Programs for Children

Fall Programs:
• Budding Botanists: Story Time & Flower Crafts
• Home School Series: Integrated Botany
• Home School Series: Music, Movement and Nature
• Home School Series: Flower Power- Elements of Botany & Design





Budding Botanists: Story Time and Flower Crafts

Is there a budding naturalist in your family?
Story tellers introduce little ones to the wonders of the green world through seasonal songs, picture books, puppets and crafts at the only library in Manhattan devoted to plants and gardens. For kids ages 2-5 years old, accompanied by parent/caregiver.

10:00 - 11:00 am on Wednesdays, starting September 8 and continuing through the end of the year; At the Hort Library

Per session: HSNY Members $5; Non-members $10. (Price includes one child and one parent/caregiver. Additional children only $5 each)

Register online today! You can also RSVP by calling 212-757-0915 x100,
or email us at hsny@hsny.org






Home School Series: Interactive Botany



Come take a fresh, new look at plants with The Horticultural Society of New York! Our interactive five week study will attempt to cultivate a profound appreciation and understanding for one of the few organisms that live off the sun's energy. Together we will dig deeper into exactly how plant parts function. Students will explore plants from under-ground, along a transportation highway and onto pollination. They will make floral arrangements, press leaves, investigate stem structure, define botanical functions and also produce tasty, unique veggie dishes. Collectively, these activities promote a rich, deep opportunity to learn about plant anatomy and function– crucial components of the National Standards for teaching Science and the NYC DOE scope and sequence for science.

Structure: 60 minutes class + 30 minutes for personalized library study,
individualized inquiry discussion and healthy snack

Age Group: For Children Ages 5-8 years

Registration Information:

Register online today!

Cost: $20 each session; $90 for all five sessions, which includes a free library pass granting borrowing privileges for the duration of the program.**

Dates and time: Tuesdays, September 14, 21, 28, October 5, and 12; 10:30am - 12pm

Location: The Hort Library; 148 West 37th Street, 13th Floor
(between 7th Ave and Broadway)

About the Instructor: Pamela Ito, HSNY Director of Children's Education has been teaching in rural Kenya, on the shores off Kauai, in the Oregon woodlands and in New York City for over 21 years. Her prior experience includes roles in field research, marine mammal and fisheries observation. Pam has a B.S. in Biology with Certification in Secondary Science Education from Lewis & Clark College and a Masters of Environmental Studies from Bard College. She is a mother of two.

** Policies and fee’s for lateness and damaged book returns apply. See Katherine Powis, HSNY Librarian, or Pamela Ito, Director of Children's Education for a list of HSNY library policies. All borrowed material must be returned to the library at final session. Failure to return any material on or before that date will result in pro-rated late fee’s and/or replacement fee’s for the non-returned material.




Home School Series: Music, Movement and Nature

In each of the five weeks, we focus on one of the five elements, Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Space. This theme is also related to different plant parts, such as the seed, roots, shoot, stem, leaves, and flower. Both themes are woven throughout each class. New postures incorporating the new theme of the week are introduced, while older postures are reviewed with new emphasis on each theme.



Each class maintains the same structure of:
1. Opening name circle
2. Reviewing, refining and learning new variations of sun salutations, then adding music for fluency (music is all instrumental, rhythmic world music)
3. Learning individual postures and then testing their retention through a fun freeze dance in which the kids have to freeze in specific poses
4. Singing the "Element Song", which incorporates rhythm and postures
5. Opening the hips to prepare for lotus pose (the bloom of the flower) and sitting still and breathing, vocalizing 'ah' sounds to prepare for relaxation
6. Final relaxation with beach and water imagery

The goal of the course is to instill in the kids a sense of ownership of their bodies, a sense of accomplishment of both physical and mental tasks, the ability to relate intellectual concepts of plant growth and elements of nature to physical movement, and the ability to make conscious choices to be either active or still.

Structure: 60 minutes class

Age Group: For Children Ages 5-9 years

Registration Information:

Register online today!

Cost: $20 each session; $90 for all five sessions

Dates and time: Tuesdays, September 14, 21, 28,
October 5, and 12; 1:30-2:30pm

Location: The Hort Library;
148 West 37th Street, 13th Floor
(between 7th Ave and Broadway)

About the Instructor: Leah McKellop has been practicing yoga since high school, when she used yoga to bring balance to her pole vault training. Since then she has dedicated herself full time to yoga, teaching at Atmananda Yoga Studio. Her experience with children ranges from teaching art classes for schoolkids in West Africa, to leading yoga classes for children right here in New York. Her classes the kinder creative expression and freedom through movement.





Home School Series: Flower Power - Elements of Botany & Design

This integrated class will serve as a young person's introduction to simple botany and floral design. Students will learn about a variety of seasonal foliage and develop an understanding of how to work with the different materials available in the New York Flower Market. The class will also chart the flowers' journey from field to vase. Each week, participants will explore new plant material, and create a unique arrangement to bring home!

National Science Standard Met:
• S2a -Demonstrates understanding of characteristics of organisms.
• S2b -Demonstrates understanding of life cycles of organisms
• S4a -Demonstrates understanding of big ideas and unifying concepts.
• S5b -Uses concepts from Science Standards 1-4 to explain a variety of observations and phenomena.

Structure: 60 minutes class

Age Group: For children Ages 5-8 years

Registration Information:

Register online today!

Cost: $25 each session (course
+ materials); $110 for all five sessions
Participant must register for at least 3 sessions.

Dates and time: Fridays, October 15, 22, 29, November 5, 12; 10:30am - 12pm

Location: The Hort Library; 148 West 37th Street, 13th Floor
(between 7th Ave and Broadway)

Minimum participants: 10 students.

About the Instructor: Sophia Skolnick is a floral designer trained in Irvington-on-Hudson, New York and a senior at The Steinhardt School at New York University. She has experience working with young people ages 3-13 in both New York City and Westchester. She looks forward to her 1st season at the Horticultural Society of New York and is eager to share her botanical interests with new students.