Seattle-Area Teaching Gardens Are a Hotbed for Learning

When kids have the opportunity to get their hands dirty and learn about gardening, their minds, bodies and communities benefit. Not only does gardening encourage children to try new foods, it also opens their eyes to how food is grown and where it comes from. There is much to learn within the science of gardening and no matter the age, kids can benefit from outdoor physical activity and gain a sense of responsibility and pride for growing something. Benefits definitely abound!

There are various opportunities in the Greater Seattle area to expand children’s gardening knowledge and experience. There are also opportunities for families to give back by practicing their newfound skills. Teaching gardens, workshops, nursery programs, garden camps and educational farms are passionate about inviting littles into the world of horticulture and improving our communities as a whole.

Kids in the Garden at Bellevue Botanical Garden, Bellevue

Preschoolers and their parents can learn more about the creepy, crawly, flying and blooming things in the garden at weekly sessions at Bellevue Botanical Garden. The Kids in the Garden series is a four-week program that’s offered seasonally from spring to fall. Sessions take place indoors and outdoors. Each week focuses on a different theme and includes a story reading, art project, song, snack time, and hands-on learning.

What preschooler wouldn’t be interested in delving into some of the fun themes such as Slugs and Snails, Spider Web Wonders and Burrowing Animals? Space is limited to 12 children per session and you must register for sessions.

If your child has more energy to burn following a session, feel free to wander the spacious gardens. Some of my family’s favorite spots to visit year-round are the Ravine Experience with a 150-foot suspension bridge, the tiny hobbit-like door built into a stone wall, and stepping inside the “Night Blooming” structure (or the “beehive,” as my kids call it). And don’t forget that the Copper Kettle Coffee Bar within the garden serves delicious coffee and other treats.

Recommended ages: Designed for preschoolers ages 3–5 years old with their adult caregiver or parent
Cost: General admission is free. The four-week gardening series costs $70–$100 per child and individual sessions cost $17.50–$25 per child. Session rates are discounted for Bellevue Botanical Garden Society Members. Siblings receive a discount as well.
Hours: Sessions are on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; register for a series or individual sessions. Bellevue Botanical Garden is open to explore daily, from dawn to dusk.
Location: 12001 Main St., Bellevue

West Seattle Nursery Growing Gardeners Club, Seattle

If you don’t want to get too dirty but still want to nurture your child’s gardening curiosities, this option might be for you. Children ages 4–12 can join the Growing Gardeners Club for free at the nursery’s Garden Center checkout. Members can stop by once a month for a surprise — learn, explore or participate in an engaging activity. In March this year, kids are planting zucchini plants in preparation for an exciting August zucchini race!

Recommended ages: 4–12 years old
Cost: Free
Hours: Stop by the Garden Center once a month during business hours (daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.).
Location: 5275 California Ave. S.W., Seattle

Infinity Farm’s Learning Garden and Farmer Camps, Issaquah

During the popular Infinity Farm Toddler Tuesdays or during Farmer Camps, children can explore the new Learning Garden at Infinity Farm. Infinity Farm is on a mission to create a hands-on learning experience where kids can learn about growing food and gardening. Andrew Graham of Infinity Farm says they “believe that the simple act of planting a seed can spark a lifelong connection to nature, food, and the joys of gardening.”

Just like all of Infinity Farm, the gardens are child-centered with raised beds at the perfect height, colorful painted rocks to mark rows and borders, and a variety of produce to intrigue children’s curiosities — taste testing is encouraged!

While the Learning Garden will largely provide a self-led exploration opportunity, structured activities (especially during Farmer Camp) may include tasks such as soil amending and composting, seed planting, weed pulling, pruning, harvesting, scavenger hunts, and rock painting.

Recommended ages: 1–8
Cost: Toddler Tuesdays cost $30 per car. You can save money by purchasing monthly memberships. Farmer Camp costs vary.
Hours: Toddler Tuesdays are every Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Farmer Camp hours vary. Morning, afternoon and full-day options are offered.
Location: 16523 Issaquah-Hobart Rd. S.E., Issaquah

Lake Wilderness Arboretum, Maple Valley

While you may not think of this spot as a traditional teaching garden, learning and nature-based play opportunities are plentiful at Lake Wilderness Arboretum, especially throughout the Tribal Life Trail and Children’s Discovery Forest. As you walk along the Tribal Life Trail, you can learn how plants were used by Native people of the Pacific Northwest. The trail is about 270 feet long and is dotted with informational signage to identify plants and their traditional uses.

Lake Wilderness Arboretum provides a slew of educational self-guided tour options and creative activities. Print some out that appeal to your children for a rich educational experience at your own pace.

My children’s favorite spot to eat a picnic lunch and play here is within the Children’s Discovery Forest. My kids love to claim the empty three-walled shed, stumps and logs as their own, and it sparks their creative play. And what’s more fun than playing checkers at home? Playing a game of checkers on a tree stump in the forest “game room”!

Beyond the educational trails, the Lake Wilderness Arboretum is a gem of a park with two Little Free Libraries (one in the Children’s Discovery Forest and one in the Legacy Garden), a Story Walk, a swimming beach, and a great climbing playground with swings and play structures for all ages.

