Education
Summer 2008—Early Childhood
Registration has begun for summer programs at the Garden, Shaw Nature Reserve, the Butterfly House, and EarthWays Center. MBG Members will have registration preference until February 29 and will receive program discounts.
Download a printable brochure or registration form.
 Little Sprouts (ages 2–3) Both Series are now Full
Enjoy the beauty of the Garden with your child in the Little Sprouts Program. This summer, we’ll put all our senses to the test while we investigate different areas of the Garden. Come and make new friends as we see, smell, hear, touch, and taste the beauty of summer! Each week, we will visit a different area of the Garden on our walk.
Classes are designed to give you special time with your child or grandchild as she or he explores early childhood curiosities about the natural world. Each session includes indoor hands-on activities, songs, a story, and a snack. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Wednesday series begins May 28 Full
Thursday series begins May 29 Full
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Four week series:
$64 members / $72 non-members
Pitzman Nature Study Program (ages 4–6)
Classes in the Pitzman Nature Study Program offer a delightful way to introduce your child to the wonders of nature under the guidance of experienced preschool teachers—Pam Wentworth, and Jan Erdman of the Lab School in Kirkwood, and Cathy Edmond of the Special School District in Parkway.
Classes are designed to give you special time with your child or grandchild as she or he explores the natural world. Child centered, hands-on activities are a trademark of these classes. Activities are centered on awakening a child’s curiosity in nature while allowing the adult to support the child’s discoveries. Each class explores a different area of the Garden and includes time outdoors, classroom discussion, a craft, and a snack. Some classes also include a story.
These classes have been developed for one child age 4–6 years old and one adult. The child must be 4 years old prior to attendance in a class. To ensure the highest quality experience for all participants, each child must be accompanied by an adult. Children under the age limit will not be admitted. No younger siblings please; they tend to detract from your child’s special time with you. Space is limited, so only registered participants may attend.
Class size is limited to 15 children and their accompanying adults. Unfortunately, if classes do not have at least eight participants, the program will be cancelled.
Mondays or Tuesdays: Monday and Tuesday classes are repeats.
Saturdays: Morning and afternoon sessions are repeats.
Ten-class series:
$150 members / $170 non-members
Individual classes:
$16 members / $18 non-members
Maps Are Amazing
Saturday, June 14
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. or 1–2:30 p.m.
Your child will have a chance to learn about different types of maps and then use a map to find the way to the Kaeser Maze. Back in the classroom they will design their own map, and the explorers will share a snack together.
Bugs for Lunch
Monday, June 16 or Tuesday, June 17
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Oops, one slip on the edge of a pitcher plant and an unsuspecting insect becomes food for a carnivorous plant. Learn about these fascinating plants, make one out of paper, and take a living one home for your very own. A buggy snack will end our time together.
NEW!! Bridges
Saturday, June 21
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. or 1–2:30 p.m.
This new class explores the variety of bridges here in the Garden. You will be amazed at just how many kinds there are and how differently each is constructed. In the classroom you will be able to design your own bridge to take home. We’ll also share a snack that will require some construction before you can eat it.
NEW!! Whoa! Do You See What I See?
Monday, June 23 or Tuesday, June 24
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
This new class will give the young detective the chance to discover the variety of things you can find within one small space of the garden. You will take a frame into the garden and using a magnifier will have the chance to chart the things you find, man made, seeds, plants and bugs. We will share a snack at the end of our exploration.
The Bug Hunt: Creepy, Crawly, Critters
Saturday, June 28
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. or 1–2:30 p.m.
If you love little things that move, and have lots of legs, we want you to hunt bugs with us. We will learn about the habitats they prefer, and do some simple math, as we compare the number of body parts they have: watch them move; and learn to treat them with kindness. We’ll also share a creepy snack before we say good bye. Don’t forget to bring an empty, plastic, gallon milk jug so you can make your own bug keeper.
The KEMPER CENTER Children’s Garden
Monday, June 30 or Tuesday, July 1
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Special surprises always await you just around the bend in the Children’s Garden at the Kemper Center. Come explore this garden which was planted just for you and your friends. We will search for colors as we explore here today and then make our own terrariums to take home as a memory of the fun we share today.
Tanabata: The Japanese Festival of the Stars
Monday, July 7 or Tuesday, July 8
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
We will celebrate this festival by decorating a beautiful bamboo wand with the wish papers that you design. We will share the story of the Princess and the Cowherd, and even have a parade, just as the children of Japan do. Of course, there will be a celebration snack.
