Gardening program for children set News-Chronicle Registration is currently underway for classes for kids at the Green Bay Botanical Garden. The nationally recognized Children's Summer Gardening Programs offers children the opportunity to plant and care for their garden plot while participating in activities that help them learn more about plants and nature. Programs closely match learning activities with the age of the child, and include Little Sprouts, for ages 5-6, Blooming Buddies, for ages 7-8, Awesome Blossoms, for ages 9-11 and Mighty Oaks, for ages 12-14. Weekly classes are geared for each age level and include topics like what plants need to grow, flowers, trees and shrubs, good and bad bugs, composting and soil, the effects of weather and garden ecosystems and biodiversity. Hands-on projects like making scarecrows, exploring the Green Bay Botanical Garden gardens, and more advanced activities for older children. Classes meet for 1 1/2 hours each week during the summer, and in addition to planting will include a harvest party later in the year. "They are doing more than weeding and watering," said Patrick S. Larkin, executive director of the GBBG. "Children learn by discovering the hows and whys of nature in a way that makes it fun to learn." Cost is $70 per child for GBBG members and $80 for non-members. Registration deadline is May 2. For more information, call the GBBG at 490-9547 or visit www.gbbg.org.