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Running out of ideas to entertain the kiddos? We’ve got you covered
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We know it’s been a minute since school has been in session. We still have a few weeks left before it starts back, so there’s no doubt some homes might be getting a little antsy. Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens has a ton of creative ways to keep your kids entertained right now—don’t miss out!
Activity Boxes
The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens has teamed up with Little Professor Bookshop to bring an exciting new project into your home. Their Get Outside Activity Boxes bring the Gardens’ popular Children’s Summer Camps to you.
Here’s a preview of what you can find in each box, but for full details, check out this link! Boxes are $60 for members of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens and $75 for non-members.
Every box includes the following, in addition to the box-specific items:
- Birmingham Botanical Gardens Children’s Summer Camp T-shirt
- Plant grown at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, plus clay pot and paints for decorating
- Daily activity ideas curated by the Friends’ Education and Visitor Experience team
Box #1: STEAM-Inspired Creativity
- Exploring Nature Activity Book for Kids: 50 Creative Projects to Spark Curiosity in the Outdoors
- Nature Anatomy educational guide
- Creative Kits Rock Painting
- Two of a Kind Colored Pencils – Set of 12
- Sketchbook
- Field Guide
- ORDER HERE
Box #2: Young Artists
- The Big Book of Blooms
- Watercolor set
- Watercolor paper
- Sketchbook
- Smooth Stix
- ORDER HERE
Boxes #3 and #4: Summer Chefs
- 2 options: Age 4-2nd grade OR Grades 3+
- Canvas apron and fabric markers for designing your own apron
- Plant, Cook, Eat!: A Children’s Cookbook
- Kid Chef Junior: My First Kids Cookbook OR Chef Junior: 100 Super Delicious Recipes by Kids for Kid
- Sketchbook
- Two of a Kind Colored Pencils – Set of 12
- ORDER HERE (age 4-2nd grade)
- ORDER HERE (grades 3+)
Box #5: Chefs Around the World
- Canvas apron and fabric markers for designing your own apron
- What’s Cooking at 10 Garden Street?: Recipes for Kids from Around the World
- Easy Peasy: Gardening for Kids
- Sketchbook
- Two of a Kind Colored Pencils – Set of 12
- ORDER HERE
Boxes #6 and #7
- 2 options: Age 4-2nd grade OR Grades 3+
- Easy Peasy: Gardening for Kids OR In the Garden
- Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt (age 4-2nd grade only)
- Stamp Bug Set OR Stamp Flower Garden Set
- Two of a Kind Colored Pencils – Set of 12
- Sketchbook
- ORDER HERE (age 4-2nd grade)
- ORDER HERE (grades 3+)
Self-Guided Tours
If you’re looking to get out of the house for a bit, the Gardens is the place to do it. With more than enough room to space out and plenty of safety precautions in place, it’s a no-brainer.
They recently launched new self-guided tours of select garden spaces and features. The project was created by the Friends’ Education and Visitor Experience team, and it’s such a fun idea!
To hear the audio at each stop throughout the tours, simply open your smartphone camera app or other QR code reader, hold it steady to scan the QR code on each sign and listen.
Virtual Offerings
The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens recently launched a brand new YouTube channel full of content for all ages. Here’s a sample:
- Check out their Kids and Family playlist here for content aimed to entertain and educate the little ones.
- Not ready to get out of the house quite yet? No problem! Enjoy a virtual getaway to the Gardens with this playlist of videos.
- Looking for more ways to get moving? Take a free guided yoga class filmed in Birmingham’s favorite haven.
Don’t Forget to Show Your Support!
It’s more important than ever to show your support for our Birmingham community. Become a member of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens today starting at only $50/year! That’s less than $5 a month. Skip one coffee; be a part of a mission that matters. Use discount code GARDENS2020 and receive 10% off the membership level of your choice.
Members also enjoy all kinds of benefits such as:
- Access to exclusive members-only classes
- Priority registration for special events
- 10% off at Leaf & Petal at the Gardens, the Gardens Cafe by Kathy G, and at participating nurseries, garden centers and flower shops
- Plus a whole lot more
- Read more about the benefits here.
Don’t want to miss the latest from the Gardens? Sign up for the Friends’ e-newsletter to learn about upcoming offerings for children and families, such as Family Yoga in the Gardens on Saturday, August 8. Keep an eye out for family hike dates later this summer and fall as well.
Headed to the Gardens for a bit of socially distant exploring? Tag us in your photos on social @BhamNow
