Science learned digging in the dirt

It is doubtful that Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of “The Secret Garden,” is the only person ever to have dreamed of hidden doors and secret bowers. For many of the District’s elementary school children, the Washington Youth Garden is the fulfillment of similar visions.

Vibrant marigolds and assorted zinnias at the base of the garden’s welcoming purple arch in the National Arboretum show passers-by that “there’s something fun and cheerful going on inside,” says Kim Rush, WYG program director.

The truth is that a lot is going on inside.

From its family gardening and cooking program, Growing Food … Growing Together, which runs from May through September, to its interactive, school-based Garden Science program, extending from January to June, the garden hosts a variety of educational activities for city children all year round. There also are supplemental programs throughout the year to train parents and teachers about gardening sciences and working with children.

Perhaps the program of greatest interest to the community, however, is the 11-week Garden Science program for local elementary schools. Garden Science provides city children an opportunity to explore the world beyond buses and buildings. It gives children a breath of clean air and a chance to dig their fingers into fresh dirt.

“Most of my kids don’t get that opportunity,” says Teresa Harris, the third-grade teacher at Holy Name School in Northeast. Holy Name’s students have been coming to the garden for years.

The first eight weeks of the gardening program begin in the blustery winter months. Students participate in hands-on classroom exercises and other lessons.

“They talk about plants and seeds and the things that they get from that,” Miss Harris says.

In preparation for planting, the students even care for a worm farm.

“They take on the responsibility of feeding [the worms],” Miss Harris explains. “I hate the bugs,” she adds with a laugh.

After eight weeks of in-class activities and learning about the environment, agriculture and life sciences, students are anxious to get dirty.

“Oh my goodness, they love it,” Miss Harris says.

Beatrice Hunter, a counselor and active participant in the education of children at Young Elementary School in Northeast, could not agree more.

“They loved it. I loved it. Everybody loved it,” she says.

Garden Science fills the life-science void in many local schools. Because of cuts in science education funding and testing for English and mathematics, the Garden Science program will supply all of the organized science education that some District elementary school students receive, literature from Washington Youth Garden says. Without a science teacher last year and this year, Miss Hunter says, Young Elementary School has found WYG a tremendous supplement to its students’ education.

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