Hello Gardeners! Camp Hello Gardeners® is in full bloom and we are having so much fun spreading seeds and connecting with 'gardeners' all across the country! Every camp session features 3-4 'Guest Gardeners' that include amazing educators, inspiring entrepreneurs, and strong #SEL advocates. Today, we are introducing a very special gardener friend, Anne Grossman, owner and founder of Rebel Daughter Cookies. Rebel Daughter Cookies in Wilton, CT was born out of the hunt to create the perfect chocolate chip cookie and blossomed into a business that ships nationwide, supports organizations that benefit women and children, and reminds us to indulge in ourselves every now and then! On Rebel Daughter's website it says, "We rebel against the idea that hard = impossible," and here at #YouAreAGardener, we could not agree more! As you may know, #GardenerAnna describes baking as one of her biggest 'flowers', so we thought it was important to feature a baker who believes in planting seeds for a brighter tomorrow. Cooking, baking and creating in the kitchen is a wonderful way to keep kids focused, active and is also an excellent confidence builder! Thank you, Anne, for being such a positive (and sweet) role model!! To sign up for Anne's session on Camp Hello Gardeners® Click Here! Be a Rebel, Eat a Cookie: Click Here You may recognize Gardener Anne from one of this season's Hello Gardeners episode. Check it out below 👇 👇 👇 You can find Gardener Anne and her son Jack in Session 1 of Camp Hello Gardeners® where she teaches us her top secret recipe on how to make your own glitter dough, a fun sensory activity that the whole family can enjoy! Sign up for Session 1-4 | Camp Hello Gardeners here If you would like to learn more about Anne and Rebel Daughter Cookies, please visit her website here, follow @rebeldaughtercookies, or be a rebel and treat yourself by to a box! Thanks for reading gardeners and don't forget to #PullYourWeeds and #PlantYourSeed...you are a gardener!

Hello Gardeners! We are so excited to introduce you to our next #GuestGardener featured on Session 4 of Camp Hello Gardeners®. Will Dennis is a professional actor who teamed up with his wife, Danielle, to start Unscripted Productions. Unscripted Productions is a company that teaches the art of improv to students of all ages. Improv is built on the word “yes” - teaching us to collaborate, accept, support, communicate, and innovate. According to medium.com "The process of brain-to-brain and social-emotional interaction makes improvisation training uniquely effective for strengthening the capacity to cope with uncertainty, manage anxiety and boost the creative thinking that is so essential to navigating an increasingly complex world." This is another excellent example of how the benefits of improv can be a wonderful tool for children to add to their social/emotional learning toolbox. We love Unscripted Productions’ culture of "yes" in a world of "no" and how activities like improv instill confidence and create judgment-free zones! Gardener Will talks through some of the very meaningful connections between improv and 'gardening' and he consistently pushes forward the idea that improv is all about love an acceptance. Thank you so much Will and Danielle for spreading seeds of love, acceptance, confidence, and silliness through improv! Say "YES" to Unscripted Productions: Click here Sign up for Will's session of Camp Hello Gardeners® here, in this 30 minute camp video kids will also learn how to make your own picture frame with a local artist, easy & creative cracker recipes, art class with our illustrator, how to make ice paint, hear inspirational stories, interactive games and more! Sign up for Session 1-4 | Camp Hello Gardeners here Follow @unscriptedproductions on Instagram and be sure to let us know what you think of Gardener Will's segment in the comments below 👇 #LeadWithLove, #PullYourWeeds, and #PlantYourSeed - YOU are a gardener

