On Aug. 16, a multitude of local organizations turned out to participate in the community wide program hosted by the YMCA to ensure that all Boothbay Region students would be "set for success" for another year.

Vendors providing free samples, organizations offering free clothing items and information on youth related services, local salon operators offering free haircuts and volunteers manning tables full of school supplies donated by the community were all on hand to help bring the focus of our students back to the "soon to begin" academic year.

The Boothbay Region Garden Club was among the many groups present to lend support to all our kids as they head into another year of structured learning. Leslie Cook, chairman of the Youth Committee for the Garden Club, handed out popcorn and information on the youth programs offered by the organization.

Coming up sooner than we think is the Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl poster contest, a program for first through fifth graders sponsored by each local Garden Club to encourage children to take a personal role in preventing wildfires and in conserving natural resources.

Entries to the contest are submitted and then go on to the state chairman in January. Five winning posters will go on to a regional garden club chairman by February and winners could then go on to nationals from there. Just two years ago a local entry did get to Nationals! Students are encouraged to go to the website www.fs.usda.gov/learn/kids for additional information on getting started.

Other national Garden Club sponsored competitions include a poetry contest , open to grades kindergarten through ninth grade and a sculpture competition for grades 4-8.

Here in the local region, the most popular program by far is the Elementary School Garden Club open to grades 3-6, which is a cooperative effort between the Boothbay Region Elementary School and the Boothbay Region Garden Club.

Leslie Cook feels the program has grown tremendously in popularity at the school among not only the students but also their parents and grandparents who love to come out to see the work the kids have done and the beauty they have created.

The kids, guided by their teachers, learn lessons in teamwork, gain self-confidence and begin to identify their own strengths while learning about gardens and what makes them grow and flourish. It won't be long before the students are out in the garden cleaning out what remains from the summer and putting it to bed, once again, for the winter.

The Garden Club operates year round so if you would like more information about any of these Garden Club sponsored student programs, please contact Leslie Cook at 207-633-7609.