Activity: Garden Committee Icebreaker

Author: Sarah Pounders

Working in a committee can be more productive and fun if you can help members get to know each other from the outset. The following activity is designed to spark camaraderie.

Materials: Assorted seed packets that have thorough plant descriptions

Recruit students, staff, and parent/community volunteers interested in helping with the leadership of your youth garden project using school or organization newsletters or other announcements. Invite them to an initial meeting scheduled at a convenient time, and begin the meeting with the following icebreaker.

1. Have a variety of seed packets available when participants arrive. Ask each to thoughtfully choose a seed packet from the collection.

2. In small groups, or as a large group, ask participants to take turns describing why they chose their particular packets.

3. To take it a step further, ask participants to choose three words or phrases from the seed packet that they think describe some aspect of themselves. Encourage them to think creatively when choosing descriptions -- for example, "tall and vibrant," "prefers hot weather," "blooms year-round" -- and to explain how these characteristics fit them.

4. During the meeting, circulate a list to which people can add their names and contact information for distribution to the full group, and encourage these new committee members to get to know each other better.

Throughout the year communicate with your garden committee and plan social time to strengthen your garden team and to show your appreciation of their work. Stay in touch through weekly or monthly e-mail updates, printed newsletters, snack time on work days, thank-you notes, gifts from the garden, a year-end banquet, etc.