Hello Gardeners! You've seen her featured in Hello Gardeners, on our blog post Get Moving, and now on Camp Hello Gardeners - meet, Julia Hickman AKA The Petite Fastinista! Julia has made it her mission to help busy women stay motivated and inspired to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Julia recently interviewed our author, Shanna Truffini, alongside #GardenerAnna and #GardenerAidan. We talked about the origins of You Are A Gardener and how to deal with stress and anxiety in this new and uncertain reality. Check out The Petite Fastinista's Facebook page to see more interviews with female entrepreneurs working to make the world a little bit brighter. Watch our interview below 👇👇 For motivational content, follow @thepetitefastinista There is still time to enroll your gardeners in Camp Hello Gardeners! Whether you want to sign up for 1 session or all 4, we are here for you! https://www.youareagardener.com/camp-hello-gardeners Thank you Gardener Julia for inspiring us to get moving! #TheFutureIsBright #PullYourWeeds #CampHelloGardeners

I don’t know about you, but our family’s eating habits have definitely been turned upside down over the last few months. From sweet summer treats to supporting local restaurants with takeout orders...getting back to better routines is definitely taking top priority around here. Mixing in new and nutritional recipes is a fun way to gradually make the change to a healthier a lifestyle. I recently introduced the kids to chia pudding. It is super easy to make and better yet you can make it ahead of time for a quick breakfast/snack option during the school week. Breakfast has always been the meal I struggle with the most during the school year. (I see hearts all the time in my food ...can you spot it in my photo?!) Getting something healthy, tasty and pleasing to all pallets can definitely be a challenge. This super yummy pudding recipe ticks all the boxes for a winning a breakfast combo with the added bonus that chia is high in protein, fiber, omega 3 fatty acids and loaded with antioxidants. Kids also love to choose their own toppings which keeps this recipe versatile and fun. Enjoy! This chia pudding recipe serves about 4-6 and is best to let it set overnight in the fridge but can be enjoyed 1-2 hours after refrigeration. It will last up t0 3-4 days in the fridge too. What quick, tasty and healthy breakfasts do you like to make? Send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com Chia Later! Shanna (For Another Kid Friendly Recipe Click this Link --> https://www.youareagardener.com/post/cooking-with-gardener-aidan-pizza-edition)

A few weeks ago I kept waking up around 3:30 in the morning with a flood of worries running through my head…should we send the kids to school or keep them home, will they will be ok wearing masks that long, are we drinking enough water, how much screen time did the kids have today…it went on and on. After about 4 or 5 nights of this, it occurred to me that I needed to take my own advice...I had to get back in my garden and “pull some weeds”! The roots of my You Are a Gardener® program are all about positive communication and talking about your negative, feelings, thoughts and emotions with someone you trust like a parent, friend, sibling, family member or a teacher. But, sometimes when you find yourself constantly ‘watering your weeds’ more than your flowers (paying more attention to your negative thoughts instead of your positive thoughts), it may be time to reach out and connect with a certified professional. I have been seeing someone consistently for almost 3 years now and check in about once a month. Given the whirlwind of events over the last several months I was not checking in on a regular basis. These ‘wake ups’ I was having were a real sign that I needed some outside support. Mental wellness takes a lot of energy and focus. Paying attention to the thoughts that are running through our minds is a good indication to where our energy is flowing and if we need some redirection. “According to the National Science Foundation, an average person has about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day. Of those, 80% are negative and 95% are repetitive thoughts. If we repeat those negative thoughts, we think negative way more than we think positive thoughts.” This is the same with children, being proactive with their mental well-being requires a lot of dedication and attention. Getting kids to talk about their negative feelings and emotions is just as important as empowering them with the tools to recognize when something is bothering them. No matter your age, ‘gardening’ is a constant process full of weeding, watering, planting and appreciating. The more positive attention we give our gardens, the more we will be rewarded with the fruits of our labor. “Choose to feel joy to create blossoms so bright. You are a Gardener.” ~Shanna Truffini To learn how to start gardening at home with your kids watch our Gardening 101 video with #GardenerAnna by CLICKING HERE --> Gardening 101

