Collins Garden Club
“Our children are the first generation to be raised without meaningful contact with the natural world.”
Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv
Funded by PTA and individual parent donations, Collins Garden has been professionally designed to support our students in their quest for learning.
It is a large public area enough for one class to visit at a time.
The plants chosen for the garden have long bloom periods, and relationships with local wildlife.
From a child’s point of view:
“I like to play indoors better cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.”
A quote Louv hears from a fourth grade boy in San Diego, his hometown
Our vision
Create a thriving habitat using drought-tolerant native plants.
Promote environmental stewardship in the Collins Community.
Enhance opportunities for the application of science skills.
Sustain student and community involvement in the Garden through community ownership.
F.A.Q.
Why not vegetables?
Connections to State Curriculum.
Science Skills.
Habitat connections we hope to see.
Plant selections.
How to get involved.
Why not vegetables?
Less sustainable, more high maintenance, vegetable gardens at schools frequently “dry up” with waning community interest; Creating habitat for animals with plants from our area; Reconnect children to our natural heritage; Children today have much less exposure to nature than previous generations;Connections to State Curriculum are many.
K: Wood, Paper, and Trees; Animals1: Air and Weather, Plants and Animals
2: Insects and Plants; Pebbles, Sand, and Silt
3: Structures of Life
4: Environments, California Geography
5: Living Systems; Water Planet/Weather
How to get involved?
Helping with weekend work days.Volunteering with the Garden Club as a “docent”.
Helping with the garden behind the scenes.
Create a Garden committee to teachers and parents.
Organize Garden supplies and teaching materials for students.
Get involved with growing school garden movement .
Connect with other schools with habitat gardens locally.
Collins garden CLUB.
The Collins Gardners will meet twice a week: Mondays and Thursdays, during lunch.At the moment we are planning and implementing hands-on projects and activities for the garden.
Collins Garden GALLERY
before and after ...
Collins garden CLUB.
We need VOLUNTEERS!
Calendar of activities.
Weekend works days:Saturday, October 18:
Rake and sweep
(10 or more volunteers, children welcome.)
Saturday, November 15:
Digging and planting
(Many volunteers welcome, including children.)
Saturday, November 22:
Digging and planting (if necessary)
How you can help?
Rake aside mulch, sweep to one sideIrrigate rock-hard soil in preparation to
Rototill the soil, amend with fresh topsoil
Install irrigation system
Dig holes for plants and plant