Youth Education: 2022 In Review
In 2022, the Youth Education programs at the Civic Garden Center (CGC) were back to full capacity for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a busy year with loads of time in gardens!
School Garden Programs
In the spring of 2022, the Civic Garden Center resumed weekly programming with students at our three main partner schools: Pleasant Hill Academy, Parker Woods Montessori and North Avondale Montessori. In the fall, we were able to continue with those three schools and add in a few programs at Doherty Elementary and Dater Montessori.
Once again, Cincinnati Public Schools ran Summer Scholars at all its schools in June. As part of it, the CGC offered a garden-based enrichment program once a week with students at Pleasant Hill Academy and North Avondale Montessori and made several visits to Mt. Airy School and John P Parker School, an increase from the amount of such programming we provided in 2021.
In 2022, we offered almost triple the number of school garden programs than the year prior: 203 programs that reached 3,640 students and 338 adults.
“The Civic Garden Center helps take science outside and gives my students examples of science they can take home or see in their own community.”
“I believe the value [of the CGC’s school garden programs] is that our students get to participate in science activities that they may not get to participate in with their classroom teacher. For our school, I liked being able to utilize our school grounds and its amenities.”
Summer Sprouts
As the weather warms and the school year comes to an end, Summer Sprouts Garden Camp kicks off in various locations around Cincinnati. These programs offer a seed-to-plate experience for children attending summer camps located near some of our community gardens. Both 3CDC (coordinator of the Ziegler Park Summer Camp) and a Summertime Kids Grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation helped support the program.
In 2022, CGC staff and interns facilitated programs with Peaslee Neighborhood Center and Ziegler Park Summer Camps at the Pendleton Children’s Garden. There was a total of 36 programs which were attended by 62 participants and 9 adult chaperones each week.
Compost Kids Field Trips
In 2022, we welcomed nine schools and organizations as part of our K-6 Compost Kids field trips, totaling 12 field trips, 367 students and 45 adults. In the spring, we continued our partnership with Cincinnati Parks by having naturalist Michael George lead a station about plant reproduction and pollinators. However, over the summer and in the fall, Michael was no longer available to work with us. Our Youth Education staff created a new pollinator station to include instead, which we piloted in the fall.
“It was a great field trip. I’ll come back.”
Growing Our Teachers
In partnership with Gorman Heritage Farm and the Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council, and with funding through the USDA Farm to School Implementation Grant, the CGC continued Growing Our Teachers in 2022. This professional development opportunity is a cohort-based monthly teacher training offered throughout the school year.
The ten members of our first cohort completed the series in June. Over the summer, we recruited for our second cohort and received more interest than we could accommodate. In September we kicked off our 13-member second cohort, which will continue through June of 2023. Some feedback from our first cohort to complete the program included:
“I accomplished learning how to access different organizations that teach about gardening in and out of the classroom. I am also creating a plan and program for gardening through the entire year to show students how to grow food each season.”
“I loved discussing how people were using their school gardens and being with a group of people who had a passion for gardens and teaching kids to appreciate outdoor spaces and gardening.”
“Overall, this has been a great experience. I’ve enjoyed getting to know my cohort and facilitators. I feel more confident in my abilities to use and share our school garden as a learning tool.”
Partnerships & Collaborations
With limited staff capacity, working with other organizations is always key to the successes of the Youth Education program. In addition, healthy partnerships enable all participating parties to grow and further their missions. We’re proud to build relationships with many local schools and organizations who share our love of community. In 2022, our Youth Education program partnered with the following:
Be Well
Boys and Girls Club of Kenton County
Central State Cooperative Extension Agency
Cheviot School
Children’s Academy Mason
Children’s for Children
Cincinnati Parks
Cincinnati Public School District
Clark Montessori
Covedale Elementary
Dater Montessori
Gamble Montessori Elementary
Gamble Montessori High School
Girl Scouts of Western Ohio
Goddard School
Gorman Heritage Farm
Greater Cincinnati Environmental Educators
Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council
Green Umbrella
Hamilton County R3source
John P Parker School
Madeira Branch Library
Mt. Airy School
Mt. Auburn Intentional Community Housing
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
North Avondale Montessori
Northern Kentucky Health Department
Parker Woods Montessori
Peaslee Neighborhood Center Summer Camp
Pleasant Hill Academy
Rachel Robinson Design Landscape Architecture
Riverview East Academy
Seven Hills School
School Garden Support Organization Network
Southwestern Ohio Beekeepers Association
St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry
Xavier University Montessori Lab School
Xavier University Summer Service Internship Program
Ziegler Park Summer Camp
Looking Ahead
In 2023, we’ll continue our youth-based programs in school gardens and at the CGC. The second Growing Our Teachers cohort will run through the first half of the year. We plan to offer Summer Sprouts to two summer camps again utilizing the Pendleton Children’s Garden. While promised funding for Cincinnati Public Schools to use toward outdoor learning opportunities has been stalled multiple times, 2023 might prove to be the year these funds become available—in which case, we’ll be ready to help facilitate more outdoor experiences for CPS students!
