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Background
What is Children's Garden Consultants?
At a recent Cornell University event, we set up a "Children's Garden Consultants" experience for youth ages 15 to 17. During this three day event, teens were divided into a design team, and an educational program team. Through those lenses, the youth visited gardens, listened to presentations, explored numerous children's gardens from around the nation on-line, tried some garden-based learning activities, and had discussions on topics such as adult involvement in activities, and various approaches to design. They also learned what being a "consultant" meant and how to prepare for their final presentation.
At the end of the event, each team cloistered for an hour and a half, and put together PowerPoint presentations on their findings. The presentations contained their definitions of children's gardens, what they believe is working well, what in their opinion doesn't work, and what recommendations for improvement they had to offer -- again, from the perspective of both design and education. They presented to a group of adults who asked numerous questions of them.
What We Found…
Surveys, observations, and discussions with youth, adults in attendance, and program organizers indicated the event was highly valuable and worth repeating. We found that offering this program to a youth audience very much supported a need to involve youth in roles beyond the usual garden-based learning activities. They learned significantly about all aspects of children's garden settings, and the program interested the youth in gardening. Afterward, they talked about repeating exciting elements when they returned home. They very much appreciated being viewed as experts and as partners.
Why repeat it?
"As we continue to look for ways to involve young people in garden planning and design, beginning with 'children's garden consultants' can teach us about how youth define gardens, what they view as essential elements, what they believe doesn't work well in a garden setting, what is missing, and what should be improved. The Children's Garden Consultants model is an effective way to engage [youth] in a process through which they can inform adults of their perspectives regarding garden-based learning programming, and children's garden design." Lekies, Kristi S., Marcia Eames-Sheavly, Kimberly J. Wong, and Anne Ceccarini. 2006. Children’s Garden Consultants: A New Model of Engaging Youth to Inform Garden Design and Programming. HortTechnology 16(1): 139-142. See also: Research that supports our work.
Why conduct a CGC Program?
- To provide youth with a genuine experience in consulting.
- To provide youth with an opportunity to learn about children's garden planning
- To learn what youth have to say about children's gardens, in particular, how they view elements of garden design, and educational program activities.
- To plan for a children's garden in your own community.
- After school programs
- Home-schoolers
- Summer Camps
- 4-H groups
- Children's Gardens
- Youth/Teens considering a career in horticulture/garden planning
- Youth/Teens considering a career in business/consulting/sales
- Youth/Teens considering a career in education
- Faith-based youth groups
- This CGC On-line Toolkit
- Space where participants can congregate
- Transportation for youth between sites
- Adult assistants
- Program Coordinator (oversee successful execution of program)
- Several hours of advance planning
- 4-15+ hours in active program execution