JENKINS ARBORETUM & GARDENS

Get Out and Explore at Jenkins This Spring!

by Ella Culton, Education & Outreach Intern

If you've ever visited Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens, you may have noticed a small gap in the rhododendrons just past the entrance to the gardens. If you were to follow the mulched path, you'd find yourself in the Explorer Garden, our special nature play area. As the temperatures warm up and spring sets in, now is the perfect time to get outdoors and engage in all that Jenkins has to offer!

Nature play guided and unguided has become a significant part of the visitor experience at Jenkins in recent years. With our free-to-borrow Explorer Vests, kids and their grownups can head straight into the garden, equipped with the investigative tools they need to actively engage with the habitat around them.These safari-style vests sport pockets filled with all the tools kids need to explore: binoculars, magnifying glasses, and ID guides to learn the names of plants and animals.

If you're more interested in a guided experience, the Arboretum offers programs like Jenkins Juniors, a series that runs several times each year for young children ages 2 - 4. At Jenkins Juniors, we read a story to introduce children to the nature theme of the day then go on a walk to find examples within that topic before ending with a related craft. Children's Yoga is also run intermittently throughout the year for ages 2 - 5 and focuses on gross motor skills and meditation tools which can help kids connect more with nature, whether that be here at Jenkins or at home in the backyard. Our goal is for your child not only to hear about a topic, but also to practice their tactile and kinesthetic learning skills as well.