Giving Gardens of Indiana
Where Nature Becomes the Classroom!
Our Programs:
NEW Teen Nature Collective Program starts in August!
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NEW Teen Nature Collective Program starts in August! 〰️
Education Rooted in Nature and Community
What does spending time in Nature with peers do for children developmentally?
Builds confidence & independence
Supports social-emotional growth
Encourages creativity & problem-solving
Learning in small groups & a nurturing environment builds a strong community
Teaches how to enjoy screen-free time & movement-rich days
Build a love and care for the Natural World
Builds strong & healthy bodies
Learn more about what program is right for you or your child!
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This program is for Ages 6mo.-5 years old and their caregiver. Together they will explore and enjoy Nature!
We will resume classes this fall with new dates and times! Check back soon for more information!
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This is a Nature & Play Based preschool for ages 3-6 years old. Beginning their educational journey immersed in Nature through curiosity and play! This is how children learn best!
School year long program
9am-12pm M/W/F
$117 Weekly per child
Need Based Scholarships Available
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This Elementary Age program builds life skills through experiences in Nature and Self Directed Play. This is for ages 4-12 years old.
15 week Semesters (2 semesters)
Tuesday and/or Thursday
1 day $975 per child for 15 weeks
Sibling Discounts & Scholarships available
**NEW Monday class 1-4pm
1 day $585 per child for 15 weeks
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Nature Camps are for Preschool and Elementary age students. Our camps allow children to explore and enjoy the Natural World while learning new skills and spending time with friends!
Mixed Ages: 3-12yrs old
Cost: 3 Day- $60 1 Day- $20
3 Day Option: Tues.-Thur. 9am-12pm
1 Day Option: Mondays or Fridays- 9am-12pm
Thanks to Don Wood Foundation and Nipsco for your generous grants to reduce the cost of Summer Camp!
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This is a Teen program that builds life skills, community and entrepreneurship through experiences in Nature. This is for ages 13-18 years old.
37 week School Year Program
Tuesday 4-6:30pm
1 day $665 per student for 37 weeks
**PILOT PROGRAM reduced tuition 26/27
Summer Intensive Program
Tuesday (time to be determined)
1 day $108 per student for 6 weeks
**PILOT PROGRAM reduced tuition 2027
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This program is in partnership with TROY Alternative School for Middle and High School students. Students get the opportunity to build life skills for Holistic Health through experiences in Nature.
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This is a monthly class for students 13 + where we learn skills passed down from previous generations, sharing these skills is invaluable for the success of future generations! Everyone has skills they can share and we all get to learn together. Think homesteading skills, food swaps, cooking/baking cultural foods, sewing/mending....the ideas are endless! The goal is that we build a community around mutual learning and growing. If you have a skill to share, please let us know!
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Learn more about what new events and field trips we offer seasonally by clicking below!
Giving Gardens of Indiana creates opportunities for people of all ages to learn, grow, and reconnect with nature. Through child-led programs, hands-on skill-building workshops, and community stewardship projects, we cultivate curiosity, creativity, resilience, and meaningful connection.
We offer outdoor experiences that follow the rhythm of the seasons—inviting exploration, healthy risk-taking, free play, and practical life skills rooted in the natural world. Beyond our programs, we care for a community food forest, u-pick flower garden, and local food pantry, ensuring that nature remains a shared resource for generations to come.
Our work is grounded in a simple belief: when we reconnect with nature, we reconnect with ourselves, our community, and the joy of being human.
Bringing Joy Back to Childhood!
There’s a certain magic in childhood spent close to nature—the wonder of planting a seed, the joy of discovering wildlife, the peace found under open skies. These moments shape resilience, curiosity, and care for the world around us. At Giving Gardens of Indiana, our programs nurture this connection, helping children grow not only healthy food but also confidence, creativity, and a lifelong bond with the natural world.
What is Nature Immersion Programming?
Nature immersion programming—often known as Forest School or Nature School—offers children the opportunity to learn through nature, not just in it. The outdoors becomes the classroom, where students explore, play, and grow in all seasons.
Through hands-on experiences and child-led exploration, children build confidence, creativity, resilience, and a deep connection to the natural world. Learning happens at each child’s pace, guided by curiosity, imagination, and meaningful social interaction.
This approach nurtures the whole child—mind, body, and heart—while inspiring a lifelong love of learning, discovery, and the outdoors.
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What others say about Giving Gardens of Indiana:
“I was very impressed with Giving Gardens. Your site was a beautiful place for outdoor exploration and your teachers supported and interacted with the students with such gentleness and kindness. I appreciated the way the teachers let the students just get on with their play/learning. I watched students working together to fill a container of water and to help each other watch out for the nesting robins and killdeer. There were very few conflicts, but they managed them with gentle words and respect. There were a few moments where teachers invited students to participate in activities, and it was refreshing to see that students could choose to participate or to pursue their own learning.
Your facility provided a wide range of options for learning and play. I especially appreciated that it was a place that was welcoming to families and siblings who were not yet enrolled. That was very special.
Thank you, again, for allowing me to visit and see your programs in action. My mind was broadened.
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