Sprouting
Wings is a Youth gardening and nature studies program provided by the South Carolina
Botanical Garden at Clemson University. Various programs are provided to children ranging from age 6 to 18 years of age. Most of these children qualify as being either economically disadvantaged or disabled, but not all. Our goal is to instill a love of gardening and nature in general that will enrich the children's lives and plant seeds that will ensure that our natural world is appreciated and protected in the future.
The Sprouting Wings program is funded through generous contributions of Mrs. Betsy Campbell and her late husband Mr. Robert Campbell.
Sprouting Wings meets at several schools each week including Central E.S., Cone P.S. and San Souci I.S. Sprouting Wings participates in the Campbell Young Leaders after-school enrichment programs at Cone and San Souci. When school is out, the children do their homework and other academic activities. Then, the children participate in enrichment activities including Sprouting Wings.
Therapeutic
Horticulture Program at York Place...
Sprouting
Wings also meets at York Place Home for Children located in York, South
Carolina. York Place is a residential treatment facility
for children with emotional and learning disabilities. The children
participate in after-school Sprouting Wings sessions as well as a special
summer program called “Camp Sprouting Wings.” The primary goal
of the program is to teach the children how to care for plants and provide
for wildlife. Alleviating previous misconceptions and fears about nature,
brings new self-confidence, curiosity and hope for the future.
One way this is accomplished is through the York Place Nature Trail
that winds through the 150 acre campus. Created and maintained
by the children, the trail includes bluebird houses, bird feeding stations,
a bike loop and a large earth sculpture called “Beehive.” The
nature trail, along with cottage butterfly gardens, helped earn the
entire campus designation as a Schoolyard Habitat by the National Wildlife
Federation.
