Youth Programs
VCE Virginia Beach Master Gardeners offer five programs for elementary school students that are designed to correlate with specific SOL objectives. All programs are presented by Virginia Beach Master Gardener volunteers who have received training specific to the programs. All volunteers are subject to background screening through Virginia Cooperative Extension. If you have a school or youth program event at which you would like Master Gardener involvement, please submit your request using the Request a Program Form. Please allow sufficient time for scheduling. Some programs may require additional supplies.
Arbor Day Program
Description: The Meaning of Arbor Day skit involves Tree Stewards relating the history of J. Sterling Morton’s rise to prominence as an environmentalist championing the national landscape of trees in our nation and ultimately changing the way the citizenry regards the national forests, including the urban forests around us. At this level of their education, the students have an opportunity to interact within the skit, shouting answers from their own experiences about the trees around them.
SOL Correlation: 2.5, 2.8, 3.6, 3.10, 4.5, 4.8
Grade Level: 3rd & 4th
Time of Year Offered: Spring
Location: At Your School
Request This Program
Description: The Meaning of Arbor Day skit involves Tree Stewards relating the history of J. Sterling Morton’s rise to prominence as an environmentalist championing the national landscape of trees in our nation and ultimately changing the way the citizenry regards the national forests, including the urban forests around us. At this level of their education, the students have an opportunity to interact within the skit, shouting answers from their own experiences about the trees around them.
SOL Correlation: 2.5, 2.8, 3.6, 3.10, 4.5, 4.8
Grade Level: 3rd & 4th
Time of Year Offered: Spring
Location: At Your School
Request This Program
Be Water Wise
Description: Water Stewards will educate students as to the importance of our watersheds and water resources. They can assist students to mark all storm drains on your school’s property with official markers supplied by the City of Virginia Beach, which indicate the specific watershed for your school. This program will encourage your students to become part of the solution to polluted drain water and watersheds and to share what they learn with the other students in the school.
SOL Correlation: 3.10b, 4.9b
Grade Level: 4th & student clubs
Time of Year Offered: Various
Location: At Your School
Request This Program
Description: Water Stewards will educate students as to the importance of our watersheds and water resources. They can assist students to mark all storm drains on your school’s property with official markers supplied by the City of Virginia Beach, which indicate the specific watershed for your school. This program will encourage your students to become part of the solution to polluted drain water and watersheds and to share what they learn with the other students in the school.
SOL Correlation: 3.10b, 4.9b
Grade Level: 4th & student clubs
Time of Year Offered: Various
Location: At Your School
Request This Program
Children's Garden and Tours
Description: Children visit the Rural Heritage Center at the Farmers Market, participate in numerous hands-on activities which might have been done "on the farm." In addition, the tours can be individualized depending upon the school and teacher needs. Examples of lessons that can be presented include bees, insects, pollination, vermiculture, trees, butterflies, chickens, pumpkins, growing a plant from seed, recycling and reusing.. Students also visit the Children's Garden to see first hand the insects, vegetables, herbs, bird houses, insect house, 3 Sisters Garden, chicken coop and more. Depending upon topics presented, the following SOLs can be targeted. SOL Correlation: K.1, K.2, K.4, K.6, K.8, K.9, K.10, 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8, 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 3.8, 3.10, 4.1, 4.4, 4.5, 4.8 Grade Level: K-4 Time of Year Offered: All year Location: Farmers Market in Virginia Beach Request This Program |
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HRAREC Garden School Tours
Description: Students take a guided tour through themed gardens at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Areas highlighted include insects, herbs, trees, and composting.
SOL Correlation: K6, K8, 1.4, 1.7, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 3.8, 3.10, 4.4, 4.5
Grade Level: Various
Time of Year Offered: Spring
Location: Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Request This Program
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Ready, Set, Grow!
Description: The goal of this program is to create enthusiasm for gardening among the students by utilizing interactive educational tools. We teach that plants have basic requirements in order to thrive, that not all insects are harmful, and how to be a good steward to the environment. SOL Correlation: 1.1, 1.4, 1.7, 1.8, 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8 Grade Level: 1st & 2nd Time of Year Offered: Spring Location: At Your School Request This Program |
The Tree Dormancy Program
Description: Tree Stewards relate the children’s understanding of biology at this level to what happens in trees to cause the changes observed in autumn. Utilizing “actors”, props and a Power Point presentation, the students gain a practical sense of dormancy in both deciduous and coniferous trees, as well as adding to their sense of environmental citizenry with a review of the state and city trees, including the city champion tree.
SOL Correlation: 3.6, 3.10, 3.11, 4.4
Grade Level: 3rd & 4th
Time of Year Offered: Fall
Location: At Your School
Request This Program
Description: Tree Stewards relate the children’s understanding of biology at this level to what happens in trees to cause the changes observed in autumn. Utilizing “actors”, props and a Power Point presentation, the students gain a practical sense of dormancy in both deciduous and coniferous trees, as well as adding to their sense of environmental citizenry with a review of the state and city trees, including the city champion tree.
SOL Correlation: 3.6, 3.10, 3.11, 4.4
Grade Level: 3rd & 4th
Time of Year Offered: Fall
Location: At Your School
Request This Program
Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; M. Ray McKinnie, Interim Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State University, Petersburg.