Hello Gardeners! So far, this summer has been the summer for small gestures - we find ourselves writing more notes, saying "thank you" more regularly, and helping each other out! We know #GardenerAnna has been keeping up with penpals by writing letters, while #GardenerAidan has been sharing smiles and laughter over video chat. What are the little things you've been doing to stay connected this summer? Want to learn how to address and send a letter from Gardener Anna? Follow the link to sign up for #CampHelloGardeners Session 1! Today, we are sharing a craft that can be done just for fun OR a craft that makes a thoughtful gift for someone you love! It's the perfect way to revamp your cans - plus, you know we love an upcycle craft! Here is what you'll need: 1 can (soup cans or tomato sauce cans work wonderfully for this craft!) Paper Paper plate Paint Scissors Tape First, you are going to flip your plate over (we are using the bottom) and place a few dabs of paint on the base. Next, have your gardeners use their fingers to swirl the paint, just enough to give it that marbled feel. Then, flip your plate over on top of your blank sheet of paper so that the paint transfers. Do this a few times until your paper is mostly covered! Let your painted paper dry and the measure a strip to wrap around your can. Apply pieces of tape to secure and voilà! There you have it, a revamped, recycled planter! This craft is #PullYourWeedsApproved because it: Encourages resourcefulness! We love to reduce, reuse, recycle whenever possible ♻️ Helps practice active listening. By asking gardeners to only mix the paint a certain amount, you are helping them strengthen those #SELskills! Promotes sensory exposure. We love giving gardeners the opportunity to explore different textures, temperatures, viscosities, etc. Let us know in the comments below how you are staying connected at home! Keep spreading those seeds of love and positivity 🌱💚

Hello Gardeners! We have been trying to stay as cool as possible in this heat, which means limiting our time outside. We've been thinking up creative and fun crafts that require minimal materials and can be easily transferred inside or out! If you are looking to beat the heat, try out some of these indoor/outdoor crafts for kids and let us know what you think: Colorful Crayon Etching Paper Plate Woven Baskets Flower Pancakes Mason Jar Terrariums Handprint Bouquets Today on the blog, we have a fun activity that combines our curiosities for art and science in one colorful craft. We are combining a smashed flowers painting with a chlorophyll rubbing to create a natural, abstract painting! Here is what you'll need: A hammer Flowers (ideally of various colors) Greens (weeds, leaves, grass, etc) White paper There really aren't many steps for this craft - it's all about exploring ways to transfer the color from the flowers and the greens onto your paper. Whether you smash, rub, roll, or scrape . . . . . . you end up with a beautiful painting! This craft is #PullYourWeedsApproved because it: explores the relationship between science and art encourages kids to explore outdoors strengthens those creative, decision-making skills (arrangement, color, shape, texture) We hope you have fun exploring color in nature! Show us your plant paintings by emailing flowers@youareagardener.com or tagging @youareagardener! Keep your gardens watered and #StayCool!

Hello Gardeners! With all the uncertainty of the upcoming school year todays’s craft is a reminder of how important the #PullYourWeeds message is. Encouraging kids to talk about their stresses and fears is needed now more than ever. From worrying about wearing a mask all day, not seeing friends or being afraid of getting sick, there are many ‘weeds’ young gardeners are facing. Mindfulness activities & crafts are great way to get kids to relax and open up about how they are feeling. We are so excited to share today's craft with you because it emphasizes this message ☝️! We are making crayon etchings - all you need is: A small piece of paper Crayons (definitely a black crayon!) Something with a pointed edge (toothpick, pencil) Let's get started! Cover your entire sheet of paper in crayon - choose rainbow, or color in small swatches of color - just make sure the entire sheet is covered! we went with rainbow : ) 🍭 Once your entire sheet of paper is colored, take you black crayon and blacken the entire sheet of paper. You should end up with a black piece of paper! Then take your pointed utensil an etch (or scratch) the black surface to reveal all the beautiful colors beneath! This activity is #PullYourWeedsApproved because it: Requires few materials! All you need are crayons and paper! Encourages gardeners to think ahead - this craft is all about layers! Will keep your gardeners occupied! Once they reveal the magic base layer, they will surely want to make another and another! Thanks for reading along today, gardeners! Keep pulling those weeds and planting those seeds - #TheFutureIsBright ✨!

