2-hour garden projects for kids?

I'm working on a Parents and Kids gardening workshop for the Calgary Horticultural Society.  Currently the plan is a 2-hour workshop for a 6-8 year old accompanied by a parent.  This is totally exciting to me but also a little petrifying - my experience with gardening with kids comes only from my own family and a few friends.  I've never worked with a larger group before!

If you were attending such a workshop, what would you and your child be interested in learning/doing? 

This post also reminds me of a few links that friend/reader Paula sent me a while ago and I keep forgetting to post.  They are for great (adult and/or kid) projects that could be done at home:

• Pollinator Observation complete with observation sheets and tonnes more links
• Plant Watch Alberta with online data sheets - I think I'm going to do this myself this year!

If you would like a beautiful and kid-friendly garden that nourishes your body and soul, view My Services for consultation details.

Comments

[Megan]

Wow - that's so exciting!! I don't have any kids, but I used to love gardening with my Mom when I was younger. My favorite thing was peas because you could pick them and then shell them. One of my favorite things to do as an adult in the summer is shell peas. Another fun idea is to spray paint a watering can a really bright and bold color for kids or to give kids their own little gardening tool set and gardening apron. I'd love to see a post about what you did at the workshop. Have fun!

[Janice Miller-Young]

Thanks Megan.  Ill let you know how it goes!
Janice

[Kim]

I am also very excited and so are my kids! I happen to have a 6 year old and an 8 year old and I asked them what they thought might be cool. They both thought that some sort of worm composter would be cool and the older one was more inclined to do some planting - like a small spring pot or something. Hope this helps! We will definitely be signing up!

[Janice Miller-Young]

Hi Kim,

Thanks for that!  It will be so fun to meet you and your girls!  I have so many ideas that it is hard to limit them and try to pick things that will be reasonable to do in a group and appeal to as many kids as possible.  There will definitely be some planting involved and something to take home.  I could bring my worm composter along too to demonstrate - thanks, hadnt thought of that!

Im submitting a proposal at the end of the week so will let you know the details soon.  BTW your garden looks great and I especially love your window box and raised box beds!

Cheers,
Janice