CHILDREN’S CLASSES

Produced by the Cincinnati Horticultural Society

 

Register today and meet Fresh Air Coordinator Stephanie Meyers for summer-fun classes.

Register today and meet Fresh Air Coordinator Stephanie Meyers for summer-fun classes.

Looking for some outdoor summer fun? Learn about gardening and explore the natural world with summer programs for ages 4-8 and ages 9-12. Each week the classes will explore an exciting theme  with hands-on activities. Children will learn about butterflies and  birds, animal and insects, fairy tale gardens and other fascinating subjects. A full list of all our classes is shown below by age category. Classes are led by CHS staff and local experts and held outdoors in the beautiful, natural setting of the historic Meade property.

 

 

 

 

When: Thursday mornings, June 2 – July 28

Where: The Meade House in Symmes Township,

      11887 N. Lebanon Road, Loveland, OH 41540

Cost: Classes are $16 each – $3 discount for Symmes Township residents

 

Fresh Air Registration Form

 

Programs for Children Ages 4-8

2016 birdbonanza 2

 

 

Thursday, June 2 10:00-12:00

Sprouts for Sprouts: Growing Plants from Seeds: What are seeds? Who eats seeds? How do seeds move? How does a seed grow? What size and shape do seeds come in? The morning will start with some basic information about seeds. We will plant seeds in the garden and record their plantings. We will observe growth of seeds and plants. We will measure the size of plants and record the progress on the master calendar. We will look at different types of seeds and look inside of fruits to find seeds. We will explore some ways seeds might move and make and test fly a seed helicopter.  We will mix their own seedy trail mix snack to enjoy in the garden.

 

Thursday, June 9 10:00-12:00

What a Wild World! Where do animals live? What do they need? How can we invite them to our gardens? Come explore the garden and woods as we look for animals and signs of their activity. The morning will start with a story and puppet show to introduce some of the local animals and the signs that they leave behind. We will look for wildlife on a nature hike. The morning will conclude with a snack and a special guest.

 

Thursday, June 16 10:00-12:00

Fairy Tales and Folklore in the Garden: Calling all small characters to a magical morning in the garden. Stories, games, and garden adventures will abound. Costumes are welcome as long as they are weather appropriate and don’t drag the ground. The morning will include a trip to the enchanted forest where we will collect materials to make accessories for the fairy/elf gardens. We will assemble container gardens of miniature plants to welcome some magic into our gardens at home. A tasty treat will be served at the concluding story.

 

Thursday, June 23 10:00-12:00

Bird Bonanza: Learn About Local Birds: The morning will begin with an introduction to some local birds; their appearance, their homes, and what they eat, and some of their special adaptations. We will mix hummingbird food and refill the feeders. We will go on a bird watching hike with a birding expert. After returning from the hike, there will be a snack with a special guest. We will then decorate a bird house to take home.

 

Thursday, June 30 10:00-12:00

Beautiful Bouquets & Butterflies: The morning will begin with a tour of the garden. We will learn

about the flowers in the garden and participate in helping to keep the garden healthy and beautiful.

Then with an expert the we will learn about the butterfly life cycle, what butterflies need, and how you can get butterflies to come to your garden. We will identify some butterflies in the garden as we cut flowers. We will make a bouquet complete with a decorative butterfly to take home.

 

Thursday, July 14 9:30-11:00

Bugs in the Garden I: Common Garden Insects: There are between six and ten million species of insects. Have you ever wondered about these small creatures that are secretly or maybe not so secretly sharing the garden with us. What’s in the soil, on the plants, & in the air around us all the time? Insects! Learn about the role in nature of the ants, ladybugs, praying mantis, and many others. The morning will start with an insect scavenger hunt. As each insect is discovered, we will discuss its role in the garden and some cool facts about it. We will inspect a soil sample from the yard for insects. We will search the garden for insects on the vegetables plants, flowers, and trees and identify them. We will enjoy a Dirt pie treat while listening to a story. The morning will conclude with making a garden mask.

 

Thursday July 21 9:30-11:00

Bugs in the Garden II: Bees A local beekeeper will teach us about bees, their homes, what they need, how they communicate. We will search the garden looking for busy bees and what plants they are visiting. We will sample honey that comes from different types of flowers and learn the bee dance. We will decorate a folder with a bee hive complete with little bees. The morning will end with a story and a treat.

 

Thursday July 28 9:30-11:00

Rabbit’s Delight: Veggie Garden: The morning will begin with a tour of the vegetable garden. We will learn about vegetable gardening hands on as we care for the garden and harvest the vegetables. We will compare the appearance of the plants and vegetables. We will make rabbit ear and don them for a rabbit relay race and tasting of some foods made from the garden.  The morning will end with a story & snack.

Programs for Children Ages 9-12

FAS 0397      FAS 0491

 

Thursday, June 16 10:00-12:00

Fairy Tales and Folklore in the Garden: Calling all small characters to a magical morning in the garden. Stories, games, and garden adventures will abound. Costumes are welcome as long as they are weather appropriate and don’t drag the ground. The morning will include a trip to the enchanted forest where we will collect materials to make accessories for the fairy/elf gardens. We will assemble container gardens of miniature plants to welcome some magic into our gardens at home. A tasty treat will be served at the concluding story.

 

Thursday, June 23 10:00-12:00

Bird Bonanza: Learn About Local Birds: The morning will begin with an introduction to some local birds; their appearance, their homes, and what they eat, and some of their special adaptations. We will mix hummingbird food and refill the feeders. We will go on a bird watching hike with a birding expert. After returning from the hike, there will be a snack with a special guest. We will then decorate a bird house to take home.

 

Thursday, June 30 10:00-12:00

Beautiful Bouquets & Butterflies: The morning will begin with a tour of the garden. We will learn about the flowers in the garden and help to keep the garden healthy and beautiful.  Then with an expert the we will learn about the butterfly life cycle, what butterflies need, and how you can get butterflies to come to your garden. We will identify some butterflies in the garden as we cut flowers. We will make a bouquet complete with a decorative butterfly to take home.