美国 国家花园俱乐部 NGC – 全球最大的园艺志愿者组织

美国国家花园俱乐部 NGC logo

创立背景与组织定位

美国国家花园俱乐部(National Garden Clubs, Inc., NGC)创立于 1929 年,总部设在美国密苏里州圣路易斯,毗邻密苏里植物园,是全球最大的园艺志愿者组织。NGC 是经美国国税局认证的 501(c)(3) 非营利教育慈善机构,以推广园艺之爱、花艺设计以及公民与环境责任为使命,下设八个地区分会,覆盖全美 50 个州的花园俱乐部、60 个国家级附属机构以及全球 330 个国际附属组织,旗下拥有 5,000 个成员俱乐部,会员总数约 165,000 人。

Plant America 计划与社区绿化

自 2017 年起,NGC 启动 Plant America(绿化美国)主题计划,鼓励全美社区通过园艺和景观项目改善居住环境与城市绿化水平。计划涵盖社区花园建设、城市行道树种植、本土植物保护、雨水管理与栖息地恢复等多个方向,并设立专项资助金(Plant America Grants)支持地方俱乐部的具体项目。截至目前,NGC 累计发放的奖学金金额已超过 532 万美元,Plant America 资助金额约 39 万美元。

教学体系与认证课程

NGC 通过四大学院体系为会员和公众提供系统化教育:园艺学校(Gardening School)面向公众开放,完成四门课程及考试可获 NGC Gardening Consultant 认证;环境学校(Environmental School)传授环保素养和自然资源保护知识;花艺学校(Flower Show School)涵盖花展评判、参赛与组织方法;景观设计学校(Landscape Design School)帮助学员打造更易维护的庭院空间。此外还有 Multiple Refreshers 与 Symposiums 等持续教育课程,供已获认证者更新知识。

会员福利与社区活动

NGC 会员可获得终身会员资格、季度出版的《The National Gardener》杂志、年度全国大会、地区与州级花展和工作坊,以及 Networking & Community、Courses & Workshops、Awards & Grants、National Events 等专属福利。青年项目(Youth & Scholarships)面向青少年提供园艺竞赛、环境保护宣传与中学阶段奖学金,鼓励新一代参与园艺与生态保护实践。

Blue & Gold Star Memorials 与全国花园周

NGC 长期推动 Blue & Gold Star Memorials(蓝金星与金星纪念碑)项目,向服役与牺牲的军人致敬,是组织公民责任层面的代表性项目之一。每年六月举办全国花园周(National Garden Week),联合全美 5,000 个俱乐部在各地举办讲座、花园参观、开放日与社区美化活动。NGC 同时与 USDA Forest Service 长期合作 Plant-A-Tree 计划,支持美国国家森林的可持续管理。


Founding Background and Organizational Mission

National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC) was founded in 1929 in St. Louis, Missouri, adjacent to the Missouri Botanical Garden, and is the largest volunteer gardening organization in the world. NGC is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational and charitable organization whose mission is to promote the love of gardening, floral design, and civic and environmental responsibility. The organization spans eight regional divisions covering 50 U.S. state federations, 60 national affiliates, and 330 international affiliates, comprising 5,000 member clubs and approximately 165,000 members.

Plant America Program and Community Greening

Launched in 2017, the Plant America program encourages communities nationwide to improve local environments and urban green infrastructure through gardening and landscape projects. The initiative covers community garden construction, urban street tree planting, native plant conservation, stormwater management, and habitat restoration, with dedicated Plant America Grants funding local club projects. To date, NGC has awarded more than 5.3 million U.S. dollars in scholarships and approximately 390,000 U.S. dollars in Plant America grants.

Schools System and Accreditation Courses

NGC delivers systematic education through four accredited schools. Gardening School is open to the public, and members who complete four courses and exams earn the NGC Gardening Consultant designation. Environmental School teaches environmental literacy and natural resource conservation. Flower Show School covers judging, entering, competing, and chairing NGC flower shows. Landscape Design School helps students design more beautiful and easier-to-maintain gardens. Multiple Refreshers and Symposiums offer continuing education for credentialed members.

Member Benefits and Community Engagement

NGC members receive lifetime membership, the quarterly The National Gardener magazine, annual national conventions, regional and state flower shows and workshops, and exclusive benefits covering networking and community, courses and workshops, awards and grants, and national events. The Youth and Scholarships program supports youth gardening contests, environmental outreach, and secondary-school scholarships, encouraging the next generation to participate in horticulture and ecological stewardship.

Blue and Gold Star Memorials and National Garden Week

NGC has long promoted the Blue and Gold Star Memorials project to honor those who have served and sacrificed for their country, representing one of the organization’s signature civic responsibility initiatives. National Garden Week is held every June, when 5,000 affiliated clubs nationwide host lectures, garden tours, open days, and community beautification events. NGC also partners with the USDA Forest Service on the long-running Plant-A-Tree program to support sustainable management of America’s national forests.

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