Welcome to the Magnuson Children's Garden!

Welcome to the Magnuson Children's Garden! We have lots of wonderful activities and events planned for 2010, each designed to increase the fun, education, and sustainability of the garden.

Garden Description
This vibrant, interactive, children’s garden is open FREE to the public year-round, during all hours that Magnuson Park is open. The garden was designed by a team of professionals, using the ideas that were dreamed up by children from the community, and is filled with plants and other features that delight all the senses:
• A sea of grasses that rustle in the wind.
• Plants that feed butterflies and other beneficial insects, hummingbirds and songbirds.
• Blueberries and Currants for humans (and birds) to nibble.
• Tea and Pizza Gardens.
• Child-size picnic tables.
• A fort-building zone, complete with everything you'll need to create a unique place of your own.
• Tree stump stools and benches to sit and dream.
• A spiral path up a hill to the “Lookout”, the highest point in the whole community garden.
• A Grey Whale Garden, complete with mosaic tail and eyes, and a tall grass spout!

The Magnuson Children's Garden hosts free events throughout the spring and summer months that are fun for children and their parents. Here's what is planned:

Spring Events

Family Gardening Workparty Events:
Come spend a spring morning at the Magnuson Children's Garden, doing simple and easy tasks to help care for the garden! All adults who participate are invited to bring children with them for free nature activities, such as exploring the worm bin, going on sensory walks, creating nature art, planting and harvesting! Tools and gloves are provided for all adults and children, along with refreshments. Teens receive service learning credit for their volunteering. To top it off, King County Master Gardeners and other horticultural experts are on hand at each event to answer questions about your own garden free of charge!
Spring schedule:
Saturday April 3rd from 10:00am-2:00pm
Saturday April 24th from 10:00am-2:00pm

FREE CLASS for Parents and Children!
'How to Create a Child-Friendly Garden'
on Saturday May 1st from 11:30am-12:30pm
This free 1-hr. family-friendly class will start in the Magnuson Brig Building (aka Building 406) and include a guided tour and hands-on activities in the Children's Garden and Jr. Nature Explorers P-Patch Garden. This event is co-sponsored by the Magnuson Community Center, as part of its brand new 'Family Nature Explorers' program, and we'd love to have a full house! Pre-registration is requested by contacting Magnuson Community Center at 206-684-7026, but walk-ins are welcome too.

Summer Events:
Each summer, the Children’s Garden hosts fun activities for children and families during several of the musical events that are held at the Magnuson Amphitheater, which is adjacent to the garden. We also host one Family Gardening Workparty per month.

Wednesday June 23rd from 1:00-3:00pm- Family Gardening Workparty

Friday July 9th from 6:oo-8:00pm- Family Garden Party!
Enjoy free activities for children and families before and during the free concert by Seattle favorites 'Tickle Tune Typhoon"!

Wednesday July 21st from 1:00-3:00pm - Family Gardening Workparty

Friday July 30th from 6:oo-8:00pm- Family Garden Party!
Enjoy free activities for children and families before and during the free concert by Seattle favorites 'The Not Its"!

Wednesday August 18th from 1:00-3:00pm - Family Gardening Workparty

Saturday September 4th (Labor Day weekend) from 12noon-4pm:
Enjoy free activities for children and families during the "Blues for Food Festival", which raises funds to benefit the P-Patch Trust, and provide food for needy families all across the city. This day-long event features performances by many of the area's best blues bands, fabulous food, a homemade pie auction, and more!

For more information on any of these events, contact the Magnuson Children's Garden Committee at magnusonchildrensgarden@gmail.com

Links:
For info about the Jr. Nature Explorers program, which is sponsored by the Magnuson Community Center, visit http://jrnatureexplorers.blogspot.com

You can also find additional information about the Magnuson Children’s Garden and Community Garden at http://www.seattle.gov/magnusongarden/default.htm



Directions to the Garden:
The Children's Garden is part of the 3.5 acre Magnuson Community Garden, located inside Warren G. Magnuson Park
7400 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
The Children's Garden is easy to find! It is located right behind building #406, also known as "The Brig". If you are traveling to the garden by foot or by car, follow these directions:

Enter Magnuson Park at the 74th St entrance. Go approx. 4 blocks until you reach the second 4-way stop sign. The entrance to the Community Garden is via the sidewalk on the north side of this intersection. The Children's Garden is just a few steps down the sidewalk- look on your left for an entry arbor with colorful flags and a Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar Tree draped over its top, and the giant Grey Whale Garden !

If you're driving, turn right at that second 4-way stop, and park in the Jr. League Playground parking lot. (if you reach the dog park you've gone too far) Use the crosswalk to go back across 74th St. and into the Children's Garden!


Magnuson Park is a proud participant in the annual National Environmental Education Week, which will be held this year on April 11th-17th. The Magnuson Community Center, Children's Garden, and Bird-Friendly Landscape will host 4 educational events that week for school-age children!

For more info on National Environmental Education Week, visit http://www.eeweek.org