GCNC

YOUTH

GARDENERS

2010 - 2011

National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC), South Atlantic Region (SAR), and The Garden Club of North Carolina, Inc., (GCNC) are dedicated to sponsoring and encouraging youth gardening groups, beginning at age three and continuing through the teen years.  They seek to inspire a love of gardening and the natural world in our youth, not only to improve and maintain our environment but also to share the sheer fun of “digging in the dirt”.  Membership benefits include:

·         Introduction to the art and science of gardening using fundamental math, reading and writing skills, as well as practical applications.

·         Increased awareness of the environment, natural resources, ecology, conservation, composting, and recycling.

·         Help in raising standardized test scores, especially in science.

·         Encouragement of creativity through observing the cycle of life.

·         Development of leadership skills.

·         Opportunity for participation and recognition in state, regional and national contests and awards.

·         Possibility of future hobbies and career opportunities.

Youth Garden Clubs can be organized through schools by class or student group; through pre-established clubs such as 4-H, Scouts, Campfire Girls, church youth groups, science and ecology clubs, Future Farmers of America, etc.; or, through home-school groups, daycare centers, after school centers, neighborhood associations – even a adult garden club member’s own children or grandchildren!  Clubs could even be organized for the children of migrant workers or participants in hospital rehabilitation or disease treatment centers.  Youth groups are organized by grade levels as shown below:
                                                Ecotots                                Preschool through Kindergarten

Juniors                               Grades 1 through 6                                             

                        Intermediate                       Grades 7 through 12       

            Special Needs                               All Ages
Requirements for organizing a Youth Garden Club are:

·         Sponsorship by an adult garden club or council that is federated with the GCNC and the NGC.

·         Must have a minimum of five members and hold a minimum of five meetings per year.

·         Complete the Application for Youth Garden Club Membership form and mail it to the State Youth Chairman along with a check for $11.00 payable to GCNC.  (Clubs are only ratified at the Fall Board Meeting and the Annual Meeting.)

·         Maintain active status by completing the Youth Garden Club Dues and Rating Form and mailing it with a check for the $10.00 annual dues to the State Youth Chairman by March 1st.
 Deadlines
ALL ITEMS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE GCNC YOUTH CHAIRMAN ON OR
BEFORE THE DATE INDICATED

December 1              Entries for all SAR and NGC awards (except for the Smokey Bear/
                                                        Woodsy Owl poster contest; that deadline is January 21st.)

                        March 1                     Youth Garden Club Dues and Rating Form and a check for $10.00  
                                                          payable to GCNC.
            March 1                      Entries for all GCNC awards

            April 1                         Favors for the Youth Banquet at the GCNC Annual Meeting

 
There are 42 Youth Garden Clubs with 1,056 members in North Carolina.  For complete information on the youth program, contact the GCNC Youth Chairman, Judy Bond at jmbond1@suddenlink.net, 310 Village Green Drive, New Bern NC 28562, 252-637-4827.

Youth Awards

 Awards are given at the state, regional and national levels.  Regional award winners are selected from the entries submitted by the state chairman; national winners come from the regional winners.  This is the reason for the necessity to have your SAR and National award entries in your state chairman’s hands by December 1st.  Following is a listing of these awards:

GARDEN CLUB OF NORTH CAROLINA (GCNC) YOUTH AWARDS

RULES

·         Entries must be received by the State Youth Chairman no later than March 1st.

·          Applies to Awards #2, #3, #4 and #5.  The entry should include, in a brief narrative form: percentage of members participating, approximate number of hours spent, cost, publicity, before and after pictures, and a description of accomplishments.  Place in a folder (preferably, green) with a completed Youth Awards Entry Form attached to the outside. 

·         Special Needs Clubs and all other clubs may compete for all awards.  Award #13 is only available to an individual Special Needs club member.

·         A Youth Awards Entry Form is enclosed and is also available online at gardenclubofnc.org.

·         Entries will be returned at the State Annual Meeting to the Youth Leader, President or District Director.

