Welcome to Botanic Wonders for Young Explorers—a thrilling journey into the world of herbs, perfect for curious adventurers aged 10-15! Each week, we’ll embark on a new adventure, discovering the amazing stories, cool uses, and cultural wonders of a different herb. Get ready to dig in with hands-on activities, creative projects, and interactive fun that will make you a true herb expert! Please note this class is for educational purposes only and does not give any medical advice. 

Each session, we'll dive into a new herb, exploring its unique qualities and fascinating history. Engaging discussions and interactive activities will encourage active participation and a deeper understanding of each herb. Creative projects and experiments will allow learners to get hands-on with herbs, fostering a connection to the natural world.

We will be creating a scrapbook with all of our learned information along side each lesson- You can include printed pages, colorful writing, dried herbs, and pictures of your creations as we move through this journey. 

Join us for this exciting, hands-on adventure where learning about herbs is just the beginning of the fun!


Here is the list of topics by week:

Week of September 2nd: Lavender - A Soothing Scent. Dive into lavender's properties and its calming effects on the mind and skin. Participants can craft lavender sachets using dried lavender flowers and small fabric pouches, which can be placed in drawers or closets for a soothing aroma or used as a natural sleep aid under pillows.

Week of September 9th: Chamomile - The Relaxing Herb. Delve into chamomile's calming effects and its use in skincare for soothing irritated skin. A hands-on activity involves creating chamomile-infused oils by steeping dried chamomile flowers in a carrier oil, perfect for a relaxing massage or as a calming addition to bathwater.

Week of September 16th: Rosemary - A Herb for Memory and More. Learn about rosemary’s potential cognitive benefits and its antioxidant properties for skin health. Participants can prepare rosemary-infused hair rinse, combining rosemary with water and vinegar, to enhance scalp health and hair shine.

Week of September 23rd: Wisdom from the Garden. Explore sage's symbolism, cultural significance, and its use in skin care for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A creative activity could include making sage-infused skin toner, blending sage leaves with witch hazel or apple cider vinegar, to cleanse and soothe the skin.

Week of September 30th: Cilantro - Fresh and Flavorful. Discover cilantro's detoxifying properties for the skin. Participants can engage in making a cilantro face mask by mixing fresh cilantro leaves with oatmeal and a bit of water or honey, aiming to purify and revitalize the skin.

Week of October 7th: Lemon Balm - The Uplifting Herb. Explore lemon balm’s mood-enhancing and skin-soothing properties. An activity could involve creating a lemon balm and cucumber water facial mist for a refreshing and calming skin treat.

Week of October 14th: Echinacea - The Immune Booster. Discuss echinacea's role in supporting the immune system and its benefits in skin care for healing. Participants can make echinacea-infused skin salve, combining echinacea extract with beeswax and oils, to aid in soothing minor skin irritations.

Week of October 21st: Ginger - A Spice with Zing. Learn about ginger's potential health benefits, including its anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. An interactive activity might be making a ginger body scrub, using ground ginger, sugar, and coconut oil, to exfoliate and stimulate the skin.

Week of October 28th: Oregano - A Culinary Essential. Explore oregano's antibacterial properties and its use in skincare. Participants could make an oregano leaf face steam, which involves steeping oregano leaves in hot water and allowing the steam to open pores and purify the skin.

Week of November 4th: Lemon Verbena - Lemon-scented Elegance. Delve into the culinary uses of lemon verbena and its potential skin benefits, known for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties. Participants can craft a lemon verbena body spray by infusing lemon verbena leaves in witch hazel, offering a refreshing and soothing skin mist.

Week of November 11th: Turmeric - Golden Healing. Discuss curcumin and the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial benefits of turmeric for the skin. An activity includes making a turmeric face mask, blending turmeric powder with yogurt and honey, for a brightening and healing skin treatment.

Week of November 18th: Valerian - The Sleep Herb. How valerian can be used to promote relaxation. Participants can explore making valerian root tea, highlighting its potential benefits in improving sleep quality, which indirectly benefits skin health by reducing stress-induced skin issues.

Week of November 25th- NO CLASS Fall Break

Week of December 2nd: Peppermint - A Refreshing Boost. Learn about peppermint's invigorating properties and its use in skincare to cool and refresh the skin, especially beneficial during warmer months. A hands-on activity could involve creating a peppermint foot soak by dissolving peppermint oil and Epsom salt in warm water, offering relief and relaxation for tired feet.

Week of December 9th: Thyme - Nature's Antiseptic. Explore thyme’s antiseptic and antibacterial properties, making it a powerful herb for acne-prone skin. Participants can make a thyme toner by steeping thyme leaves in boiling water, then straining and cooling it for a natural skin-clearing solution.

