Come Play in the Dirt with Hazel!

Ahhh, Summer! A time for kids to take a break from School, hit the swimming pool, ride bikes and… play in the dirt?

When I was a kid, playing in the dirt was something to do while waiting for something else to do. But at GiGi’s Playhouse, it has become the thing to do on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. That’s when we have GiGi’s Hands to Harvest, where participants explore planting, caring for, and learning about plants through engaging gardening activities. And when Hands to Harvest launched on June 3rd, seven-year-old Hazel Moline and her brother George and sister Alice were there to get things started. And getting started involved introducing earthworms into the four raised planters that comprise the GiGi’s Playhouse garden.

To be honest, Hazel wasn’t enamored by handling these slimy creatures, but she did learn about how important they are to the vegetables and plants we’re growing this summer. And once she helped distribute the earthworms into the four planters, she and her siblings had a blast tending to the plants, some that were grown from seeds and some from tiny starter plants.

Hands to Harvest is one example of how GiGi’s Playhouse is more than a Down syndrome achievement center – it is a place for families and the community.  Each program is led by community volunteers and enjoyed by entire families.

As Hazel’s mom, Maddy says, “We’re so thankful for the programming offered by GiGi’s. It provides opportunities for Hazel to grow and learn new things while including her two siblings which is crucial for us to participate.  GiGi’s is truly a family affair and helps our typical kids learn along with Hazel.”

And there’s room for more to “play in the dirt” in GiGi’s Hands to Harvest, as well as in the other offerings of this year’s summer calendar.