Youth Programs
VCE Virginia Beach Master Gardeners offer six 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
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
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
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
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 Fun on the Farm Tours
This two-hour tour at the VB Farmers Market is a hands-on experience to connect urban children to agriculture. Our introduction illustrates the story of how we cannot live one day without agriculture. Through identifying the items in everyday life children learn the source of most things is agriculture. Hands-on activities include milking a fiberglass Holstein cow, shelling real beans, making butter and MORE. All guests plant seeds into recycled newspaper pots and learn the parts and function of plant parts. During the tour of the garden, children will see firsthand the importance of pollination, habitat, decomposers and vermiculture, composting and just might pull a carrot, potato or sugar snap peas. Our garden also includes a chicken coop with laying hens. The second half of the tour includes focus on seasonal curricula and complimentary craft, story time and an ice cream treat.
SOL information is available upon request.
Tours are by reservation. Contact the VB Farmers Market - 757-385-4388, Farmmrkt@vbgov.com
Fee is $8 Per child. No charge for teacher and chaperones.
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: Virginia Beach Farmers Market
This two-hour tour at the VB Farmers Market is a hands-on experience to connect urban children to agriculture. Our introduction illustrates the story of how we cannot live one day without agriculture. Through identifying the items in everyday life children learn the source of most things is agriculture. Hands-on activities include milking a fiberglass Holstein cow, shelling real beans, making butter and MORE. All guests plant seeds into recycled newspaper pots and learn the parts and function of plant parts. During the tour of the garden, children will see firsthand the importance of pollination, habitat, decomposers and vermiculture, composting and just might pull a carrot, potato or sugar snap peas. Our garden also includes a chicken coop with laying hens. The second half of the tour includes focus on seasonal curricula and complimentary craft, story time and an ice cream treat.
SOL information is available upon request.
Tours are by reservation. Contact the VB Farmers Market - 757-385-4388, Farmmrkt@vbgov.com
Fee is $8 Per child. No charge for teacher and chaperones.
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: Virginia Beach Farmers Market
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HR AREC Garden School Tours
Students take a guided tour through the Arboretum and Theme Gardens at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center. The tour focuses on living systems, processes, and earth resources. Highlighted topics include composting, pollination, metamorphosis, and useful products from plants.
SOL Correlation: 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8
Grade Level: 2nd
Time of Year Offered: Spring
Location: Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Students take a guided tour through the Arboretum and Theme Gardens at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center. The tour focuses on living systems, processes, and earth resources. Highlighted topics include composting, pollination, metamorphosis, and useful products from plants.
SOL Correlation: 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8
Grade Level: 2nd
Time of Year Offered: Spring
Location: Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Ready, Set, Grow!
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 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