LISTING OF AVAILABLE AWARDS

#1  Best All Around Club – Given to the club participating in all facets of Youth Gardening and achieving outstanding results.  This award is based on the Youth Garden Dues and Rating Form.  Three $10 cash awards.  One each in grades K-3, 4-6 and 7-9.

#2  Horticulture – Given to the club doing the most outstanding work in horticulture.  Rule #2 applies.  Two $10 cash awards.  One each in grades K-3 and 4-9.      

#3  Civic Development/Beautification – Given to the club executing the most outstanding projects in the areas of Beautification, Conservation, Ecology, Litter Control and Restoration.  Rule #2 applies.  Two $10 cash awards.  One each in grades K-3 and 4-6.

 #4  Wildflowers – Given to the club having the most outstanding wildflower project.  Rule #2 applies.  Two $10 cash awards.  One each in grades K-3 and 4-6.

  #5  Bird Project – Given to the club having the most outstanding bird project.  Rule #2 applies. Three $10 cash awards.  One each in grades K-3, 4-6 and 7-9.

 #6  Bluebird Drawing – Given to an individual member for the best freehand drawing of a bluebird.  Three $10 cash awards.  One each in grades K-3, 4-6 and 7-9.

 #7  Cardinal Drawing:  Given to an individual member for the best freehand drawing of a cardinal.  Three $10 cash awards.  One each in grades K-3, 4-6 and 7-9.

 #8  Bird Essay:  Given to an individual member writing the best essay about a bird found in N.C. Two $10 cash awards.  One each in grades K-3 and 4-6.

 #9  Flower Show:  Given to the clubs entering the competitive classes of a Youth Section in an Adult Standard Flower Show or staging their own Flower Show.  Two $10 cash awards.  One each in grades K-6 and 7-12.

 #10  Scrapbooks:  Given to the clubs submitting the best and most complete scrapbooks.  Four $10 cash awards.  One each in grades K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12.

 #11  Arbor Day:  Given to the club executing the most outstanding tree project.  Two $10 cash awards.  One each in grades K-3 and 4-6.

 #12  Butterfly:  Given to the club executing the most outstanding butterfly project.  One $10 cash award.  All grade levels eligible.

 #13  Special Needs Clubs only, all grade levels eligible: Given to the individual submitting the best poster or essay.

 “Our Feathered Friends” Poster  – One $10 cash award.

 “Why I Enjoy Garden Club” Essay – One $10 cash award. 

SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION (SAR) YOUTH AWARDS

#30  Youth Poster Contest “Good Soil Needs Our Help”:  $10 and an Honor certificate will be presented to the winners of all grade levels (K-6th grade).  There will be a $25 award given to the student with the best poster of all grade levels.

CONTEST RULES

  • Entries must be received by the State Youth Chairman no later than December 1st.

  • An SAR Youth Poster Contest Entry Form is enclosed and can also be found at gardenclubofnc.org.

  • Each entry must be drawn and titled by the student on 11” x 17” inch paper.

  •  Materials that can be used include: crayons, markers, poster paints, water colors, etc.

  • No three-dimensional posters, computer scanned, or electronically generated images will be accepted!

 SAR AWARDS FOR NGC SPONSORED YOUTH AWARDS

 #31  NGC Essay Contest “The Environment – Our Personal Responsibility”:  $25 award to the SAR essay contest winner.  Open to all high school students.  Students must follow NGC rules (see below under NGC Youth Awards).  Only state winners are sent to the SAR chairman. 

#32  NGC Youth Poetry Contest “Fields of Daffodils”:  $10 and an Honor certificate will be presented to the winners of all grade levels (K-9th grade) (Special Education (K-9th grade).  There will be a $25 award given to the student with the best poem of ALL grade levels. Students must follow NGC rules (see below under NGC Youth Awards).  Only state winners are sent to the SAR chairman.

#33  Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl Posters:  $10 and an Honor Certificate will be awarded to the SAR poster winners of each grade level (Grades 1-5).  Students must follow NGC rules (see below under NGC Youth Awards).  Only state winners are sent to the SAR chairman. NOTE:  Deadline for this award only is January 21st.

