The Cooperative Extension Education Center offers two programs for school groups in our gardens and greenhouses. I - The Learning Landscape Environmental Education Program welcomes children to explore the soils, water, plants and wildlife of southern New England.
Children participate in hands-on activities in our perennial, annual and natural vegetable gardens.
They visit our goldfish pond, native plantings, mini-orchard, and the tropical and desert plant collections in the URI greenhouses. Two hour programs in Spring and Fall. In the Learning Landscape children may sieve soil to examine the particles, feel composting worms squiggle about on their hands, sample water to test the acidity, learn how to prevent tick bites, identify plants through their fingertips, and taste and smell the herbs and vegetables in our raised beds. Activities and concepts in the Learning Landscape are geared to the appropriate age of each group. How plants survive in the desert ecoystem for up to a year without a drop of water, Why plants in the tropical rain forest ecosystem have drip tips, Where plants grow without soil, and much more.