About the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens
The original Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden opened in 1993, as the first garden in the United States developed specifically for the education of young children on a university campus. The Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens attract more than 100,000 visitors each year and is nationally recognized for its innovative use of technology.
Today, the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens have grown to include:
- The original 4-H Children’s Garden featuring 66 themed gardens developed on ½ acre as a part of the Michigan State University Horticulture Gardens;
- The Indoor 4-H Children’s Garden featuring 25 contemporary themed gardens and is home to the annual Butterflies in the Garden exhibit;
- The Smith Schoolyard Demonstration Garden, a companion outdoor garden with 23 themed gardens dedicated to demonstrating science-based learning and education with specific emphasis on pre-K to fifth grade learning themes;
- Programming for these three gardens is anchored by the interactive Curiosity Classroom.
Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens mission:
- To promote an understanding of plants and the role they play in our daily lives,
- To nurture the wonder in a child’s imagination and curiosity,
- To provide a place of enrichment and delight for children of all ages.