Children’s Programs

Smith County Texas A& M AgriLife Extension strongly supports youth gardening programs. Research shows that youth gardens foster inquiry, learning engagement, working as a team, community service and respect for the environment. The multi-sensory aspects engage all kinds of learners, while providing all-important physical activity and fostering healthy eating.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has developed and supports two primary youth programs: Junior Master Gardener and Learn, Grow, Eat Go!  Both are rich in content, activity-based, promote community service and foster leadership development.

Junior Master Gardener:  The Junior Master Gardener (JMG) program was developed to promote a love of gardening and an appreciation for the environment. Its mission: “To grow good kids by igniting a passion for learning, success and service through a unique gardening education.” It is adaptable to public and private school settings, after-school programs, home school groups and community-based programs, and may be easily incorporated into an existing curriculum or used as an adjunct to an already established program.

Learn, Grow, Eat, Go!:   Learn, Grow, Eat, Go is a garden-based program which allows children to earn a certification upon completion. The primary learning base for this

program is a garden built, planted, cultivated, and harvested by the students under the guidance of the teacher or leader. It is activity rich and largely hands-on.

To learn more about Junior Master Gardeners and Learn, Grow, Eat, Go! we invite you to visit: www.jmgkids.org

 Interested in Getting a Group Started?

 Interested in getting your kids outside and learning? We are here to help!

Youth gardening programs are supported both by Smith County AgriLife Extension and the Smith County Master Gardeners Association. Staff and volunteers are available to help get your program off and running through educational programming, provision of resources such as gardening guides, and hands-on learning experiences.

If you think you might be interested in starting a gardening program or need support with an existing program, contact us:

Smith County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Smith County Master Gardener Association:

Phone:  (903) 590-2980 (Smith County AgriLife Extension office)

Email:  SmithmgHelpDesk@gmail.com