 

NATIONAL GARDEN CLUB (NGC) YOUTH AWARDS

Youth Sculpture Contest             ! ! ! NEW THIS YEAR  ! ! !

This is an “art in the round” project.  Use recyclable or reused materials to create your sculpture.    Put a plain background behind it and take two pictures, one of the front and one of the back, each 4” x 6” in size. 

Contest Rules

  • Children in 4th grade through 8th grade will be eligible to enter the contest

  • Height should be proportional to width; total size should not exceed 8 1/2" x 11"

  • An entry form is enclosed and can also be found at gardenclubofnc.org

  • The pictures are to be mounted on the back side of the entry form and can overlap.

  • Entries must received by the State Youth Chairman no later than December 1st.

POETRY CONTEST - "Fields of Daffodils"

Now is the time to excite and encourage our youth to express their thoughts & ideas through different types of poetry. Be creative & use your imagination by joining the winners to see your poetry in a printed booklet!
 

Contest Rules:
 ·     Special Education students and children in Kdg-9th grade will be eligible to enter the contest                 

  • All entries must be typed and titled.

  • Include name, address, age and school grade of participant on the back of the entry.

  • Sponsoring garden club and youth garden must also be identified.

  • All entries become property of National Garden Clubs, Inc

  • Poems do not have to rhyme.

  • Poems may be traditional verse, acrostics, bland verse, cinquains, diamond poems or Haiku.

·         Entries must be received by the State Youth Chairman no later than December 1st

 

High School Essay Contest – “The environment – our personal responsibility”

A $1000 National Garden Club Scholarship will be awarded to the National Winner. If the Winner is an underclassman, the $1000 Scholarship will be held by NGC, without accrued interest, until such time that the student enters college. At that time, the money will be forwarded to the Financial Aid Officer of the college that the student will enter. The second place winner will receive $100.00.

CONTEST RULES

·         Contest is open to high school students attending 9th through 12th grades.

·         Length of essay: Between 500-600 words.

·         The entry will be penalized if the essay does not conform to the required length. All words are to be counted. Students should write the essay so it is suitable to be published in The National Gardener.

·         All entries become the property of National Garden Clubs, Inc.

·         Entries must be received by the State Youth Chairman no later than December 1st

 

SMOKEY BEAR/WOODSY OWL POSTER CONTEST           ! ! !  50th anniversary  ! ! !

We’re inviting 1st through 5th grade students to demonstrate through original drawings of Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl their understanding of fire prevention and basic environmental conservation principles.

The Grand Prize National Poster Contest Winner will win a free round trip airfare and accommodations for four to Washington, DC. A $100 U.S. Savings Bond will also be awarded to the First Place National Winners from each grade level sponsored by the National Garden Clubs, Inc.

CONTEST RULES

·         Entries must be received by the State Youth Chairman no later than January 21st.

·         An entry form is enclosed and can also be found at gardenclubofnc.org.

·         All poster entries must be sponsored by a local Garden Club.

  • Posters must feature Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl and must not feature both together.

  • Smokey Bear posters must be based upon and include, Smokey’s fire prevention message (Only YOU Can Prevent Wildfires!). Woodsy Owl posters must be based upon and include, Woodsy’s conservation message: Lend a Hand – Care for the Land!

  • The entry posters should encourage children to take a personal role in preventing wildfires or conserving natural resources.

  • Each entry should be 11 x 17 inches in size.

  • Materials that can be used include: crayons, markers, poster paints, water colors, etc.

  • No three-dimensional posters, computer scanned, or electronically generated images will be accepted!

  • Posters are to be completed by individual student artists. Competition may include students from 1st to 5th grade.

Poster Tips

  • A good poster has a bold and simple design.

  • Its message is delivered both in the picture and in the slogan.

  • Its message is easily understood.

  • Posters will be judged 20 percent each for originality, design, slogan, artwork, and overall effectiveness of the message.

More Tips for a Successful Poster Contest Participation

  • Since Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl are official icons, protected by Congressional law, the colors of their clothing need to be accurate. You must follow the rules that include how you identify the poster.

