After opening the Lena Meijer Children's Garden in 2004, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park saw a 25% increase in membership and observed that more young families were visiting Meijer Gardens than ever before. Staff were presented with a new challenge: How to make the collections in other areas of Meijer Gardens fun, engaging, and relevant to young families. This presentation will highlight five successful programs that take place beyond the Children’s Garden gate, describe what makes them so successful, and share what other gardens can learn from our experiences.
Beyond the Children’s Garden Gate: Five Creative Ideas for Young Families

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