The Horticultural Society of Maryland has awarded a grant to Little Leaves, a science-based learning program for Baltimore City second graders at the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens. The Friends of the Rawlings Conservatory and Rawlings staff and volunteers have developed a program to introduce inner-city students to the connections between plants and the world they live in — a field trip to observe and experience the Conservatory’s exceptional tropical, desert, and Mediterranean greenhouse exhibits.
Volunteers are needed to assist a professional naturalist with observation study and a hands-on planting activity. Volunteers accompany the children as they explore the different habitats, keeping they focused on study questions. Interacting with and seeing the plants through the eyes of the second-graders is an inspiring and rewarding experience.
Programs are given on Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., throughout the school year. To find out how you can share your love of plants with these young students, or for more details, contact Alice Hubbard, alhubat@aol.com