Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens History

Abbey Miller<abmiller@msu.edu>, CANR Communications -

In 2023, the the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens will celebrate 30 years of existence. Explore its history with this timeline!

1992 – Construction begins to build the 4-H Children’s Garden after a 5-year fundraising campaign and planning period.

1993 – The 4-H Children’s Garden opens at MSU, the first garden focused on youth located at a university campus. Jane Taylor is named the garden’s founding curator.

1997 – Norm Lownds, MSU associate professor, becomes curator of the 4-H Children’s Garden.

2001 – The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation funds the Dow Connected Gardens Project to develop a model for science learning that incorporated field trips to public gardens, hands-on garden explorations and digital technology. This includes the creation of an online kids’ tour, Wondercasts, Plant Problems learning software program and an online Wonderwall. Seeds of Science and Big Science immersion field trips for elementary students are also established through this support. The gardens are recognized for the innovative use of technology.

2003 – The Indoor Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden opens to provide year-round educational access to science-based learning. The Butterflies in the Garden exhibit debuts in the Indoor 4-H Children’s Garden.

2008 – The Pete and Sally Smith Schoolyard Demonstration Garden opens. This 2,500-square-foot addition to the outdoor Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden offers ideas for creating gardens in small spaces.

2014 – The Michigan 4-H Foundation receives the single largest gift ever – a $3.85 million estate gift composed of $1.85 million cash and a $2 million property distribution from the Mary (Sally) and Donovan (Pete) Smith trusts. The $1.85 million cash gift primarily provides support for the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens, including growing the endowment for the gardens, providing expendable support to complete design of the Smith Gardens, and supporting the installation of bathroom facilities and other infrastructure updates within the 4-H Children’s Gardens. The gift also provides general operating support for the gardens.

2016 – New bathrooms open between the outdoor 4-H Children’s Garden and the Smith Schoolyard Demonstration Garden.

2018 – Community partnerships are established with the Capital Area District Library to install a story walk with book pages on display throughout the garden. Local artist Kelly Boyle leads a community mural project. The artwork is now displayed on the garden fence.

2022 – Norm Lownds retires June 30, 2022, after 25 years as curator.

2023 – The 4-H Children’s Gardens celebrate 30th anniversary.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Did you find this article useful?

Find your spark with image of 4-H clover.

Other Articles from this Publication

4-H alumna becomes a Spartan to follow in her father’s footsteps

4-H alumna becomes a Spartan to follow in her father’s footsteps
Spartans support CANR community on Giving Tuesday

Spartans support CANR community on Giving Tuesday
St. Joseph County youth elected to Michigan 4-H Foundation board of trustees

St. Joseph County youth elected to Michigan 4-H Foundation board of trustees
Wayne County 4-H’er elected to Michigan 4-H Foundation board of trustees

Wayne County 4-H’er elected to Michigan 4-H Foundation board of trustees
Michigan 4-H and Leader Dogs for the Blind celebrate the legacy of Nan Nellenbach with re-launch of 4-H Leader Dog Program

Michigan 4-H and Leader Dogs for the Blind celebrate the legacy of Nan Nellenbach with re-launch of 4-H Leader Dog Program
Michigan 4-H’ers sweep MSU’S Pre-College Scholarships in 2023

Michigan 4-H’ers sweep MSU’S Pre-College Scholarships in 2023

2023 Spring VANTAGE

The VANTAGE newsletter is published for members of the Michigan 4-H Foundation.

View the rest of the articles from the publication
Tag List
  • 4-h,
  • 4-h children's garden,
  • 4-h plants soils & gardening,
  • alumni and friends,
  • department of horticulture,
  • giving,
  • horticulture gardens,
  • michigan 4-h foundation,
  • msu extension,
  • msu horticulture gardens,
  • vantage

Information

Horticulture

Giving

4-H

Michigan State University
  • Spartans Will.
  • © Michigan State University

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.

We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).