Master Gardeners Teach Preschool Students

A group of Master Gardeners under the leadership of Claudia Kunath are continuing their education program at the Little Sprouts Early Learning Center with weekly Read & Weed sessions during the summer. Volunteer gardeners gather the children to read a book and then all of the children troop into their own vegetable garden to water, weed and harvest produce. The resulting bounty is taken home to share with their families. The summer sessions supplement the group’s regular visits to the learning center which incorporate story time, puppets, crafts and most importantly, eating fruits and vegetables. The New Jersey Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who assist the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension in its mission to deliver horticulture programs and information to the general public.

“The Master Gardeners program at the Little Sprouts Early Learning Center is a wonderful example of an interactive educational program which benefits children and their families,” remarked Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency, the non-profit agency which oversees the Little Sprouts Early Learning Center. “We are very grateful to the volunteers who take time out of their busy schedule to create this dynamic learning experience for our students.”

The Little Sprouts Early Learning Center is located on the Project Self-Sufficiency campus at 127 Mill Street in Newton. The childcare center offers space for 83 youngsters, ages 6 weeks to 6 years, and accepts all types of subsidized daycare assistance. Slots for new students are available. For more information visit the center’s website www.littlesproutsearlylearningcenter.org or call 973-940-3540.

To learn more about the programs and services offered at Project Self-Sufficiency, visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org or call 973-940-3500.