NEW!! Big, Small, Any Place at All
Saturday, July 12
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. or 1–2:30 p.m.
We will have fun as we discover the joy of making gardens in a variety of containers. After exploring in the garden, we will come back to the classroom and plant our own tiny gardens in a variety of containers and enjoy a snack. These container gardens will be yours to take home as a memory of your special time at the Garden.
Sounds, Smells, and Other Sensations
Monday, July 14 or Tuesday, July 15
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Stimulate your senses as we explore different areas of the Garden! We’ll listen for the sounds, enjoy the aromas, and use fingers to explore the textures that can be found in the plants in the garden. We’ll enjoy a snack that will tease your senses and use our muscles and create a scented art project to take home.
Painting in the Garden
Saturday, July 19
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. or 1–2:30 p.m.
Paint your very own masterpiece using watercolors as you sit among the flowers of the garden. Discover the joy of creating as you are inspired by the beauty around you. Together in the classroom, we’ll mat one of your creations to take home and enjoy a colorful snack.
Henry Shaw’s Garden
Monday, July 21 or Tuesday, July 22
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
The Garden will celebrate Henry Shaw’s birthday this week. This will be a good time to learn more about this special man and talk about his marvelous Garden. We’ll take a walk and explore Shaw’s Garden, then plant our own tiny gardens to take home. You may add water, a sculpture, sow some seeds and add a plant. We’ll have a special snack to celebrate this important day.
The Old Man in the Sand
Saturday, July 26
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. or 1–2:30 p.m.
Today you will have the chance to meet an Old Man, a Prickly Pear, a Panda, and a Barrel, as you explore these spiny, poky, plants. Tiny or tall, wooly or spiny, cacti are among the strangest and most remarkable plants on earth. We’ll carefully plant a spiky treasure, enjoy a snack, listen to a wonderful story, and find answers to some prickly questions.
Leaf Detective
Monday, July 28 or Tuesday, July 29
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Be a detective and explore leaves by comparing their shapes, uses, textures and colors. Discover some large enough to use as umbrellas and some so tiny, they can fit on one finger tip. When we finish you will be able to use the leaves to make your very own leafy picture. After a story we will enjoy a leafy snack.
Amazing Fountains
Saturday, August 2
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. or 1–2:30 p.m.
Noise, water, and children, what a combination! Join us on a wet adventure as we investigate several of the garden fountains. We’ll look carefully at each one to see what makes each of them unique. We will make a fountain and share a fun summer snack. Shoes are required at all times during the class. Please dress appropriately with shoes that can get wet.
Pitzman at Shaw Nature Reserve (ages 4–6)
Classes will include a craft and a snack. Class content is geared toward the preschool level. Price includes one adult and one child per two-hour session. Please check in at Shaw Nature Reserve Visitor’s Center.
Individual class:
$16 Garden and SNR members / $18 non-members
Teddy Bear Picnic
Monday, June 9
9:30–11:30 a.m.
Come learn about bears in Missouri. Bring your favorite bear and share his or her story. Enjoy hands-on activities, and make your own Teddy Bear picnic lunch.
Explore Your Wild Side
Wednesday, June 11
9:30–11:30 a.m.
Explore, learn and have fun! Join us as we hold this session in our new Nature Explore Classroom. Children will have fun connecting with nature while adults learn about the importance of frequent and unstructured play in the outdoors for their child.
Buzzzzzz!
Friday, June 13
9:30–11:30 a.m.
What is all that buzz about? We will discover why bees are so important. Explore some cool characteristics about bees and do some fun bee activities. 
 Camp Bugaloo: Bugs and Blossoms (ages 2–5)
Make “The Best Bug Ever” using our wild collection of inspiring insects. Visit with Itsy Bitsy Spider or Miss Muffett’s friends. Pretend to be a florist and create your own flower arrangement. Crawl into the sunflower house to read. Select one date per month, activities remain the same within the month. At the Butterfly House.
Individual class:
$16 members / $18 non-members
ages 4 and 5:
Bugs: Friday, June 13, 10:30 a.m–12 p.m. OR Sunday, June 15, 12:30–2 p.m.
Blossoms: Friday, July 11, 10:30 a.m–12 p.m. OR Sunday, July 13, 12:30–2 p.m.
ages 2 and 3:
Blossoms: Friday, July 18, 10:30 a.m–12 p.m. OR Sunday, July 20, 12:30–2 p.m.
Bugs: Friday, August 8, 10:30 a.m–12 p.m. OR Sunday, August 10, 12:30–2 p.m.
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