Program Features

More and more, children's gardens become part of life in cities and towns across the country. Many ideas and approaches are shared, and yet probably every children's garden is distinctive in its own ways.

• At work in many settings — CACGP works with children, teachers, principals, directors, staff, and parents within the Charleston Housing Authority Community Centers summer lunch programs, faith based community centers summer lunch and after school programs, Title One school's science, math, and health curricula, after school programs, emergency shelters and behavioral intervention centers, summer camps, orphanages, homeless shelters, and programs for teen-age pregnant girls.
• Open to all — The gardens are full of energy and busy children during the scheduled sessions each week, they are community activities ... not a club, not a religious group, and free to everyone. The youth who participate may harvest whatever they want whenever they want. They grow their own food and take home what they grow.
• All age ranges — The youth who participate in the gardens range from pre-schoolers who tag along with their older siblings, to elementary and middle-school youngsters, to teens.
• Scheduled — All garden sessions have scheduled 'learning' sessions that are approximately 90 to 120 minutes long. Garden staff or volunteers may be at the garden sites at other times of the week for maintenance and the children are invited to work and play alongside.
• Focused on Need — We support youth gardens wherever people want this experience for their children. We place particular emphasis on gardens in neighborhoods where family hardships limit kids' options for outdoor activities that are safe, fun and educational. Each garden addresses the different needs of that particular program or neighborhood.