Outdoor Learning

Our garden is a hands-on learning zone. While kids have fun exploring bugs and plants, I sneak in plenty of science, math, and language arts. 

Teachers also use our outdoor learning spaces for yoga, drama, reading, science, and more.

Social-Emotional Skills

It's a tough time to be a kid. The most important part of our garden program is helping kids cope with today and build resilience for the future.

We work on cooperation, inclusion, and communication, and practice ways to ground ourselves when we're upset. We talk through conflicts together, following a trauma-informed approach. 

I check in regularly with the kids, and am there when they just need a familiar adult to sit and listen. Our school counselors and other staff also use the garden to meet with students.

Healthy Habits

Getting kids to eat more fruits and vegetables has a lasting effect on their health. Kids will almost always taste foods they helped grow, and often find out they like at least some of them. (Ask your child about broccoli flowers!) 

Our big garden space also gets kids physically active, and helps them practice balance, coordination, and motor skills. 

Resilience 

Our eco-activities don't just help the earth — they give kids a sense of connection, confidence, and control at this critical time. 

We compost all lunchtime fruit and vegetable waste in our garden compost piles and worm bins, and were recently certified a National Wildlife Federation School Garden Wildlife Habitat, after students designed and implemented several habitat zones around our school.