Ed Malone
President
Ed has been president of the Board since October, 2011. As a wheelchair user, Ed hopes to improve accessibility so that everyone can enjoy all the wonderful areas and activities at the Ithaca Children's Garden.
About
What is the Ithaca Children's Garden?
The Ithaca Children's Garden (ICG) is both a place and a program, located on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, minutes from downtown Ithaca. ICG has spent over a decade now building a three-acre public children's garden as well as developing, implementing, and evaluating a wide range of educational programs for children, teens, and the community.
ICG works in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension to bring outstanding educational programming to the residents of Tompkins County and beyond. Our mutual commitment is to accessibility, inclusion, and promoting stewardship of the natural environment through hands-on, garden-based learning.
The ICG holds educational programs throughout the year with the majority occurring during the growing season, between April and October. During June, July, and August, programs run nearly every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at the Garden. Some of these programs are free, drop-in programs, while others, such as our Salad Farmers program and summer camps, require registration and fees. We provide scholarships for those who would be unable to participate without.
The Garden also hosts community events each year such as our Spring Open House (early May), Turtle Hatchday Celebration (August) and the Pumpkin Jam and Scarecrow Jubilee (October). Check out the Programs/Events page for more information on ICG programs and events.
Ithaca Children's Garden is a grassroots organization, which means we depend on help and support from the community. Volunteers are what keeps the Garden growing and there are many different ways to get involved. Join an advisory committee. Conduct a special project internship. Assist leading a program. Help plan a special event. Get your hands dirty in the garden. Visit the volunteer page to learn more. We always welcome youth volunteers as well as families and groups.
There are many other ways to support the Garden as well. Consider an honorary or memorial donation. Become a corporate sponsor. Give in-kind donations of materials and professional services. Find out more about ways to give by clicking on the Contribute tab in the upper right corner of the website. If you have a question about making a donation, please feel free to contact us and submit your inquiry.
Mission
To inspire, promote, and sustain youth and community stewardship of the natural environment through garden-based learning and discovery.
How do we do that? By...
- Promoting an understanding of plants and the role they play in our daily lives
- Nurturing the wonder of a child's imagination
- Creating a community attraction that enriches the lives of residents with intergenerational programs and activities
- Providing a place of enrichment and delight for children of all ages
- Teaching horticulture skills and encourages artistic expression
Vision
To serve as a premier destination for garden-based, environmental education for youth in Ithaca and the Northeast.
Schedule of Events
Location
ICG is located just south of Cass Park on Route 89 and the Cayuga Inlet. There is free parking available for all events.
Hours of Operation
Sunrise to sunset, everyday
ICG People