The City Gardens Club Nature Kit is a valuable hands-on teaching tool appropriate for classrooms K through 3. During the year, Club members collect and preserve natural specimens found in the New York City area, including a variety of leaves, Manhattan schist, bark with lichen, moss, Queen Anne’s Lace flowers, pine cones, seashells, beach stones, horseshoe crabs, and feathers. In October the specimens are labeled and assembled for inclusion in 200 Nature Kits. Every year since the project began in 1952 Kits have been distributed without charge to public schools and educational organizations throughout New York City’s five boroughs. Each 12” x 10” x 6” Kit contains more than 20 different specimens and our Teachers Guide. This guide describes each specimen, suggests activities in and out of the classroom, and includes a vocabulary list—all designed to meet national, State and City standards.
“It’s a beautiful variety of items included that we were able to incorporate with our lessons, giving students visual reference material…. Our students love to be hands-on and the kits have been a wonderful addition to their learning.” — P.S. 84, Lillian Weber School for the Arts
“The City Gardens Club of NY Nature Kit is a wonderful collection of specimens and an easy to follow informational guide. The Activities, Related Projects and Vocabulary reference at the end is a useful section.” — Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden Education Manager