Week of December 16th: Basil - The Skin Detoxifier. Discuss basil's detoxifying effects on the skin, including its ability to help remove toxins and improve skin complexion. An engaging activity could be crafting a basil face mask, blending fresh basil leaves with a bit of water or aloe vera gel, to create a purifying skin treatment.

Week of December 23rd- NO CLASS Winter Break

Week of December 30th- NO CLASS Winter Break

Week of January 6th: Mint - Beyond Freshness. Delve into mint's cooling effects and how it can soothe irritated skin and reduce redness. A practical activity might include making a mint-infused body lotion, incorporating fresh mint leaves into a base lotion to enhance its soothing capabilities.

Week of January 13th: Nettle - The Skin Healer. Explore nettle’s rich nutrients and its benefits for eczema and other skin conditions due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Participants can engage in making a nettle hair rinse, using dried nettle leaves steeped in water, to relieve scalp issues and promote hair health.

Week of January 20th: Aloe Vera - The Skin Soother. Discuss aloe vera's well-known soothing and healing properties, especially for sunburned or damaged skin. An activity could include extracting aloe gel from aloe vera leaves to use as a pure skin moisturizer or to mix with other natural ingredients for a soothing face mask.

Week of January 27th: Dandelion - The Skin Tonic. Learn about dandelion's nutritional benefits for the skin, including its detoxification properties and support for skin health. Participants can make a dandelion tea or a topical skin tonic, using dandelion leaves and flowers, to cleanse the skin from within or to apply as a gentle skin cleanser.

Week of February 3rd: Calendula - The Skin Healer. Focus on calendula’s ability to heal cuts, wounds, and improve overall skin appearance with its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. A DIY activity could involve creating calendula salve by infusing calendula petals in oils and mixing with beeswax, ideal for healing and moisturizing the skin.

Week of February 10th: Parsley - The Dark Spot Reducer. Discuss parsley's rich vitamins and its benefits in reducing the appearance of dark spots and balancing skin tone. An interactive activity might be making a parsley face mask, blending parsley with yogurt or honey, to help even out skin complexion.

Week of February 17th: Lavender - The Skin Soother. Explore lavender's soothing properties and its ability to calm irritated skin and promote relaxation. An engaging activity could involve making a lavender-infused body scrub using lavender flowers, sugar, and coconut oil, providing gentle exfoliation and aromatherapy benefits.

Week of February 24th: Rose - The Skin Beautifier. Discuss rose's luxurious and hydrating properties, known for its ability to moisturize and rejuvenate the skin. Participants can create a rose water toner by steeping rose petals in distilled water, offering a refreshing and hydrating facial mist.

Week of March 3rd: Chamomile - The Skin Calmer. Delve into chamomile's anti-inflammatory and soothing effects, beneficial for sensitive or irritated skin. An activity could involve crafting a chamomile-infused body lotion, blending chamomile tea with shea butter and almond oil for a nourishing and calming moisturizer.

Week of March 10th: Witch Hazel - The Skin Refiner. Explore witch hazel's astringent properties and its ability to tighten pores and balance oil production in the skin. Participants can make a witch hazel facial toner by diluting witch hazel extract with water or rose water, providing a refreshing and clarifying skin treatment.

Week of March 17th: Tea Tree - The Skin Purifier. Discuss tea tree oil's antimicrobial and acne-fighting properties, suitable for treating blemishes and preventing breakouts. An interactive activity might involve making a tea tree spot treatment by diluting tea tree oil with a carrier oil like jojoba oil, offering a targeted solution for troubled skin areas.

Week of March 24th: Coconut Oil - The Skin Moisturizer. Focus on coconut oil's hydrating and nourishing properties, beneficial for dry or rough skin. A hands-on activity could include making a coconut oil body scrub using coconut oil, sugar, and essential oils for a luxurious and moisturizing exfoliation experience.

Week of March 31st: Marigold - The Bright Healer. Discover marigold’s anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. Students can make marigold-infused oil by steeping marigold petals in a carrier oil, perfect for soothing minor cuts and skin irritations.

Week of April 7th: Fennel - The Skin Firming Herb. Learn about fennel’s antioxidant properties and its potential to firm and tone the skin. An interactive activity could be to create a fennel face steam by steeping fennel seeds in hot water, then using the steam to tighten and refresh the skin.

Week of April 14th: Yarrow - The Skin Protector. Explore yarrow’s antiseptic and anti-inflammatory benefits for the skin. A hands-on activity might be to make a yarrow salve by infusing yarrow leaves and flowers in oil and mixing with beeswax, to protect and heal the skin.

