Children's Science Outreach Program

Our Children's Program has made some significant changes! Post-covid reports show that many children are still behind academically, especially in areas of low income. Educators are working extra hard to find innovative ways to teach their children and to keep them interested in learning. The Friends of Robinson Gardens team heard these requests and created a way to alter our "on-site" Science Program to create an "off-site" program to be delivered directly to the students and teachers.

This hands-on program, the Friends of Robinson Gardens Children's Science Outreach Program ("FRoG "), was written as three modules based on science lessons learned at Robinson Gardens: Nutrition and a Healthy You, Plants & Our World, The Ecosystem of a Pond…Development of a Frog.

Science kits are sent to each participating classroom, grades 3-4, in LAUSD Title 1 schools and group homes. Two videos are sent to accompany the modules: an overview video of The Robinson Gardens and a second video concentrating on the material. Each kit contains a notebook of lessons that includes worksheets, fun activities, crossword puzzles, and games in addition to classroom essentials like pencils, sharpeners, scissors, crayons, and glue sticks. Special items like healthy snacks, seeds, planters, and frog life-cycle replicas were added to each unit when indicated. As a culmination of completing the units, students and teachers are invited to visit the gardens for docent-led tours with transportation included.

Science kits have been sent out to over 10,000 students since 2021. Beginning with ten schools and 1000 units, the school year 2021-2022 saw an increase to 129 classrooms in 27 schools, serving 3000 students. By 2022-2023, requests for science kits reached 6000, and by June 2024, over 10,000 kids will have participated in our program. With the assistance of our volunteers, the aid of the County, our special "Donor Friends," and generous grants, our goal is to continue to grow our program to reach more children. A most recent and generous grant from Santa Monica Westside Legacy Fund has allowed us to partner with Current fulfillment center in Colorado, which prints the units, orders the items included in the units, and packs and ships the finished package to our school partners.

Please click on the link below to donate or call our Friends Office at (310) 550-2068 for more information and for inquiries about how to volunteer, provide funding, or help with fulfillment.

To make a donation to our program, please click here.

 

Here are some comments from teachers and children,
along with some beautiful pictures to help you visualize the power of this program.
“We’re having so much fun with all the lessons.”
“My students were so excited and so amazed at all the beautiful materials that came in their kits.”
“ I don’t know if you realize how much this means to my students, to have these wonderful materials just given to them to utilize!”

 

  • Field trips are available for schools or school districts pre-approved by LA County Parks & Rec.
  • Admission is free for qualified private and public school-organized field trips.
  • Maximum attendance is 42 students + 4 adults (teachers/chaperones)
  • Transportation is available and free for Title 1 schools.
  • Advance reservations are required with a short application to complete.
  • Docent-led tours for children are available throughout the school year.
  • Tours are offered Tuesday - Friday 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

The Children’s Science Fair


Our annual, spring Science Fair brings young people from local residential treatment programs to the gardens for a fun day of exploration and learning. It is a day that celebrates the earth and demonstrates support for environmental awareness through discussions on water conservation, recycling, saving energy and food sources. The children, ages 6-16, tour the grounds, venturing into the gourmet garden and visiting the chickens in our very own Poulet Palace. They take a stroll down to the Wildlife Pond and journey through the largest collection of King Palms in North America. All the while, they are learning about the environment and their part in protecting the earth and making it a better place.

Following the tour, the kids are invited to a healthy lunch and a Science Show. As they depart, each child is given a backpack full of school supplies and will leave with a skip in their step having spent the day surrounded by nature.

For more information about the annual Children’s Science Fair, please contact April Walton (310) 550-2087 or [email protected]

“Why try to explain miracles to your kids when you can just have them plant a garden.” – Robert Brault