Gardens 4 Kids (G4K) is a youth-centered initiative focused on building and managing community gardens and programming designed specifically for young people.
G4K’s mission is to empower youth through hands-on gardening education, teaching sustainable gardening practices, food sovereignty, and environmental stewardship.
Gardens 4 Kids (G4K) is a youth-centered initiative under the New Westminster Community Gardening Society.
Key aspects of G4K include:
- Youth Leadership and Engagement: G4K encourages young people to lead, participate in, and manage garden projects, fostering skills in teamwork, responsibility, and environmental consciousness.
- Educational Programs: Through workshops and seasonal activities, G4K teaches children and youth about plant cultivation, eco-friendly practices, and the importance of locally grown food.
- Community Collaboration: G4K works closely with schools, community groups, and the City of New Westminster to provide accessible green spaces that benefit the wider community and promote food security
With its focus on education and sustainability, Gardens 4 Kids provides a foundation for youth to contribute to and care for their environment.
CLICK HERE for more info on how we started.
G4k initially started out as a Neighbourhood Small Grant funded project that happened once per year, offering gardening kits to families. CLICK HERE to read our story.
We also provide private tours for schools who want to teach their students more about gardening. Sessions are 1-2 hours in length and include educational activities tailored to the BC Early Learning Framework an/or the BC Curriculum. We can provide content beforehand to the teachers. Grades covered are Kindergarten to 12. We also do engaging sessions at preschools, daycares etc.
We have a volunteer-led Community Garden Plot, located at City Hall, New Westminster. We have several active volunteers (all youth) who tended to the garden several times a week.
Gardening Volunteers:
We need volunteers to water our donation community plots at St. Mary's Garden. Next to Qayqayt school in New West.
We also have a plot at New West City Hall that requires tending.
We need volunteers to create content for activity booklets, develop educational activities for all ages and engaging content. We also need a volunteer to create a brochure that can be printed or sent digitally outlining what G4K does in the community.
2025 Events:
April educational session at an after school care program in New Westminster
May 9 - Kindgarten class program at a school in Coquitlam
June - attended StrongStart in Queensborough
We have been actively working on the new youth garden at Urban Academy in New Westminster. This is a private school youth educational garden we started from scratch and have been providing hands-on education to the children at this school, as well as the teachers. This has been a great collaboration!
2024-2025 Exciting update:
We recently received the Youth Climate Action Fund from the City of New Westminster and will be building the first Youth-led Community Garden in Queens Park. We will also be starting an educational garden at a local independent school.
More info can be found here:
Youth Climate Action Fund | City of New Westminster
Seed Library - partnering with New West Public Library (opened in 2023)
April 6th, 2023 New West Farmer's Market, 3-7pm - No more Volunteers needed
May 21, 2023 KinderBooks, River Market New Westminster, time 930am - No more Volunteers needed
June 5, 2023 Olivet Church, Family Services Event 930-11am - No more Volunteers needed
Canada Day, 2023 Pier Park, New Westminster, 12-7pm - No more Volunteers needed
July 22, 2023 Victoria Hill Neighbourhood Block Party, 1-4pm - No more Volunteers needed
March 9, 2024 New West Public Library, Seedy Saturday
March 15, 2024 Queen's Park Preschool
March 22, 2024 Rainbow Play Cafe private event
April 5 & 12, 2024 Educational Garden Tours for Urban Academy Private School (Grades K-3, 6, 11 &12)
May 17, 2024 Graham Montessori Daycare, private event
May 18, 2024 Purpose Society public event (422 Sixth St. New Westminster)
July 1, 2024 Canada Day Event at Park Pier (all day), public event
July & August 2024 - New Westminster Farmer's Market
August 2024 Seed Balls in collaboration with the New Westminster Public Library
Sept 2024 Neighbourhood House Celebration at St. Baranaba's - complete
| info@gardens4kids.ca | |
| Jennifer Baetz, Craig Thompson | |
| Founders | |
| https://gardens4kids.ca/ |
