Little Sprouts Fall Gardening Session
Enrollment for this session is now closed.
Little Sprouts Fall Gardening focuses on connecting with your baby through nature. This class promotes exploration: infants and toddlers will play in the dirt, interact with plants, and play in nature-based playscapes. Fall is all about harvesting and preparing beds for next spring! Families will take home produce, including herbs, veggies, and cut flowers. We’ll learn about plants and gardening techniques that are relevant to the season. Nature-based activities such as bird feeders, leaf-printed water colors, and pumpkin painting will also be part of class.
See below for class schedule, FAQs, and enrollment form.
Class Schedule
Every Other Thursday evening from 5:30-6:30 starting September 12th
September 12th & 26th
October 10th & 24th
Class 1: Introduce the garden, complete gardening tasks, and allow children to explore freely. We will have a pinecone birdfeeder activity and a sensory bin available for play as well.
Class 2: Complete gardening tasks and let the children explore. We will plant cover crops and prepare the beds for winter. Children can play with homemade playdough and color it with food dye.
Class 3: Complete gardening tasks and let the children explore. We will collect leaves and do leaf printing with watercolors.
Class 4: Complete any remaining gardening tasks. The class activity will be painting pumpkins with paint markers and other decorations.
FAQs - Follow link
Course Information
Class will be held at The Little Barnyard Preschool, 256 Ratika Rd, Esko.
Class will be held rain or shine and in all weather. We will move inside the preschool if needed. Class will only be cancelled if there is severe weather. You will receive an email in the morning informing you if we won’t have class.
Email is the primary method of communication. I will email course updates (such as cancellations or class preparedness) the day before or the morning of. Please check your emails during that time.
There are no refunds. Payment for all classes must be made in advance. In the event of a class cancellation, an alternative class date will be set.
It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to ensure the safety of their child and come prepared for class. Recommended safety measures include applying bug spray and sunscreen where age appropriate, hats, sunglasses, secure footwear, and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. This is a nature-based class, so come prepared for your child’s exploration!
Enrollment
Classes are $30 each, full amount charged at enrollment ($120 per family)
Please fill out the Enrollment Form and send payment to https://venmo.com/u/GoodRoots-Tina-Cross. Enrollment is not considered complete until payment and the form are submitted.
Scholarships and Donations
Scholarships are available for families who are unable to pay tuition. Donations are also accepted if you’re interested in further supporting GoodRoots.
Why is nature-based learning important?
Spending time in nature is important for both parents and children. For adults, spending time gardening relieves stress, alleviates symptoms of depression, improves sense of self-worth, promotes interpersonal connection, and boosts your immune system - among many other benefits!
For children, spending time in nature inspires confidence, self-regulation, gross and fine motor skills, increases social interaction and integration, and boosts their immune system - again, among many other benefits.
Promoting time outdoors and getting into the habit of making unstructured free play part of your daily life can result in long-lasting physical, social, and emotional health benefits. I believe in promoting the Circle of Security, which means that we allow our children to explore freely, independently, but knowing that if they need us, we’re right there to comfort and encourage them.
My classes are all designed around therapeutic horticulture. The plants selected are high-sensory value and I spend time curating activities that are fun and relaxing. The GoodRoots gardens are meant to be an oasis for families and a chance to connect with our children, ourselves, and each other.
