July 21—The Morton Arboretum and the DuPage County Health Department will open three new Basics-inspired garden spaces in the Arboretum’s Children’s Garden on July 28 in Lisle, Illinois. The initiative is a collaboration designed to bring The Basics principles, developed by the Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard University in partnership with the Black Philanthropy Fund in Boston, into a public, nature-based learning environment.
The new garden spaces aim to integrate the five research-based principles of The Basics, which help young children learn and grow through simple, everyday interactions. According to the announcement, “The three new spaces bring together nature, play and early childhood learning through a partnership designed to help families build everyday connections that support children’s healthy development. Families can explore interactive experiences that encourage conversation, movement, creativity and connection, including a vegetable garden inspired by ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit’ that supports literacy and storytelling.”
The event will feature remarks from leaders of The Morton Arboretum and the DuPage County Health Department, as well as opportunities for interviews with parents, project partners, and subject matter experts. Media attendees will be able to film and photograph children and families engaging with the new garden spaces, including activities designed to encourage conversation, creativity, and connection, as well as literacy experiences inspired by ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit.’
The Basics Gardens are designed to highlight five principles: Maximize Love, Manage Stress; Talk, Sing and Point; Count, Group and Compare; Explore Through Movement and Play; and Read and Discuss Stories. These principles are based on research showing that 80% of brain growth occurs during a child’s first three years of life. The gardens offer interactive experiences and prompts that encourage conversation, storytelling, observation, movement, and reflection. According to the organizers, “The Basics Gardens demonstrate how everyday interactions can become opportunities for families to build connections, encourage curiosity and nurture children’s growth.”
The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized tree-focused botanical garden and research center near Chicago, encompassing 1,700 acres with specialty tree and plant collections, educational programs, and a Children’s Garden. The DuPage County Health Department, established in 1944, provides comprehensive health services to nearly one million residents, including maternal child health, disease prevention, and behavioral health services. WeGo Together for Kids, a community partnership in West Chicago, also supports the initiative by bringing together more than 70 organizations to provide coordinated resources and family programs.
The event is scheduled for July 28 at 9 a.m. at The Morton Arboretum’s Children’s Garden. In the event of extreme heat or inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for August 5 at the same time. Additional information about the Arboretum and its programs is available at mortonarb.org.
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