Green Thumb Challenge

Green Education Foundation is calling on schools and youth groups nationwide to plant 10,000 gardens - the largest youth gardening initiative in history!

The Green Thumb Challenge aims to connect children with nature and the healthy benefits of gardening as part of a nationwide movement to get kids growing. GEF's "turn-key" garden plan provides participants with beginner-friendly resources to plant gardens of any size, as well as fun activities and standards-based lessons linking the classroom to the garden.

Whether sowing seeds during one class period, planting bulbs in one afternoon, or planning an outdoor garden that comes back year after year, you and your students can be part of this exciting event! All participants have an opportunity to be awarded a $5,000 grant in recognition of their garden project. Over $10,000 worth of prizes have already been awarded to Green Thumb Challenge participants, courtesy of program sponsors.

Check out the Green Education Foundation's website for more information!

Grow your garden with Growums!!

Growums can help you "add a little character to your garden" and engage children in fun new ways!

This innovative product gives children the opportunity to enjoy the experience and health benefits of growing their own garden while also learning and playing in a virtual world online.

It all starts with the Growums garden kit, containing everything a child needs to grow a real garden – whether it’s in the back yard or grown in containers on a patio or balcony. Each kit contains its own cast of “characters,” depending on what type of garden is being grown. Kids have five garden choices: Pizza, Taco, Ratatouille, Salad and Herb.

Even cooler, Growums make for a great school fundraiser!!

Check out the Growums website for more information or to buy your own character filled garden!!

Reforming School Meals

FoodCorps, a brand new national service program funded by AmeriCorps and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, launched this week and is now seeking applications for its first class of service members to dedicate a year of their lives to school food programs to help combat the national obesity epidemic.

FoodCorps members will be paid to work for a year on a variety of projects like sourcing healthful local food for school cafeterias, expanding nutrition education programs, and building and tending school gardens.

If you are a young leader who believes that children deserve to have healthy options in school, then you just may want to volunteer with FordCorps! Members will be paid to work for a year on a variety of projects like sourcing healthful local food for school cafeterias, expanding nutrition education programs, and building and tending school gardens (yay!).

Click here for more information and applications!!

Learn about Forestry in February!

On Monday, February 21 from 3-4 pm come out to the Conservation Station, Clemson University Sandhill Research and Education Center; 900 Clemson Rd to learn about forestry!



How does a tree grow? Investigate the life cycles of trees, learn to interpret growth rings, and practice identifying local trees.

Cost is $2 per child; recommended for children ages 6-12. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited so please register by calling 803-459-3212, or e-mailing carolinachildrensgarden@gmail.com.

Another location to attend The Great Backyard Bird Count!

The Great Backyard bird count will also be taking place at Carolina Children's Garden, Clemson University Sandhill Research and Education Center; 900 Clemson Rd on February 19th from 8-10am.

Join us for a morning of birding as we participate in the North American Great Backyard Bird Count. Experienced birders will team up with novices to collect data that will aid in research and conservation efforts. Refreshments, crafts, and an education table will be available. This event is free and families are welcome, but all children must be accompanied by an adult. Please register in advance by calling 803-459-3212, or e-mailing carolinachildrensgarden@gmail.com.

Future Chef: Healthy Snack Challenge

Following First Lady Michelle Obama's mission to promote healthier lifestyles for children in the US, Lexington School District Two came up with a unique challenge.

Fifteen students gathered from across the district on Tuesday, February 15th, to compete in the Future Chef: Healthy Snack Challenge.

Students submitted recipes for the challenge that were judged on several factors including healthiness and kid friendliness!

For the more info about the competition and to watch a video clip from the competition, click here!

Growing Charity

Taking a page from the Victory Garden's of WWI and II, Texan Holly Hirshberg decided to start The Dinner Garden, a non-profit that encourages Americans to plant their own gardens in order to stretch food budgets and enhance their nutritional intake.

The Dinner Garden provides free seeds, supplies, and advice to anyone who wants to start a garden.

Check out The Dinner Garden website to see how you can assist their efforts, get seeds for your own garden, or get some great recipes!

Be sure to also click on the "Kids" section, where you will find lots of fun crosswords, puzzles, games, and coloring pages all about gardening!