On February 7, the Garden Club of Jacksonville welcomed children and their parents for a creative Budding Gardeners program: Finding Your (Re)Purpose. Hosted by the Late Bloomers Garden Club, with help from dedicated volunteers, the event encouraged young participants to think differently about everyday items and how they might be given new life instead of being thrown away.
Children and caregivers worked side by side to transform recycled materials into imaginative works of art. Cardboard tubes, boxes, and other reusable supplies filled the tables as little hands cut, glued, and assembled with excitement and concentration. Along the way, families also learned more about recycling and the impact that excess trash can have on our planet.
Volunteers guided the activities throughout the morning, nurturing curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Some children carefully planned their creations, while others took a more free-form approach, showing that creativity can look many different ways.
By reimagining items that might have otherwise ended up in the trash, participants gained a deeper appreciation for reducing, reusing, recycling, and repurposing. Families left with their finished crafts, and with a renewed sense of how even small actions can make a meaningful environmental impact.
