Encouraging Youth Participation Through Children's Garden Consulting

Developed as a new model for youth engagement, the Children's Garden Consultant Program aimed to encourage youth voice and involve youth to the fullest extent possible in the design and programming of children's gardens. Seven youth attended a 3-day event in which they explored approaches to children's gardens and made recommendations to an adult audience of children's garden experts and youth development specialists. Surveys, focus groups, and interviews with youth and program organizers illustrated the ways youth benefited from this event. Adults who work with youth can apply the lessons learned to garden-based learning and other settings.