  • Please check the spelling. Posters with misspelling errors will be disqualified.

  • Approach any group of children: such as scout troops, after school programs, and the like. Just make sure the child’s grade is included, so the participant can compete in their grade category.

  • Feel free to offer certificate of appreciation to all participants. A sample certificate is enclosed and is also available at gardenclubofnc.org.

  • 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of the collaboration between the US Forest Service and the National Garden Clubs, Inc.  You can contribute to this collaborative effort by completing the form that indicates how many contacts were made. It is essential for us to know if you sent materials to twenty children or two hundred. The US Forest Service invests tax payer money in keeping this partnership alive. We need to help them justify the use of these funds by providing an estimate of our outreach efforts with the Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl poster contest.

  • Copy your winning posters as they are not returned.

Native Plants Patch for Girl Scouts

Nurture the Earth - Plant Natives
This program encourages partnerships between Girl Scouts and local National Garden Clubs to teach Girl Scouts about native plants in their area. Girl Scouts of all age levels are eligible to earn this patch.

The purpose of the Native Plants Patch is to:

Encourage Girl Scouts and the National Garden Clubs to work collaboratively by

  • Promoting girl-to-girl, adult-to-adult, and girl-to-adult discussion about the National Garden Club initiative and partnership

  • Encouraging Girl Scouts to go to experts when they have questions while earning related badges, Try-Its, Interest Projects, or STUDIO 2B® charms

  • Showing girls a way to focus their earned awards when working toward the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.

To earn the Native Plants Patch girls can:

Discover native plants. Girls will learn what plants are native to their area and how to preserve and protect those native plants as well as what invasive species are in their area. Girls will learn about resources and partnerships offered by their local National Garden Clubs.

Connect by working with their local National Garden Club members who will serve as project sponsor. In addition, girls are encouraged to make contact with native plant societies, horticultural professionals, and county extension services to help in completing project requirements.
Take action by doing the following:

  • Interviewing someone about native plants in their area.

  • Establishing a native beauty spot in a public garden, school, church, park, town or community.

  • Spreading the word about native plants by sharing information learned with other troops and community groups, newspaper articles, radio and TV spots, or posters, fliers, and booklets.

To order patches, call the National Garden Clubs Headquarters at 1-800-550-6007 (orders only, please)
Patches are $1.75 each, this includes shipping and handling

 OTHER AVAILABLE YOUTH-RELATED REWARDS

(More information available on request)

 THE GARDEN CLUB OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.. (gcnc)
#65 Youth Education Award:  $25 awarded to an adult garden club providing education for youth garden clubs in any setting, i.e., classroom, daycare, 4-H, or scouts.  Book of evidence required.

SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION (SAR)

#28  Youth Activities:  $25 award to a youth group for the most outstanding work in any of the National Garden Club objectives.  This includes outstanding local projects with full information provided.  Include pictures, publicity and comments.  Extra credit for groups organized through garden clubs as Junior, Intermediate and High School Gardeners.
#29  Youth Education:  $25 award to a garden club MEMBER or a SENIOR GARDEN CLUB providing educational programs/activities that promote National Garden objectives for youth in any setting, such as classroom, 4-H clubs, Scouts, Junior, Intermediate or High School gardeners.
#34  Native Plants Patch Program  A $25.00 Award to the state organization within the South Atlantic Region making the greatest contribution to Youth Groups in their state in earning the “Native Plants” patch.  Preference given to establishing Educational Gardens of Native Plants with signage.
#35  Native Plants Patch Program  A $25.00 Award to the club sponsoring a Youth Group(s) doing the most outstanding work in earning the “Native Plants” Patch and with emphasis on gardening, civic development and/or environmental concerns of Native Plants.

