top of page

Board of Directors & Founding Members

​        Our Board of Directors and Founding Members are comprised of a group of inspiring and dedicated individuals who share a common passion...to create a Children's Storybook Garden & Museum for all children and adults of Kings County.  We have members with experience in law, banking, engineering, education, agriculture, landscape construction, horticulture, business, art, and more!  We work very hard and are proud of all that we have accomplished so far.  We are anxious to complete this Garden & Museum, and with your continued support we will make it happen! 

IMG_3297.JPEG

Kaitlin Sheets
Director

"Let all that you do be done with love."

      -1 Corinthians 16:14

carmen.PNG

Carmen Bettencourt
President
Founding Member

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

​        ​        ​        - Margaret Mead

judy.PNG

Judy Waite
Founder

“In a hundred years it will not matter what you owned or how you looked. But the world may be better because you were important in the life of a child.”

​        ​        ​        - Anonymous

IMG_2472.jpg

Chris Raven
Board Member

Susie.JPG

Susie Chavez
Board Member

Sue Lafferty
Board Member

"If you build it, they will come!"

Randy McNary
Board Member

Adam Franks
Board Member

Claire Noland
Board Member

Carrie Ortiz
Board Member

Polo Ortiz
Board Member

Mary Lopez
Board Member

"Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire"
 

We are a 501©3 non-profit organization

Memberships and venue rental fees help sustain the botanical gardens, the museum and our year-round calendar of 

educational programs for the community.

Children's Storybook Garden & Museum

175 East Tenth St., Hanford, CA 93230

(559) 500-9966

​​

Mailing address: 

P.O. Box 363 Hanford, CA 93232

© 2023 Children's Storybook

Garden & Museum,

​

Our Vision

To grow the not-for-profit Children's Storybook Garden & Museum into a successfully operated, educational Garden and Museum focused on literacy, healthy eating and living in downtown Hanford, CA. 

 

        We provide an exceptional hands-on educational activities and programs in horticulture, literacy, farm history, healthy eating, fitness, art, music, drama, life science, and joy!

​

        All our gardens are interactive with books to read, floors to sweep, plants to be planted, produce to be picked, drop-in activities, and of course... just to sit and enjoy the day. All gardens are supported by appropriate children’s literature, and accessible for all. 

Our Objectives

​​To provide educational classes, exciting programs and fun events for all ages! To provide a children’s literature themed garden that will invite children to read and play in each area of the garden for a lifetime.  To provide space and gardens for adults  to to socialize, learn new skills in healthy cooking, gardening,  and to  enjoy being with nature. To create new venue spaces for two reasons: to provide a source of income for the Garden and to add value to our community by offering these spaces at a fair and reasonable price. To provide a farm environment museum that is interactive and educational as it relates to the establishment of King’s County farm history. To provide a place for families to connect in an environment that is safe and beautiful. To encourage an understanding and enjoyment of plants and the role they play in our lives. To encourage reading and to nurture the imagination in children and adults. To provide educational programs related to horticulture, nutrition, and healthy choices, art, music, local history, environmental science, and literature. To encourage and promote volunteerism in our community. To provide a garden that is enabling and accessible for everyone. To provide a relaxing, calm and beautiful setting for anyone with a disability.  The Garden will be available to adults & children with disabilities and their caregivers during all open hours free of charge.  To host events and activities for other community service agencies.

Our Plan

​​​​​​​​​We invite all community members to help in any way they would like: volunteering to help build, paint, plant, create lessons, teach classes, work in the garden, read to children and become docents.   

We invite all clubs and organizations to participate in whatever capacity their members wish, at the Garden.  We are open to ideas and suggestions.  We want our community to participate in helping this beautiful and important garden to continue to grow!

Sustainability

The Board of Directors and Founding members are dedicated to the sustainability and success of this garden.  Areas of the garden are available for rent for parties and small events.  There are fees for educational gardening classes, summer classes, and youth camps and school and group field trips. Various membership packages are available!  We are always seeking grants, in-kind donations, cash donations, and hold three annual fundraisers each year.  

​

The public is always welcome to attend our Board Meetings held on the third Wednesday of every month except the months of June, July, November & December.  Meetings begin at 5:30 P.M. Use our back gate by the Stone Cottage. 

Where does our
income from?

​Memberships, entry fees, venue rentals, grants, sponsorships, in-kind donations, and fundraising events. ​

 

We offer memorial bricks, shrubs, rose bushes and benches for sponsorships as well as Gardens, structures, and the Victorian Tree House. We would be honored to make a  presentation to your organization or business. 

bottom of page