WAUKESHA — The Waukesha Rotary Club has been awarded a grant from Rotary District 6270 to launch the Gardens of Growth project, aimed at revitalizing and expanding the gardens at Lad Lake’s Dousman campus, W350-S1401 Waterville Road.
The project will refresh existing outdoor spaces, transforming them into therapeutic flower and vegetable gardens. These gardens are designed to support healing, growth and learning for the youths at Lad Lake — many of whom are overcoming mental health challenges, behavioral disorders and trauma.
“Members of the Waukesha Rotary Club will work side by side with the campus youth. By creating garden spaces accessible not only to Lad Lake residents, and also to visitors along the Glacial Drumlin Trail, the project will strengthen connections between the youth, volunteers, and the broader community,” a news release said.
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The objectives of the project include turning underused areas into peaceful, welcoming gardens that support mental and emotional wellness. The project will also use gardening as a therapeutic activity and a hands-on learning tool for youths, teaching skills in botany, ecology, nutrition, and more. It will foster teamwork, responsibility and cooperation — key skills for personal development and rehabilitation. It will also teach environmental responsibility through composting, native plants and other sustainable practices.
The project will serve 120 youths each year, all of whom come to Lad Lake for refuge and recovery from difficult life experiences such as abuse and neglect. These revitalized garden spaces will support Lad Lake’s mission: “To guide the growth of youth and families so they can reach their fullest potential,” the release said.
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