Lessons in the Garden

In the fall of 2020, Pictona invited Holly Hill School to participate in a Children's Garden, a specially designated area of the Humana Community Gardens at Pictona dedicated to offering students opportunities to learn about gardening, healthy living, and environmental sustainability and stewardship. Teachers planted initial crops in the fall and have been cultivating the garden over the last few months as they established their curriculum, invited teacher assistants, and recruited student participants.

Earlier this month, students had their very first opportunity to take an educational field trip to Pictona. Led by outstanding Holly Hill School teachers, Patricia Galbreath and Hallie Dunning, eighteen elementary students rotated through several stations of hands-on instruction. Ms. Galbreath and Ms. Dunning incorporated lessons in the disciplines of science, math, and even art! Several parents accompanied their kids and toured the facility, and for many students and parents, it was their first time visiting Pictona. 

Rynn Goldstein, Director of the Senior Activity Center, said, "This is exactly what we envisioned for the Children's Garden. Students were actively engaged and having so much fun that they didn't even realize they were learning. I applaud Ms. Galbreath and Ms. Dunning for the valuable educational experience they are providing for their students. Pictona is, at its core, a community center. We're proud to be here in Holly Hill, and we hope our Children's Garden will contribute to the success of Holly Hill's next generation."

More field trips are planned for this semester, bringing students from multiple grade levels to take part in such lessons as "STEM in the Garden," "Celebrating Our Earth," "Art in the Garden," and "Garden Math Games," among others. The Children's Garden, sponsored by Humana, is a partnership between Pictona and Holly Hill School.