Recommended ages: All
Cost: Free
Hours: Daily, from dawn to dusk
Location: 22520 S.E. 248th St., Maple Valley

Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center, Carnation

The Oxbow Kids’ Farm is a 2-acre outdoor classroom that boasts edible plants and carefully planned plots to ensure a rainbow-colored harvest from April through October. It’s free to explore during Plant Stand hours. Climb the tractor, endearingly named “Bub’s.” Pick up an activity or scavenger hunt sheet from the Plant Stand and see what you can check off as you wander the farm. Kids will delight in running through the living tunnels of woven willow branches and red osier dogwood.

Reasonable snacking through foraging is acceptable. Pack a lunch to enjoy at the picnic tables. Explore the eight nature trails that range from 0.1 to 1.2 miles — they’ll take you through various gardens and by peaceful waters. (Note: Strollers with air-filled tires can be used on the trails, although they can be muddy and uneven.)

For a more in-depth experience at Oxbow, schools and groups can book a hands-on guided field trip. Workshops are also available for those who want to learn more about specific topics. Previous topics have included edible native plants, mushroom cultivation, macroinvertebrates and flower arranging.

As a nonprofit, Oxbow’s mission is to grow native plants and food while maintaining conservation practices. Oxbow provides organic produce and distributes it to our community, ensuring more equal access to fresh foods. For this reason, guests are not allowed to harvest produce from the Kids’ Farm or production fields.

Recommended ages: Open to all, including workshops
Cost: Free to visit during Plant Stand hours; workshops have a sliding scale.
Hours: Trails are open during Plant Stand hours — Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., April through October (see website for exact dates).
Location: 10819 Carnation-Duvall Rd. N.E., Carnation

Magnuson Children’s Garden, Seattle

Within Seattle’s second-largest park, Magnuson Children’s Garden welcomes all families to freely explore the interactive and whimsical oasis created by community volunteers with kids’ input. Families will delight in discovering the Grey Whale Garden and climbing to sit on top of a life-size whale tail, whirling down the Rolling Hill, wandering around the Salmon Survival Path, spotting insects and birds in the Pollinator Garden, and foraging a fresh snack at the inclusive wheelchair-height raised beds. Wheelchair-accessible crushed rock pathways link all garden entries.

Stop by the kiosk at the Children’s Garden to pick out a Discovery Card to find 10 designated places with nature activities to do at each one. Cards come in 10 different languages. These educational garden and nature activities can be done at the Magnuson Children’s Garden or downloaded to do in your own backyard. The Magnuson Children’s Garden website is full of free resources to expand kids’ knowledge and experience of the outdoor world.

Master gardeners and other local garden experts lead free garden classes and events throughout the year, teaching various classes and providing hands-on learning opportunities. All ages are also welcome to stewardship events, which provide hands-on learning for sustainable gardening methods, while also maintaining the Children’s Garden. Kids and adults can learn while contributing to their mission by participating in simple tasks like planting, pruning, weeding, mulching and watering. Make a day of it by playing at the Magnuson Park “Airport” Playground, throw rocks at the beach or fly a kite at Kite Hill.

Recommended ages: All
Cost: Free
Hours: Visit during Magnuson Park’s open hours (daily, dawn to dusk).
Location: Warren G. Magnuson Park, 6344 N.E. 74th St., Seattle (behind the Brig building)

Seattle PlayGarden, Seattle

The best way to describe the Seattle PlayGarden is in their slogan, “A Garden for Everyone.” This 1-acre fully fenced garden in the city aims to provide an inclusive experience for all children and their families to safely engage in outdoor play and nature discovery. Kids can spread out as they explore the colorful mound playground, giant topiary animals, mud pit, mud kitchen, trails, pollinator gardens, vegetable gardens and more.

Everyone can experience the educational and developmental benefits of getting dirty and being included in the community. A tree house and water table feature are also wheelchair accessible. Say hi to the garden’s chickens and bunnies (but please don’t feed them).

There are inclusive nature-based summer camps, an inclusive outdoor preschool and other programming available. Free Play hours have been offered in the past to provide additional opportunities of inclusive play and some structured activities. See their website for the most up-to-date event schedule.

Recommended ages: All
Cost: Free to visit. Summer camps and the outdoor preschool have fees.
Hours: Daily, from dawn until dusk. Preschool is in session Monday–Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. but the park remains open during this time.
Location: 1745 24th Ave. S., Seattle

Tilth Alliance’s Children’s Learning Garden, Seattle

The Tilth Alliance has devoted more than three decades to providing children’s garden education. The Children’s Learning Garden offers school-year camps, after-school programs, family camps and parent-child workshops. Structured activities teach children stewardship through growing food and caring for the land that grows it. Children can learn more about ecosystems, soil, biodiversity, identifying edible plants in the wild, planting, harvesting and cooking.

Field trips for your school, daycare or another group are offered for a hands-on learning experience at the garden and can be catered to pre-kindergarten-aged children through high schoolers. Service learning is also offered and is geared toward children in third grade and older. Service learning sessions combine learning and hands-on services like gardening and farm work, composting, land and wildlife stewardship, and harvesting and packing food for community programs.

The Tilth Alliance is committed to educating and inspiring its community by sharing its expertise. They are available for gardening advice via their hotline from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 206-633-0224. You can also submit a question online.

Recommended ages: 2 and older, depending on the program
Cost: Prices vary and include reduced-cost fees for those who need financial assistance.
Hours: Depends on programming
Location: 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Seattle (behind the Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford)