Children’s Programs

Sponsored by:

We love our youngest visitors!

Claude our sweetgum ball catepillar.

And we have just the activity for you to ensure you do not miss a part of our beautiful gardens. Stop by at the Reception in the Hiram-Butler house for your copy of the seasonally appropriate scavenger hunt. Claude our sweetgum ball caterpillar has been crawling around the gardens and we like for you to find out where he was.

Participate in one of our programs:

All children’s programs are $7 per child which includes an activity fee. Adults pay regular admission; additional participating children are $5 each.  Pre-registration is recommended and appreciated.

Our programs are sponsored by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

“GARDEN STORIES”
Every 3rd Wednesday at 10:30am
Children aged 3 to 6 years old and their caregiver will enjoy a story on a garden-related topic. (Activities include one or more stories, dance, organized play or a topic-related arts and craft project.) Along with story time, accompanying activities will vary monthly and may include related arts, crafts, dance or organized play.

April 17 – Growing Seeds

May 15 – Bugs and Butterflies

June 19 – Yummy Vegetables

July 17 – Children’s Yoga in the Garden

August 21 – Sunflowers!

September 18 – Why do leaves fall?

October 16 – Corn, pumpkins and scarecrows

“SUMMER PROGRAMS”
Every Thursday in June at 10:30 am.
Children aged 6 to 12 years old discover the wondrous world within our Garden through exploration and their own limitless creativity. Activities include pressing flowers, sharing the creative process of sculpture making, sketching and journaling about treasures found within this jewel box known as Smith-Gilbert.

June 6 – Immersed in Roses.  June is National Rose Month.  Children will pick up a magnifying glass, and then sharpen their view of the world along with their sense of smell.   All the while, they’ll be learning about the official flower of the United States!  Along with this educational program, children will sketch roses and create salt dough rose beads.

June 13 – Garden Explorer’s Tour. During this tour of Smith-Gilbert Gardens, children will learn about seeds, plants, flowers, and fruit while using their senses to explore the Garden.  Favorite stops on this tour include the Gather ‘n’ Grow veggie plots, pollinator garden, Bonsai display, koi ponds, waterfall area, and rose garden.  We’ll provide a Garden Journal so that children may record their thoughts and observations.  In addition, participants will start some of their own seeds to take home!

June 20 – All About Flowers. Why do we like flowers?  Is it their color, scent or shape? Besides being pretty, they have very vital reasons for their existence.  Children will learn about these important purposes and how blossoms are used for things other than decoration.  After a stroll through the Garden learning about buds n’ blooms, children will make and take home a flower press.  Hidden inside will be a flower to remember their visit!

June 27 – Art in the Garden – Looking at Sculpture.   Smith-Gilbert Gardens is proud to be one of a select number of gardens in the United States that includes sculpture as part of its interest. Children attending this art-themed program will learn to appreciate this creative art form.  After walking the Garden and discussing color, shape, line, scale and style, children will use their right brain and a ball of clay to create a masterpiece.

Groups of 6 or more may schedule a program at alternate times during the calendar year.  Please contact Stefanie Haerynck at shaerynck@smithgilbertgardens.com or call the Gardens at 770-919-0248 to make arrangements.

Come for a docent-led tour !

Our children’s tours and programs are designed for children 5-12 years and are being correlated to the Georgia Performance Standards.

Fees for tours are $5 per child. 1 adult free per 5 children, additional adults are $7 per person. A deposit is required to confirm your date and time of tour. All children’s tours and programs require a reservation and are open for private groups of 6 or more. For more information contact the Garden office at 770-919-0248 or email info@smithgilbertgardens.com.

 Our tours:

“GARDEN EXPLORER” – Geared to the young garden explorers (Kindergarten – 2nd grade) where the children are guided along kid appealing highlights of the garden and learn about plants, seeds, flowers and fruits; explore the differences and similarities in plants and use their senses to explore. Garden explorers will experience an eye opener in the kid friendly Gather ‘n’ Grow Garden, on growing vegetables, smelling herbs, admiring colors and fragrant flowers, the mystery of the pollinator garden, a look at bonsai, a visit to the colorful koi, walking through the rock garden, smell a range of roses in the rose garden… For sure a breathtaking exploration.

“GARDEN SENSE”—Explore the Gardens using all 5 senses by viewing forms of trees and activities of animals, listening to bird songs and waterfalls, smelling flowers, touching sculptures and tasting our wonderful Gardens’ Honey. Children will gain new awareness of their surroundings by these guided observations.

*Cancellation Policy: All program fees are non-refundable. Please notify the Garden office 48 hours in advance if you need to reschedule. We will gladly assist you in selecting another program of equal value on another date.