the USC School of the Environment, has a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and a master’s degree in earth and environmental resource management.

Fall programming has included nature writing, chemistry in the garden on Mole Day, gourd and pumpkin painting at the Farmer’s Market, a water cycle workshop at the rain garden, and storytelling. When author Sally Harman Plowden read her book, Turtle Tracks, at the garden, Cooper taught children how to make turtleariums.

There are a number of family programs still open for registration in November and December. On Tuesday, November 24 from 2:30–5:30 pm at the Sandhill Farmer’s Market, children can create holiday decorations from natural objects and recycled materials. The morning of Saturday, December 5 at 10 am, the Palmetto Conservation Foundation will partner with the Children’s Garden to offer a family hike: “Backpacks, Kids, and Dogs.” The hike begins and ends at the garden.

Chanda Cooper, environmental educator, is developing and teaching the new education program at the garden. In the afternoon of December 5 at 1 pm there is a natural wreath making contai test in the garden with prizes.

Registration for programs should be by emailing carolinachildrensgarden @gmail.com or phoning 803- 459-3212. Your organization may request special theme programs for your group.

Visitors to the garden will see new exhibits over the next few months. A newly constructed information kiosk will be posting education programs for 2010. On the flip side of the information kiosk is a bird display board with seasonal exhibits.

A double–blossomed morning glory is still blooming in November. A worm dig is scheduled for McGregor’s Garden and a fossil dig is a coming attraction in Mesozoic Memories Dinosaur Garden. The Richland Conservation District donated a rain barrel to the children’s garden for a demonstration at McDonald’s Historic Crop Farm.

Plants may be going dormant, but children’s garden activities are in high gear. Experience the enthusiasm for learning at one of Columbia’s finest teaching gardens.
Barnyard and storybook characters roam the garden.
The ABC Book of Flowers lets children find and identify the names and faces of flowers in the ABC Garden.