Week of April 21st: Comfrey - The Skin Restorer. Discuss comfrey’s ability to support skin repair and reduce inflammation. Student might create a comfrey poultice by blending comfrey leaves with water to apply on minor skin injuries for quicker healing.

Week of April 28th: Lemon Grass - The Refreshing Herb. Delve into lemongrass’s antibacterial properties and its refreshing scent. An engaging activity can be to make a lemongrass foot soak by steeping lemongrass in hot water, then soaking feet for a refreshing and cleansing experience.

Week of May 5th: Bergamot - The Uplifting Scent. Learn about bergamot’s mood-enhancing properties and its use in skincare. Students may create a bergamot bath bomb using bergamot essential oil, baking soda, citric acid, and other ingredients for a luxurious bath experience.

Week of May 12th: Sage - The Purifying Herb. Explore sage’s purifying and astringent properties for the skin. An interactive activity might be to make a sage facial steam by steeping sage leaves in hot water, then using the steam to cleanse and tone the skin.

Week of May 19th: Elderflower - The Skin Softener. Discover elderflower’s anti-inflammatory and skin-softening properties. A hands-on activity might be to create an elderflower toner by steeping elderflower in water and using it as a gentle facial mist.

Week of May 26th: Horsetail - The Strengthening Herb. Discuss horsetail’s silica content and its benefits for strengthening hair and nails.
Students might make a horsetail hair rinse by steeping horsetail in water and using it to strengthen and add shine to the hair.

Week of June 2nd: Clary Sage - The Balancing Herb. Learn about clary sage’s balancing properties for the skin and its calming scent.
An engaging activity could be to create a clary sage body lotion by blending clary sage essential oil with a base lotion for a soothing and balancing moisturizer.

Week of June 9th: Red Clover - The Skin Soother. Explore red clover’s anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties. An activity could involve making a red clover salve by infusing red clover flowers in oil and mixing with beeswax, ideal for calming irritated skin.

Week of June 16th: Licorice Root - The Skin Brightener. Discuss licorice root’s skin-brightening properties and its use in skincare. Participants might create a licorice root face mask by blending licorice root powder with honey and yogurt for a brightening and soothing treatment.

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Week of June 23rd: Burdock - The Detoxifying Herb. Learn about burdock’s detoxifying properties and its benefits for the skin.
Possible activities could be to make a burdock root tea or a topical skin tonic to cleanse and detoxify the skin from within.

Week of June 30th: Hyssop - The Cleansing Herb. Discover hyssop’s antiseptic and cleansing properties for the skin. An interactive activity could be to create a hyssop facial cleanser by steeping hyssop leaves in water and using it as a gentle, natural cleanser.

Week of July 7th: Anise - The Scented Herb. Explore anise’s aromatic properties and its use in skincare. Students might make an anise-infused oil by steeping anise seeds in a carrier oil, perfect for a fragrant and calming massage oil.

Week of July 14th: Mullein - The Soothing Herb. Discuss mullein’s soothing properties for the skin and its use in skincare. A hands-on activity could be to create a mullein-infused oil by steeping mullein leaves in oil, ideal for soothing and moisturizing the skin.

Week of July 21st: Cardamom - The Aromatic Herb. Learn about cardamom’s aromatic properties and its potential benefits for the skin. Participates might make a cardamom face scrub by blending ground cardamom with sugar and coconut oil for a fragrant and exfoliating treatment.

Week of July 28th: Bay Leaf - The Healing Herb. Explore bay leaf’s anti-inflammatory and healing properties for the skin.
An engaging activity will be creating a bay leaf facial steam by steeping bay leaves in hot water and using the steam to cleanse and soothe the skin.

Week of August 4th: Meadowsweet - The Anti-Inflammatory Herb. Discuss meadowsweet’s anti-inflammatory properties and its benefits for the skin. Students might make a meadowsweet-infused oil by steeping meadowsweet flowers in oil, ideal for reducing inflammation and soothing the skin.

Week of August 11th: Gotu Kola - The Rejuvenating Herb. Learn about gotu kola’s rejuvenating properties and its use in skincare.
A possible activity might be to create a gotu kola face mask by blending gotu kola powder with aloe vera gel for a rejuvenating and moisturizing skin treatment.

Week of August 18th: Juniper - The Cleansing Herb. Discover juniper's detoxifying and cleansing properties for the skin. Participates will create a juniper berry facial steam by steeping juniper berries in hot water, then using the steam to purify and revitalize the skin.


Please note this class is an ongoing class- Learners can drop in and out as they wish when unsubscribing or pausing subscription. Learners may also stay the whole year to learn the potential benefits of all the herbs and botanicals. 

No medical advice will be given. This is purely educational and activity based. Your own research should be carried out about any herbs discussed before using them yourself.