MISSION OF HILLTOP GARDEN AND NATURE CENTER

The mission of Hilltop Garden and Nature Center is to provide a central place for research and education in gardening and nature. Our purpose is simple: to show how gardening deepens our awareness of all of nature around us. This, in turn, improves the health and wellbeing of each one of us, as well as our community as a whole.

Hilltop serves students at IU in many ways. Students are welcome as interns or volunteers to learn about gardening and our environment. Students may also enroll in horticulture classes available throughout the year.

For members of the community, we offer many garden-related workshops, often held in the evenings and on weekends. Of course, we always welcome the volunteer efforts of our community supporters. For those who do not have access to a garden, we have a community garden, with plots for rent at a modest sum.

Hilltop is perhaps best known for its youth gardening program, designed to educate children about gardening and nature. The program was one of the first in the United States, started in 1948 by Barbara Schaluca, a biology professor at IU. Today, we join the "No Child Left Inside" efforts that complement the "No Child Left Behind" educational programs already established across the country.

Hilltop Garden and Nature Center is operated by Indiana University. It is also funded by many generous gifts and donations as well as the hard work and dedication of all its donors and volunteers, including the Hilltop Educational Foundation and the Bloomington Garden Club. Our facilities and programs serve IU, Bloomington, and the surrounding communities of Monroe and Brown Counties.