Teens in the Garden – Fieldtrip!

Did you know the Garden has a volunteer program just for teens?

This year-round program allows teens who love nature and the Garden to participate in volunteer service learning projects, career building opportunities and exploring nature and fun with science.

“One of the ways the Garden’s mission advances excellence in education is through our Teens in the Garden program, where we provide high-school aged youth with opportunities to get involved in volunteer service learning projects, career building opportunities and explore nature with other teens who share similar interests, says Sharah Nieto, Children’s Education Manager at Desert Botanical Garden.

Recently, nine teens took a field trip to visit the Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix. Teens had a chance to experience a garden through a new world view. They met with the garden’s curator and head Niwashi, Ben Schrepf. Ben gave the teens an overview of Japanese landscaping techniques from the type of clothing that is worn to how plants are carefully trimmed. He even showed them the type of building materials that are used in construction and how objects and plants are arranged to create harmonious space. It’s definitely a site worth checking out, if you have not already visited!

The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix (The Japanese name is Rohō-en) is an authentic 3.5-acre garden with a tea garden and a tea house. This tranquil and beautiful setting features more than 1,500 tons of hand-picked rock, stone foot bridges, lanterns and more than 50 varieties of plants. As you stroll the path, you will enjoy flowing streams, a 12-foot waterfall and a Koi pond with more than 300 colorful Koi fish.

Do you have a teen who may be interested? The group meets in person or virtually the third Saturday of the month.  Contact Gabrielle Paduano at gpaduano@dbg.org for more information.