'Tis the season of giving and, Leslie Cook, BRGC Youth Program chair (and honorary elf) has been busy distributing a gift to the young children of the Boothbay peninsula on behalf of the Boothbay Region Garden Club (BRGC).

"The Frightened Frog, An Environmental Tale" is an early reader book written to educate elementary school children about the environmental issues affecting amphibians. It includes Fun Frog Facts, a story describing the challenges of being a frog, and ways children can "Leap into Action" to help protect, preserve and support frog and amphibian habitats in their own backyards.

BRGC has purchased and gifted "The Frightened Frog" to the elementary schools of Boothbay, Southport, and Edgecomb and has given copies to the Boothbay Harbor and Southport libraries.

Written by Brenda Moore and Jean Ohlmann, illustrated by Emily Lackey and produced by National Garden Clubs, Inc.(NGC), the book, targeted for grades K - 4 comes with a lesson plan making it a practical learning tool in addition to being a fun read. Edgecomb Eddy teacher, Cindy Casey, is particularly excited about this BRGC project as her father recently built a pond that provides her students their own "backyard habitat" in which to observe and apply what they learn from "The Frightened Frog."

"The Frightened Frog" is part of a two year President's Project for Sandra Robinson, 2015-2017 president of National Garden Clubs, Inc. The book is available for $10 through the NGC website: www.gardenclub.org under Youth Programs for parents and grandparents desiring their own copy. The website also provides information about other youth programs, projects and contests offered through NGC. Questions can be directed to BRGC website administrator, Kathleen Marty, at 633-7439.

For more information about the NGC President's Project visit www.gardenclub.org and click Projects and to learn more about our local Boothbay Region Garden Club please visit www.boothbayregiongardenclub.org.