{"id":9841,"date":"2021-08-24T13:52:25","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T21:52:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/?page_id=9841"},"modified":"2026-05-01T17:49:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T01:49:44","slug":"childrens-garden-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/gardening\/childrens-garden-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Children&#8217;s Garden Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"cpb-row  pad-bottom gutter side-right\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cpb-row-inner\"><div class=\"cpb-column  one\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cpb-textblock cpb-item \"><p><\/p>\n<h6>FREE Gardening Programs for children ages 4-12 years old<\/h6>\n<h6>at Dirt Works Demonstration Garden in Yauger Park, Olympia<\/h6>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2056\/2023\/06\/20190723_100914-1-396x223.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Join us for summer fun and hands-on learning in the Dirt Works Children\u2019s Garden!<\/p>\n<p>WSU Master Gardener &amp; Master Recycler Composter volunteers teach children gardening and environmental science education through fun and creative activities.\u00a0 Young gardeners are introduced to the art and science of gardening while developing community service values.<\/p>\n<p>Each program includes hands-on activities based on a different theme.<\/p>\n<p>Example activities include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tending and harvesting fruits and vegetables<\/li>\n<li>Playing garden games<\/li>\n<li>Storytime<\/li>\n<li>Make and take crafts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Activities are designed to promote a love of gardening, develop an appreciation for the environment, and cultivate the mind.<\/p>\n<p>The bounty raised from the garden is donated to the Thurston County Food Bank.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6380\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2056\/2019\/04\/Worm-for-Master-Your-Flier-396x406.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"322\" height=\"330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2056\/2019\/04\/Worm-for-Master-Your-Flier-396x406.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2056\/2019\/04\/Worm-for-Master-Your-Flier.jpg 613w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 322px) 100vw, 322px\" \/><\/p>\n<h5><b>IMPORTANT NOTE:<\/b><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Participants must be between 4 &#8211; 12 years old.<\/li>\n<li>Participants must be a Thurston County resident.<\/li>\n<li>Parents or guardians must accompany children at all times.<\/li>\n<li>This program is designed for individuals\/families, no large groups (i.e. day cares, youth camps etc.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><strong>2026 Program Location, Schedule &amp; Theme:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Garden location: Dirt Works Demonstration Garden, 530 Alta Street SW, Olympia, WA 98502<\/p>\n<p>Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. to Noon<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>July 21 \u2014 Garden Explorers<\/li>\n<li>July 28 \u2014 No class this week. Instead, we\u2019ll be at the Thurston County Fair. Join us there for fun activities!<\/li>\n<li>August 4 \u2014 Eat the Rainbow<\/li>\n<li>August 11 \u2014 Wildlife in the Garden<\/li>\n<li>August 18 \u2014 Miniature Gardening: Fairies and Fun<\/li>\n<li>August 25 \u2014 Rad Recyclers \u2013 Slugs, Bugs, and Worms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><strong>Registration Information: <\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Each class has a maximum registration of 30 participants.<\/p>\n<h6><strong>New for 2026<\/strong>:<\/h6>\n<ul>\n<li>Initially we would like to limit registration to <strong>two classes<\/strong> per participant. This will allow more children to participate in the program and learn in the garden.<\/li>\n<li>Those registering between <strong>May 1 and June 15<\/strong> will only be able to register for a <strong>maximum of 2 classes<\/strong> per child.<\/li>\n<li><strong>After June 15<\/strong>, if any spots are still open, you may register for more classes.<\/li>\n<li>If a class fills, you can add your child&#8217;s name to the waitlist. Each class has a separate waitlist.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h6><strong>How to Register: <\/strong><\/h6>\n<ul>\n<li>Each child must be registered, no family\/group registrations.<\/li>\n<li>Only those who have registered and have returned the required emergency contact form will be able to participate in the program. No walk-in\u2019s.<\/li>\n<li>Required emergency contact form will be emailed closer to the date. Emergency contact forms must be completed for each participant and returned prior to your class date.<\/li>\n<li>When you click the link below, it will take you to our online ticketing platform. This platform is typically used for classes that have fees, so some of the prompts reflect that language. Just click through them. Our Children\u2019s Garden classes are free. Follow the prompts until you receive a confirmation receipt.<\/li>\n<li>Click the link below to register for up to two classes, per child. (May 1 \u2013 June 15)\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/secure.touchnet.net\/C20607_ustores\/web\/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=118&amp;CATID=201\">Thurston County WSU Extension &#8211; 2026 Children\u2019s Dirt Works Garden- Only Choose 2<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For more information:<\/p>\n<p>Phone: 360-867-2189<\/p>\n<p>Email: <a href=\"mailto:master@co.thurston.wa.us\">master@co.thurston.wa.us\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Click to download our <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2056\/2026\/05\/Dirt-Works-Childrens-Garden-Flyer-2026-Final.pdf\">Dirt Works Children&#8217;s Garden Flyer 2026 Final<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local WSU Extension office. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact Cori Carlton, Program Manager at <a href=\"mailto:cori.carlton@co.thurston.wa.us\">cori.carlton@co.thurston.wa.us<\/a> or 360-867-2162 at least two weeks prior to the event.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cpb-column  two\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cpb-textblock cpb-item \"><p><\/p>\n<h6>Interested in other gardening and waste reduction programs?<\/h6>\n<p>We invite you to subscribe to our quarterly e-newsletter, <em>The Program Post<\/em>, to receive updates and announcements from the WSU Master Gardener and Master Recycler Composter Programs of Thurston County.\u00a0 Click on the &#8220;Subscribe to our e-newsletter&#8221; button.<\/p><\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/lp.constantcontactpages.com\/sl\/u1UHJPe\/TheProgramPost\" class=\"cpb-action-button cpb-action-button-item\"><span class=\"link-title\">Subscribe to our e-newsletter<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FREE Gardening Programs for children ages 4-12 years old at Dirt Works Demonstration Garden in Yauger Park, Olympia &amp;nbsp; Join us for summer fun and hands-on learning in the Dirt Works Children\u2019s Garden! WSU Master&amp;hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13410,"featured_media":0,"parent":66,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/program.php","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"wsuwp_university_location":[],"wsuwp_university_org":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9841"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13410"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9841"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9841\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18218,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9841\/revisions\/18218"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9841"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_location?post=9841"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_org","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_org?post=9841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}