BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN 
LEAFLETS 
THE BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 
Series IV Brooklyn, N. Y., June 14, 1916. 
No. 7. 
THE BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN 
BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS 
The following short articles were written by the boys and 
girls themselves and explain in their own words how the Boys’ 
and Girls’ Clubs of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden happen to be 
started. We have had a large number of earnest boys and girls 
working with us, since the laboratory building was opened, in 
courses extending from periods of six weeks to those of six 
months or more in length. It seemed wrong not to turn to good 
use the interest and energy aroused in these boys and girls, and 
so these clubs, with definite helpful purposes, have been started 
in order that, as time goes on, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden shall 
have pledged to its interests a large, intelligent body of up- 
growing young citizens. It is hoped that once a year one of the 
Leaflets will be devoted to the interests of these clubs. 
How the Boys’ Club Started 
The Boys’ Club of the Botanic Garden was formed April 15, 
1916. The club consists of about one hundred and thirty boys. 
From the time the Garden opened there were classes of boys that 
came to the Garden for instruction. I was in one of the classes 
of the High School boys, and continued the work until now. I am 
vice-president of this club. Some say that I was the founder of 
the club. It was this way: I had been thinking for a long time 
that the boys ought to band themselves together so we could 
work better for the Garden. And from this idea of mine the club 
was started. I expect that this club will have a membership of a 
thousand within a year or two. This is the only botanical garden 
that I know of where just such instruction for boys and girls is 
offered. 
Norman Schaeffer, First Vice-President. 
Forming the Club 
Norman’s idea spread fast. All those that heard it were 
very enthusiastic about it. Notices went out to the older boys, 
