May Day Festival to kick of children’s programs at The Botanic Garden at OSU

Thursday, April 23, 2015

The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University has long been known for offering educational programs for adults. However, there is something for the younger set as well.

A couple of years ago, to coincide with the open houses offered at The Botanic Garden at OSU, which take place the first and third Saturdays of each month, the garden Ambassadors group began offering programs designed specifically for children 6-12 years of age, said Laura Payne, volunteer coordinator at the garden.

“Our first program will be the May Day Festival on May 2,” Payne said. “We encourage the whole family to come out to our beautiful garden and celebrate May Day. Parents are welcome to enjoy the open house while their children take part in our special activities for the younger ones.”

The May Day Festival is free to children and slated 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Open houses take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. While the May Day Festival is free for children, there is a $5 charge for each of the other programs scheduled through June, and those activities will take place 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Please contact Payne at 405-744-4531, or email at laura.payne@okstate.edu, to reserve space for your child.

Payne said there will be dancing around the May Pole every 30 minutes beginning at 10:15 a.m. Other activities for the children include painting bird houses, painting/decorating rocks, face painting and tattoos, creepy critters, nesting bags for birds, making cedar medallion necklaces, hand prints and more.

Children’s Fairy Garden is the topic for the children’s program May 16. Participants will enjoy creating a garden fit for a gnome or fairy.

“These small fairy gardens give children a place of their own to nurture plants and learn more about gardening at home,” she said.

Activities planned June 6 will be focused on children’s garden art. They will have an opportunity to discover and capture the beauty of the outdoor gardens while creating artwork with traditional craft supplies as well as nature’s materials.

Children are invited to come explore the whole garden during the Garden Wonders program June 20. Payne said they will travel throughout the garden while looking for an array of colors, fruits, bugs, birds and other creatures. There is a special activity planned for the children as they explore the wonders of the garden.

“The Botanic Garden at OSU is a magical and beautiful place and we want to share it with the whole community,” Payne said. “Make plans now to check it out during the open houses and bring your kids to participate in the children’s programs. Please register early as space is limited.”