HEAD START

In 2019, New England Botanic Garden began a partnership with the Worcester Child Development Head Start program to bring every Worcester Head Start Pre-K classroom to the Garden. Today, the partnership reaches over 300 students from 30 classrooms during the school year and approximately 100 students during the summer. While visiting the Garden, students are introduced to plants, animals, and the wonders of the natural world.  

Encouraging students to explore and play in nature at a young age fosters creativity, curiosity, and appreciation for life in all its forms. Guided by this principle, our Head Start programs activate the Garden as an outdoor classroom. Student-directed lessons, built in collaboration with Head Start educators, incorporate play and sensory explorations. As part of our Head Start partnership, the Garden also offers professional development opportunities for pre-K teachers interested in exploring best practices for utilizing Worcester parks as learning tools.