Established 17 years ago by a dedicated group from Racker Centers and the community, The Children’s Garden in Cortland has since served as an outdoor learning space in nature for special education and vocational students in grades K through 12.  

    When first constructed, the garden paths were wheelchair accessible. Made from crushed stone, they held up well until the Tioughnioga flood of 2006.  Since then, erosion and weed encroachment have badly compromised the garden paths. The paths are now unsightly, uneven, and nearly inaccessible for wheelchairs.

This year’s GivingTuesday campaign goal is to resurface the paths with accessible, durable, and more attractive materials such as slate and paver stones. All donations will be used to purchase pavers, excavation machinery, and the sand/underlayment to secure the pathway.

This garden grows so much more than vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Life skills such as independence, teamwork, empathy/caring, and responsibility are cultivated in The Children’s Garden. Racker Centers’ mental health specialists use the garden space for individual and group therapies. Racker Centers' Day Treatment Program provides comprehensive mental health services to 1st-12th grade special education students from 23 school districts in 3 counties. The high staff to student ratio allows for more intensive assessment and mental health care for children with significant emotional and behavioral needs. Counseling, skill building and psychiatric care are provided by Racker Centers' staff and integrated into the student’s school day. The Children’s Garden is a special place where innovative individual and group therapy occurs.  It is used by students as a place to practice important life skills.  It provides children a space in nature to exercise and meet sensory needs.  The benefits of the garden are endless. 

Please consider supporting Racker Centers’ this GivingTuesday to help us revive this beautiful garden for current and future children to enjoy and grow in!