 NATIONAL GARDEN CLUBS, INC.  (ngc)
#54 Environmental Education  The Jesse M. Connor Award and a $100 donation may be awarded for the most comprehensive program in the field of environmental education involving youth
#8 Youth Horticulture Education  The Helen Hussey Champlin Award and a $50 donation may be awarded for the best promotion of gardening among youth; based on belief that youth should be educated to become future horticulturists.
#60 Junior Leadership Award   The Mary Louise Michie Award and a $100 donation may be awarded to an individual who has given outstanding service to youth as a leader of a Junior Garden Club.
#10  Junior and/or Intermediate Garden Club  Augusta H. Brewer Certificate/s of Merit may be awarded to the Junior and/or Intermediate Garden Club sponsored by a member garden club, which through its own efforts has been most successful in promoting all phases of garden club work. Indicate grade/s, sponsor, and include Yearbook in Book of Evidence. Do not duplicate with other junior/intermediate awards.
#14  Horticulture Achievement by a Junior and/or Intermediate Garden Club  The Hessie Thomson Morrah Award and a $50 donation may be awarded for outstanding horticulture activity by a Junior and/or Intermediate Garden Club sponsored by a member garden club. Indicate grade/s, sponsor, and include Yearbook in Book of Evidence. Do not duplicate with other junior/intermediate awards.
#32  Conservation Award for Junior and/or Intermediate Garden Club  A Certificate of Merit and a $10 donation may be awarded to the Junior and/or Intermediate Garden Club sponsored by a member garden club, which has successfully carried out the most outstanding conservation project. Include Yearbook in Book of Evidence.
#33  High School Gardeners Accomplishment  The Carrie Buhrman Nettleton Award and a $100 donation may be awarded to a High School Gardeners club sponsored by a member garden club that has carried out the best all-around gardening program. Indicate grade/s, sponsor, and include Yearbook in Book of Evidence.
#55 Youth Environmental Concern Award  The Winifred F. Fink Award and a $25 donation may be awarded to a youth garden club sponsored by a member garden club for the most comprehensive program in the field of environmental concern, e. g. horticulture, landscaping, anti-litter, restoration, others
#65  Junior Garden Club Horticulture Award  A Certificate of Merit may be awarded to a Junior Garden Club sponsored by a member garden club for the most significant effort in planting and growing horticulture in an outdoor area. Participants may seek advice from any source, but must do the actual gardening themselves.
#76  High School Distinguished Service Project  The High School Distinguished Service Project Award and $100 for first place and $50 for second place may be awarded to a high school student, grades 9-12, for an outstanding civic project making a significant improvement for public benefit, e.g. environment, conservation, landscape, horticulture, recycling, horticulture therapy, others. A single member garden club, group of member clubs, districts, or a state garden club must sponsor the contest.
#47 Youth Flower Show or Youth Section of an Adult Standard Flower Show, Red Rosette.Youth organization/s or group/s e.g., Youth Garden Club, Scouts, Campfire Girls, school class, etc. Number of classes and exhibits in horticulture and design must satisfy the minimum requirements of a Small-Standard Flower Show.  Minimum of two (2) judged Education Exhibits require.  Evaluating panel of judges must use Scale

EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL

Available from National Garden Clubs, Inc. (see Member Services Catalog)
Youth Design Study Course Unit #1 Basic Flower Arranging – $10.00
Youth Design Study Unit #2 with CD-ROM – $10.00
Youth Garden Club Handbook – $5.00

Books for Ages 4 – 8

Let’s Read and Find Out Series, published by Collins – $5.99

            “A Tree Is A Plant” – “How A Seed Grows”: - “From Seed to Pumpkin” – “Be A Friend To Trees”

 Cat in the Hat Learning Library, published by Random House Books for Young Readers – $8.99

            “Oh Say Can You Seed – All About Flowering Plants” – “My Oh My A Butterfly – All About Butterflies” –

“Fine Feathered Friends – All About Birds” – “I Can Name 50 Trees Today – All About Trees"

 Rookie Read About Science Series, published by Children’s Press – $4.95
            “It Could Still Be A Flower” – “Plants That Eat Animals” – “Vegetables, Vegetables!” –
            “It Could Still Be A Tree” – “From Seed To Plant”

Environmental Education – Coloring books, videos, etc.
            Available at www.AuntieLitter.org or call 205-879-3009, 1776 Independence Court, Suite 304,

Birmingham AL 35216

 


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