Conception and Development of the Carolina Children's Garden

Abstract

The Clemson University Sandhill Research and Education Center is one of four branch stations of the South Carolina Agriculture and Forestry Research System, with a mission to conduct research and extension education programs in urban ecology. The Carolina Children's Garden has been created in partnership with other state agencies, funding sources, and volunteers as a site for environmental education. Learning from gardens and landscapes has steadily decreased since the late 1940s and today the average child spends 6 hours at indoor pursuits at school, an equal number at the television or computer screen at home, leaving little time for outdoor exploration. Recently, children's gardens have been established around the county as resources to reconnect children with their environment. The 2-acre Carolina Children's Garden is an interpretive framework for visitors to experience gardening as a tool for bringing families in touch with nature, each other, and local environmental issues. A volunteer team designed and installed eight theme gardens, an entertainment stage, and picnic area as the first phase of this garden. Themes include Mesozoic Memories Dinosaur Garden, Three Bears Garden, Growing Healthy Garden, Butterfly Garden, McGregor's Garden, and Alphabet Garden. The development of the garden has generated community interest and positive media exposure, inspires lifelong appreciation of the natural environment, encourages replication of ideas, and facilitates family recreation in a learning environment.