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‘Kids in the Garden’ offers introduction to environment By Celia Taghdiri
Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 12:02 a.m.
VISTA — While many adults might enjoy the Alta Vista Gardens in Vista’s Brengle Terrace Park, children have their own reasons why they like to spend some time on the grounds.
“We do a lot of fun stuff here, like singing songs and sticking toothpicks in an apple to make a turkey, and we get to play with worms,” said 9-year-old George Smith of Vista.
George attends “Kids in the Garden” classes that allow youngsters to discover nature.
“The goal of the ‘Kids in the Garden’ class is to bring children to Alta Vista Gardens so they can learn more about nature and appreciate the environment,” said Nancy Jones, a retired elementary-school teacher who has taught children about gardens for 35 years. “We have a beautiful resource here, and we want our kids to use it.”
A committee formed and began meeting in 2008 to plan for a children’s garden at Alta Vista, which lies within the lush 15-acre Brengle Terrace Park. The committee organized last year’s Earth Day and Fall Fun Festival at Alta Vista. To build on those activities and spur interest in a children’s garden, the committee scheduled monthly children’s classes, which began in November.
Twenty elementary-school children from Vista and Oceanside participate in the gardening class. Activities include garden walks, nature crafts and nutrition. Volunteers from the Alta Vista Gardens teach each class.
A contest to name and design a logo for a children’s garden was held, and 250 entries were received. The winner was Haley Lindsay, a first-grader from Vista, who created the “Bugs, Birds and Butterflies Children’s Garden” name and logo.
The first phase of the Bugs, Birds and Butterflies garden is under construction. Additional features planned for the garden include butterfly, sensory and musical gardens. It also might have a sunflower field and a fort made from recycled material. And paths will accommodate visitors on wheelchairs.
Alta Vista Gardens board member Don Nelson wants the gardening classes to attract more families.
“I hope these gardens will give families the opportunity to learn about nature and help them contribute positively to our community. We also hope to establish some classes for older students,” Nelson said.
Several items have been donated to the children’s garden, such as a kite sculpture, pavers and a pavilion for garden and environmental teaching.
Additional gardening classes for children will be offered at Alta Vista Gardens. Possible topics include music, arts, American Indian traditions and raised-bed vegetable gardening. Field trips are available for school groups, service groups and clubs.
For more information, call Nancy Jones at (760) 822-6824.
Celia Taghdiri is freelance writer in Vista.
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