Creating Hands-on Gardening Experiences for Children and Families

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For the third year in a row, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and the National Head Start Association team up for the GroMoreGood Garden Grants Program. The program will support the needs of existing and new garden projects for Head Start children and their families.

"Nature is the ultimate classroom. Everything Head Start children learn in the garden ties into science, math, health, nutrition, and physical activity as well as literacy and, especially in centers where there are many languages spoken, language acquisition," said NHSA Executive Director Yasmina Vinci. "NHSA is proud to partner with The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation to encourage experiential learning, foster curiosity, and support lifelong healthy habits. There is nothing more rewarding than the fruits of our own labor."

As part of the GroMoreGood initiative to connect 10 million children to the benefits of gardens and green spaces, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation has partnered once again with the National Head Start Association (NHSA) to make garden grants, garden kits, educational curriculum, and garden training available to Head Start programs with the goal of creating more edible gardens for young children and their families.

Decades of research shows that children who grow fresh food eat more fresh food and, as a result, are healthier. That's why NHSA and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation are joining forces to teach children, families, and communities how to grow their own fresh produce-creating healthy habits for life.

In addition to fresh food, hands-on experiences in the garden provides Head Start children many benefits, including: increased physical activity; improved behavior; decreased stress and anxiety; positive social integration; greater engagement with learning; and creative ways to move through curriculum and learning materials.

"This collaboration brings the powerful benefits of gardens to the one million at-risk Head Start children and families served by NHSA," said Molly Jennings, VP, Corporate Affairs & Communications Services. "Our efforts to bring gardens to more people is never more important than when it serves our youngest gardeners with hands-on education and experiences. We are thankful to the amazing teams at Head Starts across the country bringing edible gardens to life in their own classrooms and outdoor spaces."

The GroMoreGood Garden Grant application window is open to all Head Start programs now through December 15, 2021. For more information, check out the NHSA Initiative.