Franklin Park Conservatory’s Hat Day Rescheduled

In light of the uncertain environment and Covid restrictions that were still in place in early May, Franklin Park Conservatory’s 20th Les Chapeaux dans le Jardin has been rescheduled to Friday, September 24. This special anniversary Hat Day Luncheon (planned under the

leadership of chairs Ann Isaly Wolfe, a co-founder of Hat Day, and daughter, Katie Wolfe Lloyd) represents one of Columbus’ premier social traditions of the year, and one of the Conservatory’s most significant fundraising events. More than 550 guests gather under a

grand marquee in the beautiful gardens, adorned in their favorite hats, to enjoy lunch with friends. Funds raised benefit the Conservatory’s Pre-K and K-12 education programs. These programs blend the Conservatory’s unique resources with hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences, cultivating a connection between youth and nature. Plants and the environment, health and nutrition, and fine arts are woven into educational and interactive experiences. Thanks to generous contributions, these vital youth education programs continue to expand their reach in the community. Here are just a few of programs offered by the Conservatory:

Pre-K and K-12 School Groups

Field trips and virtual learning programs provide invaluable, hands-on education and address specific academic content standards, while helping children build healthy connections to nature that last a lifetime. The school programs focus on participatory, inquiry-based learning experiences – whether in the classroom or at the Conservatory -- to get students excited about nature, plant science, gardening and art. In a typical year, these school programs impact more than 13,000 students.

Reduced Costs for Low-Income Schools

To help ensure that in-person field trips and virtual learning opportunities are available to all schools, the Conservatory offers reduced-cost and scholarship-funded options for low-income schools. These programs help ensure that students in any school system or neighborhood have the opportunity for an educational experience at the Conservatory.

Nature School

This early-childhood education program offers fun, age-appropriate exploration of plants, insects and the natural world for children ages 3-5, using science, language arts, math, art and music.

Scout Programs & Camps

Programs for both Girl Scouts and Scouts are designed to engage them with nature and inspire them to garden through hands-on activities and camp-in programs ranging from seed planting and creating eco-pots, to insect exploration and more.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden

Drop-in programs in the Children’s Garden engage children and families with hands-on experiences in science and nature, including study of wetlands and the water cycle; pollinators and insects; native Ohio trees and wildlife; citizen science projects; gardening, harvesting and tasting; art with natural materials, and much more. Programs change weekly, so there is always something new to explore.

For more information, visit fpconservatory.org.