Extension Master Gardeners provide quarterly workshops at Samuels Public Library (330 E Criser Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630) for “Wee Ones” (3-6 year-olds) and “Elementary Green Thumbs” (7-11 year-olds).
Watch our “Save the Date” box for updates.
Parent/guardian must accompany children; no drop offs are allowed.
FIRST QUARTER:
Friday, January 23, 2026 3pm
TOPIC & ACTIVITIES
Worms and Other Insects: Superheroes of the Garden!
We will look at how our superheroes spend the winter to gear up for their active lives during the warmer weather. Where do they live? What do they do? How do they eat? What can we do to help them prepare for their superhero work? Come join us! We will be doing a craft project so each participant will have something to take home! Don’t worry parents – no live worms or insects!
SECOND QUARTER:
Friday, May 22, 2026 3pm
TOPIC & ACTIVITIES:
The USA is 250 years old! How our land and weather affected the Revolutionary War and its outcome.
We will learn how land, rivers, creeks, swamps, mountains and valleys, with all their different types of vegetation, affected the outcome of the Revolutionary War. Come join us for a different kind of discussion about how land and weather impacted the outcome of the conflict that created our country. We will explore making a topographic map that kids will be able to bring home. Weather permitting, we will plant some seeds in the garden outside.
THIRD QUARTER:
Friday, August 14, 2026, 3pm
TOPIC & ACTIVITIES:
The Shenandoah Valley – The Breadbasket of the Revolutionary War
How much food was needed to feed soldiers? Who provided this food and worked in the fields? How did food stay fresh? (no refrigerators!) ? What kinds of food was needed and how was it prepared? How did the Shenandoah Valley help provide food? Kids will go home with their very own corn & bean-growing project. Weather permitting, we will see how the plants we planted in May are coming along.
FOURTH QUARTER:
Friday, November 6, 2026, 3pm
TOPIC & ACTIVITIES:
Superhero Plants of the Fall and Winter Gardens
We will focus on plants in our garden that provide multiple benefits to wildlife and soil, and examine how native plants are the superheroes in our gardens, and why! This will be a very hands-on exploration of plant qualities, and there will be something for kids to take home to remember what we talked about.