Willows Summer Camp
Meet Weikai: A short story of nature play at work
by Grace Heath Weikai’s love for the garden was infectious and when his family learned they were moving this past May, they expressed that one of the hardest parts for Weikai would be leaving the garden. In the fall of 2021, ICG restarted After School
Making Vegetable Soup with Louis Ehlert’s Growing Vegetable Soup
One of our favorite books at ICG is Lois Ehlert’s Growing Vegetable Soup. If you don’t have a copy at home or access to the library check out a read aloud on Youtube. You can mute the volume and read it yourself if you prefer.
Bread Making with Books
Bread is one of the most common foods around the world. It’s a food that connects people across time, geography, and culture. Children can easily help make bread and nothing compares to the aroma of it baking in the oven. Learn about bread through these
Soil Jar Science
Learn what your soil is made of with our Soil Jar Science experiment! Materials: 1 pint or quart glass jar with a tight fitting lid Water Liquid dish soap Soil Shovel or trowel Head outside and dig a hole. Aim to go at least 6-8
Gaia Egg Excavation
Turtles lay their eggs in nests they build on land. Mama turtles dig a hole about 6 inches deep in loose sand, soil, or decaying debris. They lay 20 or more eggs in the hole and then cover it back up. After the eggs are
Clean Mud
Looking for all the fun of mud play with less of the mess? Clean Mud is for you! It’s as fun to make as it is to play with. Materials: White bar soap Roll of toilet paper Water Butter knife Shallow bin or baking pan
Muddy Habitats
Lots of humans of all ages LOVE to play in mud. Did you know that there are lots of wild animals that NEED muddy places for their survival? When you play at Ithaca Children’s Garden, you have probably splashed in the bioswale, the wet area