Pine Jog Partnership – Grants, Scholarship, and Flower Show Exhibits

The Pine Jog Environmental Education Center is located in West Palm Beach Florida. The center’s mission is to develop, provide and model environmental education programs in order to promote an understanding of the earth and its inhabitants.

The Garden Club of Palm Beach has been involved with and given support to Pine Jog for decades. An early member of The Garden Club of Palm Beach, Elizabeth Kay and her husband, Alfred Kay purchased the original 150-acre Pine Jog Plantation in 1948. Originally, the Kays grew flowers, fruits and vegetable on their land. Subsequently Elizabeth Kay supported environmental educational programs at Pine Jog.

In 1975 The Garden Club of Palm Beach sponsored Pine Jog for a grant from The Garden Club of America called The Founders Fund Grant.The Founders Fund Grant is awarded annually to an exceptional community project proposed by all the clubs of The Garden Club of America.

Pine Jog was awarded a Founders Fund Grant for its “Teaching Marsh” program.  Awarded funds were used to enlarge the pond at Pine Jog and enhance the teaching program at Pine Jog for students . In 2009 The Garden Club of Palm Beach again sponsored Pine Jog for a Founders Fund grant and Pine Jog received funds to help restore a native field habitat. Currently, The Garden Club of Palm Beach has proposed Pine Jog for a Garden Club of America Founders Fund grant that would enable Pine Jog to restore its orchid learning center where Florida native orchids will be grown and distributed to schools and community sites.  The center will also create a special place where children and families can learn about the history of Florida and the importance of protecting our natural areas.

Annually, The Garden Club of Palm Beach funds a graduate scholarship and Palm Beach Garden Club members serve on Pine Jog’s Board.

Every two years The Garden Club of Palm Beach hosts a two day Garden Club of America Flower Show and awards are given for conservation and education exhibits. The Garden Club of Palm Beach has paired up with Pine Jog to create educational exhibits. In 2019 Pine Jog was awarded a club commendation by The Garden Club of America for the exhibit at the Flower Show. The citation for the commendation was “for promoting conservation and environmental stewardship in Palm Beach County through education, innovative initiatives and creating Programming for conserving wild orchids”.