Our self-directed family activities are designed for children and their grown-ups to enjoy together. Learn along side your children as you visit an Investigation Station, complete a Kid Quest or climb to the top of the CWD Treehouse. These activities are free with Garden admission.

Spring Fling | Sunday, April 25, 1 - 4 p.m.

Kick-off the gardening season at the Children's Garden Spring Fling.  This community celebration offers family-friendly music by the Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra, entertainment and activities.  The event coincides with Earth Day, and will include activities that promote environmental stewardship. Food will be available for purchase at the Garden Cafe.
Participating "Green Partner" - Central Virginia Food Bank, Central Virginia Waste Management Authority, Plant a Row for the Hungry, Keep Henrico Beautiful, Virginia Native Plant Society, and stuff, inc.

Kid Quest | Year Round

Families use clever clues and mapping skills to find their way to a hidden treasure in the Garden. Along the way, children and their adults are encouraged to record the names of plants they encounter. Once the quest is completed, children receive a collectable button. A new edition is printed every two months starting in February.

Investigation Stations | Daily April - November 19

Investigation Stations are interpretive exhibits within the Children’s Garden that provide visitors with information about garden-related topics such as garden habitats, plant products, tree identification, garden insects, and plant fibers and dyes. These exhibits are designed for families to learn side by side and have components that engage family visitors in scientific observation throughout the garden. Investigation topics will be presented on a rotating basis using a monthly seasonal theme.

Select days during the week and on weekends April - October; Monthly Seasonal Themes • April - Habitats • May - Soils • June - Weather • July – Garden Dwellers/Insects • August – Plant Products • September – The Harvest • October - Trees • November - Winter Readiness

Drop in and Dig | Wednesdays April - November 17

Families with children are invited to drop-in and participate in simple, easy to learn gardening tasks under the guidance of Children’s Garden staff and volunteers. These family-oriented gardening experiences can easily be enjoyed at home. Join us to learn how much fun gardening with children can be!
Wednesday afternoons, April 7 - June 16, 1- 3 p.m.; Wednesday mornings, June 23 - September 8, 9 - 11 a.m.; Wednesday afternoons, Sept. 15 - Nov. 17, 1 - 3 p.m.
During Families After 5 | June 15, July 20 and August 17, 6 - 8 p.m.

Garden Art (NEW) | Monday afternoons April - October

Families are invited to drop-in every Monday to help create “continuous” works of art. This gardening season participants will collaborate outdoors to craft garden-themed mosaics using tumbled glass. Families can learn mosaic techniques while creating Garden Art that will be displayed in the Children’s Garden throughout the year.
Monday afternoons | April - October, 1 - 3 p.m.
During Families after Five | June 29 and August 31, 6 - 8 p.m.

Green Hour | Bi-monthly April - October

The Children’s Garden participates in the Green Hour, a National Wildlife Federation program that encourages families to spend one hour per week outdoors to help cultivate a love of nature and wildlife in young people. Families with children of all ages are invited to spend a Green Hour in the Children’s Garden reading, listening to story books and making connections with the natural world. Featured books will be selected using the Children’s Garden monthly seasonal theme.
First and third Friday of the month, April – October, 11 a.m. – 12 noon

During Families After 5 | June 22, July 27 and August 24, 6 p.m.

Good Green Fun | Monthly April - November

Good Green Fun is an ongoing environmental education series at the Children’s Garden. Every fourth Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m,  April through October, environmental education and advocacy groups from the greater Richmond community are invited to the Children’s Garden to engage visitors in activities that relate directly to nature, the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and Virginia’s environment. The Children’s Garden provides an excellent “outdoor classroom” for young visitors to cultivate their interest in nature and learn about environmental stewardship. Through hands-on demonstrations, crafts, and activities children discover that they can make a positive difference at home, in their communities, and in the world.   April 24, May 22, June 26, July 24, August 28, September 25, and October 23, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Jammin' | Monthly April - November

Enjoy a special “vibe” in the Children’s Garden every second Saturday of the month, April through November. The Garden rocks and rolls with the special energy that comes from listening, dancing, clapping and stomping feet to the music. April 10, May 8, Jun 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, and October 9, 12 - 3 p.m.

During Families After Five | June 8, July 13 and August 10, 5 - 8 p.m.

Goin' on a Bug Hunt! | 1st Tuesdays June - August

Join us as we grab our gear and go on a bug hunt. Every 1st Tuesday of the month during Families After Five. One of our “bug specialists” will share knowledge about the insect world as we take inventory of the predators and pollinators that inhabit the Children’s Garden and surrounding areas. 5 - 8 p.m.

Goblins and Gourds | Sunday, October 24, 1 - 4 p.m.

Celebrate the harvest season with wacky music by the Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra, pick a pumpkin from our patch for decorating, and enjoy Good Green Fun under the tent. Food will be available for purchase at the Garden Café.