The first time I saw the summer home of the late Fred Rogers in Madaket, Nantucket, I felt such a strong connection to this pied-à-terre. I could imagine Fred and his wife Joanne sitting with their toes in the sand and watching the sun set on the Madaket Harbor. I often wonder what beautiful ideas he came up with here and the inspirational stories he would share with his family and neighbors. We all have different gifts, so we all have different ways of saying to the world who we are. ~Fred Rogers🌸 To put our feet in the sand and take in the same beautiful views that Mr. Rogers did when he summered here with his family is truly an exceptional moment for us. Our annual photo in front of Mister Rogers’ Nantucket home aka The Crooked House, has become one of our favorite family traditions that began the first summer You Are a Gardener® was published. It is a beautiful reminder of how much our program has grown over the last couple of years, as well as a measure of how much these two gardeners have grown too! Photos in order 2020, 2019,2018 The seeds Fred Rogers planted for social and emotional education are so deeply rooted in the message of our You Are a Gardener® children’s book and all of the programs we create. Rogers once said, “anyone who does anything to help a child in their life is a hero to me. " To think that we could be a hero in Fred Rogers' eyes is one of the reasons why we keep coming back to this beautiful place to pause and reflect on how we can continue to help do our part to make the future a brighter place for this younger generation. To learn more about our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) videos and children's programs CLICK HERE. “It’s not so much what we have in this life that matters. It’s what we do with what we have.” ~Fred Rogers

Hello Gardeners! Does your garden need a little color these days? How do you brighten up your day? Do you bake something sweet - or explore the outdoors? Today, we are brightening up our day with a sunny & cheerful craft, our Handprint Sunflowers! These sunflowers are great to make with your younger gardeners and we recommend making a bunch so you can create a beautiful sunflower garden - guaranteed to brighten your day! Here is what you will need: Paper Yellow & black paint (make sure it is skin safe!) Pencil Old yogurt container (or something similar to trace) First, you are going to take your yogurt container or other circular recyclable, and lightly trace a circle in the center of your paper. Paint your gardener's hand with the yellow paint and have him or her make handprints all around that traced circle. Next, dip the eraser side of your pencil into the black paint to fill in your circle with black dots. Let your piece dry and then display for all to see! This craft is #PullYourWeedsApproved because it: Strengthens fine motor skills Promotes sensory exposure Is a great activity to for young gardeners Thanks for reading along with us today! Send us your sunflowers 🌻!! Tag @youaragardener or email flowers@youareagardener.com. Stay sunny, gardeners!

Can we make a donation to your school, charity or organization? Camp Hello Gardeners® is teaming up with local schools and charities and donating 10% back of all their communities sales to their group. In efforts to make it easy for you, all you have to do is send us an email with your school or groups name and upon approval we will send you personalized marketing materials with an exclusive promo code to share with your group. It's as easy as 1,2,3! EMAIL US TO GET STARTED: flowers@youareagardener.com

Welcome To Camp Hello Gardeners® A series of pre-recorded videos where kids will feel like they are actually at camp! Shanna Truffini, author of You Are a Gardener® and creator of the hit video series Hello Gardeners® has just launched Camp Hello Gardeners®, an online camp for kids ages 4-12. With a lot of families choosing to be safe at home this summer and camps being closed or at limited capacity, Truffini wanted to bring camp right to your own living room. Each camp session features a 25-30 minute, pre-recorded video with Truffini and her young children as camp counselors. Each video features 7-10 fun-filled activities to keep kids active, engaged and learning new skills. Activities include: arts and crafts, kid-friendly workouts, life skills, sensory activities, fun & games, mindfulness exercises, inspiring stories, music, imagination exploration, what's cooking & more! The $55 camp package includes private access to 4 pre-recorded camp videos. Each session comes with a guide highlighting the activities and the materials campers will need. Anyone, anywhere can sign up at anytime and will have unlimited access to the Camp Hello Gardeners® videos. Visit www.youareagardener.com/camp-hello-gardeners to sign up today.