The Green Thumb Challenge is a youth gardening initiative started by the Green Education Foundation to plant 10,000 gardens nationwide. It aims to connect youth to nature through hands-on gardening, provide standards-aligned curriculum, and address issues like childhood obesity and hunger. The Challenge partners with organizations like Cub Scouts and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. It provides resources for starting a turn-key garden and encourages participants to donate produce. The pilot involved six sites and received positive press coverage. The initiative hopes to award grants and involve more youth in gardening projects.

1. Green Thumb Challenge:The largest youth gardening initiative in history!Green Education Foundation (GEF)

2. Table of ContentsMission and ObjectivesGEF: About UsGreen Thumb Challenge MissionGreen Thumb Challenge ObjectivesGTC Partners and AffiliatesGTC SponsorsGarden SpotlightsCub Pack 44, Global Gardens, Stripling Elementary, Boys & Girls Clubs of AmericaBest Practices/Online ResourcesThe Turn-Key Garden, Plant with a PurposeHow to Participate in the Green Thumb ChallengeBenchmarks/HighlightsTestimonialsPilot Year Highlights/BenchmarksGTC in the News

3. About Green Education Foundation (GEF) and Green Thumb ChallengeMission and Objectives

4. GEF: About UsGEF is a non-profit organization that provides free environmental education resources for K-12 classrooms and youth groups nationwide. Develops sustainable habits of environmental stewardshipCouples standards-based curricula with hands-on activity in meaningful “Eco-Challenges”Mobilizes millions of students nationwide during National Green WeekPartnered with US Green Building Council to develop national online Green Building Course for high school studentsBelieves that what is healthy for kids is healthy for their communities, and for the planet

5. Green Thumb Challenge: MissionWork with new and existing garden programs to plant 10,000 youth gardens nationwide

6. Green Thumb Challenge: ObjectivesConnect youth to nature through outdoor hands-on learning opportunitiesProvide educators with free K-12 standards-based lessons that link the classroom to the gardenProvide a one-stop online resource for step-by-step gardening instructions aimed at beginners

7. Green Thumb Challenge: Objectives1 in 3 kids in the US are obese or overweight: Improve habits of health and nutrition through comprehensive garden-based curriculum1 in 4 kids in the US are hungry: “Plant with a Purpose” with meaningful service-learning projects that address the current hunger crisis in America

8. Green Thumb Challenge: Partners and Affiliates

9. Green Thumb Challenge: Sponsors

10. Green Thumb Challenge Garden Spotlights

11. Cub Scout Pack 44Walpole, MAGreen Thumb Challenge Pilot Garden“The garden has been an effective way to foster team work and responsibility with the added benefit of getting the boys to interact with nature on an ongoing basis. I am amazed at what we have learned and are still learning.” Rich DeNoyer, Pack Leader“My son looked at me this summer and said, ‘Mom, why don't our carrots taste like these?’ And for a non-veggie eater - getting him to try a carrot is the biggest feat we have accomplished with him and vegetables. Now he's a broccoli, onion, sugar snap pea and carrot eater! All thanks to the GEF!”-Anne-Marie Dion, Parent

12. Global GardensTulsa, OK“It is important for people to be able to see the garden and the wonders we have worked on there.” - 3rd grade student“I like it because I get to have my own garden and a class garden. Plus I get to share with others. It is really fun to do, but very hard work. That’s what I like about it, all the work!! It’s worth it after you have that beautiful garden. Plus it taught me many things since I’ve been there, like patience, knowledge, and other things.”- 5th Grade Student

13. Stripling Elementary SchoolNorcross, GA"The kids notice that the vegetables they grow don't look like what is found in the store. The shapes are not perfect, and there may be some discoloring. This is good for the kids to see, as they understand that the store produce was likely not grown naturally, as opposed to their own fruits and vegetables.“-Merle Soodyall, Teacher and Garden Club Leader

14. Six pilot sites nationwide:Philadelphia, PADenver, COSeattle, WAGrand Rapids, MILos Angeles, CASan Diego, CA“The kids are thrilled to take the food home for their family to enjoy. Pretty soon we’ll have about 30 pounds of tomatoes for the members to share with their loved ones.” – Bruce Hird, Chief Professional Officer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Buena Park, CA

15. Boys & Girls Clubs of America Garden Launch: Los Angeles, CABeforeAfterVegetable Theme Beds: Pizza, Salsa, Southern and Three Sisters Gardens

16. Boys & Girls Clubs of America Garden Launch: Seattle, WABeforeAfter Herb and Butterfly Garden/Gathering Area

17. Green Thumb Challenge Best PracticesOnline Resources

18. The Turn-Key GardenStraightforward step-by-step plan, piloted in seven regionsnationwide, featuring:Raised bed how-toFencing and mulching recommendationsEasy-to-grow vegetable, herb, fruit and flower chartDrip irrigation guideReady-to-print shopping lists featuring vendor productsThe entire Green Thumb Challenge Turn-Key Garden can be purchased at Lowe’s!

19. Plant with a Purpose CampaignMobilizes participants to plant a surplus of vegetables for donation to local food banksProvides step-by-step procedures, with the support of Feeding America resourcesEncourages community partnerships

20. Green Thumb Challenge: How To ParticipateStep #1: Go to www.greenthumbchallenge.orgStep #2: Click on “Sign Up” in the upper right-hand corner, and create a new account! It only takes a minute.Step #3: Visit How to Participate to get started.

21. Green Thumb Challenge: The Pilot YearBenchmarks/HighlightsOffering a $5,000 grant for exceptional GTC garden project, in partnership with Gardener’s Supply Company. Winner to be announced in September 2010. Click on image to view landing page:United We Serve (www.serve.gov) and The Corporation for National and Community Service re-launching the Green Thumb Challenge on August 11thGEF created a Public Service Announcement set to air on all major networks with a goal to reach of 85% of the US market within one month’s time. Click on image to view on GEF homepage:

22. Green Thumb Challenge: TestimonialsJane Swedish , Pinewoods Elementary Five Senses GardenEstero, FL “This will be our 4th year with our school garden. We have recently had six raised beds built by cub scouts and a bank volunteer. We harvested tomatoes, onions, peppers, carrots, pumpkins, herbs, fruit trees, wildflowers, strawberries, lettuce etc. We have tried pineapples, cotton, sunflowers and many more experimental plants. Next year my first grade classroom along with their 4th grade buddies will plant a "pizza" garden and our cafeteria manager will help us make the end results! The first graders, 4th graders and our after-school Explorers Environmental Club help to maintain the garden. We hope to harvest and sell our crops next year!”Leslie Campbell, Camp Kic-A-WahRock Hill, SC“Located on the Catawba Indian Reservation we serve children in grades K-12. We have an after school program and a nine-week summer camp that we offer, a range of Tribal Culture and healthy activities. We engage the children in our program with healthy eating habits and nutrition classes to help fight obesity and diabetes. I work with the children K-12 grade in a gardening project through a grant we received from CDC on healthy eating habits to combat diabetes. We currently have two gardens that the children in our program helped plant and maintain.”

23. Green Thumb Challenge: In the NewsGEF was in USA Today twice in two months and was also written up in Lowe’s Creative Ideas Magazine.Read some of the articles and press releases here:192 Nations Plan 'Robust' Earth Day10,000 Gardens 4 Earth Day EventGEF Launches Green Thumb Challenge GEF Launches Online CommunityNational Green Week 2010

24. For more information, please visit:www.greenthumbchallenge.org