School Garden Toolkit & Resources
Take your teaching outside
The LCNN Partners can help you learn how to create inspiring spaces that encourage discovery and wonder, as well as how to successfully build outdoor learning opportunities
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Webinars, Workshops, Trainings
Learn with our regional Partners on how to teach outside, plan and implement your campus improvements:
Connecting to Curriculum - teaching outdoors (with Mark Watrin and Kris Potter, Battle Ground Schools
Greening of Schoolyards - planning and implementing improvements (with Jane Tesner Kleiner, Lower Columbia Nature Network)
Composting on Campus - learn about composting options and techniques (with Pete Dubois, Clark County Public Health)
Ecosystems on Campus - learn from Partners about tips and resources for increasing habitat on campus and teaching outdoors (with Jessica George, City of Vancouver, Urban Forestry; Chris Hathway, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership; Bethany Wray, Watershed Alliance of SW WA; Kris Potter, River HomeLink)
Maintaining School Gardens - learn tips and techniques to keep your garden successful (with regional teachers)
Rethinking Recess - learning about options for recess and after school programs (with regional teachers)
Drip Irrigation - there are some great resources for installing school garden drip irrigation, including RainBird’s Drip Guide, School Garden Support Organization webinar and Drip Guide with University of Arizona School Gardens.
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Curriculum Resources
There are local, regional, state and national resources to help teach outside, including social-emotional, STEM and more:
WA OSPI - outdoor learning resources
E3 Washington - resources for environmental and outdoor learning
Lower Columbia School Gardens - The LCSG has successful gardens throughout Longview and Kelso schools. Resources include Growing Guides and Lesson Plans
WSU Extension Master Gardeners - school planning and garden lesson plan resources
An Educator’s Guide to Vegetable Gardening - Oregon State University Extension brochure
Gardens for Learning - by the California School Garden Network
US Gifford Pinchot Forest Service - lesson resources about the forest, Mt. St. Helen’s and other
Columbia Springs - Salmon in the Classroom - teacher activity guides and lessons
Accessible school garden signs - this curriculum walks through the considerations to make signs that work for all abilities
School garden curriculum - there are lots of great book resources, this is one of many titles.
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School Garden Tours
Learn from other schools in our community with their on-site garden tours:
Clark County Green Schools - School Garden map
EPS Illahee Elementary learning garden
VPS Hazel Dell Elementary learning gardens
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Funding & Grants
There are a variety of local, regional and national partners that can help support your projects
Local (Vancouver, Clark County, SW WA):
City of Vancouver Urban Forestry - depending on your location, support with tree plantings
Master Gardener Foundation of Clark County - Horticultural education and school gardens
Vancouver Watershed Alliance Sustainability Grants - City of Vancouver, neighborhood supported
WSU Extension - School garden resources and funding information
Regional (SW WA, Vancouver-Portland area, WA state):
Recreation Conservation Office (RCO) WA Outdoor Education Grants - Are you working with a teacher or school that would like to start, enhance, or expand their Outdoor Education? $25-$35,000 per award, that are prioritizing schools traditionally underserved in science education (rural, tribal, high minority, poverty, special ed, ELL, migrant, homeless, alternative learning environments) Find FP357 on iGrants. Contact Sheila Wilson for more info: sheila.wilson@k12.wa.us
Washington Department of Agriculture - list of garden and school farm grants
Washington Native Plant Society - education and planting grants
Clark County Green Schools - comprehensive list of local, regional, state and federal grants & funding opportunities.
National:
Kids Gardening - a national program that supports education through gardening
Whole KIDS Foundation - School Garden grants
Vancouver Public School’s Ogden Elementary school has several learning landscapes and gardens. Check it out!
Teacher Melissa Springer answers our questions about what it takes to use and teach in a school garden. She shares a passion for getting kids outdoors and the impacts it has. Learn about the different types of gardens and why it is important to get kids outside learning.
