Garden Based Learning

What is Garden Based Learning? Read more by clicking here.

Garden Based Learning is Also Garden Based Health

"The school-based sustainable garden developed by Collective Roots

is one of the community’s greatest assets. One step into the garden
and you are transported to a magical place, full of lush greenery,
fluttering birds, and a collection of produce lovingly grown by
children from this community. We recognize that the garden not
only symbolizes a sustainable healthy food source in this
community, but it also represents a peaceful place where children
can connect with nature and find a tranquil respite from the
challenges and chaos that plague the lives of many of the children
in EPA. From the pediatrician’s perspective, working in this positive
environment has an immeasurable impact on the mental health and
wellbeing of these children—a health and social benefit that these
children will carry with them for years to come."

-Lisa Chamberlain, MD, MPH and Janine Bishop, MPH, Pediatric

Advocacy Program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.

Garden Based Learning Sites and Partnerships

• Year round classes are provided at East Palo Alto Charter

School (EPACS) for grades Kindergarten through 8th grade.

• Classes for 1st and 4th graders at Willow Oaks Elementary

School in East Palo Alto started in September of 2007

• Possible expansion in 2007 to include garden based learning

in a high school and and/ or other community based settings

• Outreach in 2007 to establish garden based learning

partnerships with community based organizations and
government agencies in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

Expansion and Dissemination of Collective Roots Curriculum

• K-5 Curricula available to go online beginning October of

2007.

• Garden Club (after school) curricula to go online beginning

October of 2007

• Middle School Elective (6th – 8th grades) curricula in

development

• High School (9th -12th) grade curricula in development

After School Programs & Summer Day Camp in Development

• Garden Club Programs (after school gardening) occur weekly

at East Palo Alto Charter School (EPACS) and has expanded to
include volunteer and community involvement (every Friday
afternoon).

• Community partners have expressed interest in developing a

summer science day camp that uses the EPACS garden as a
base, and explores the adjacent Baylands through
environmental science and habitat restoration activities.

Field Trips

• Seasonal Field Trips: These fun-filled day events occur at least

4 times per year (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall). Field trips
might include visiting a local farm, natural habitat,
demonstration garden, or university. Donors and volunteers
are needed to support these events.

PROGRAMS NEEDING DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT:

Volunteers and finacial support are needed to develop the following program
elements:

Garden Theater Program Development

• Garden Puppet Theater (volunteers needed).

• Music in the garden: Tapping into the magic of gardens and

music, this program will build music themes and opportunities
to grow and make instruments, tap into natures rhythms, and
connect to with the music of life.

Arts and Science Programs & Projects

• Garden Painters program provides young painters

opportunities to paint garden landscapes and nature themes
in garden settings.

• Sculpture in the garden: Young artists learn the basics of

sculpture and en situ art installation. Projects for development
include: This Giant Egg, Spiraling Mound, and other art
installations in the tradition of Andrew Goldsworthy, Patrick
Dougherty, Armin Schubert and more.

• Art made from the earth: Ceramics, tiles, Raku firing, and
other clay projects. Volunteer ceramicists needed.

• Solar & wind powered art projects: Over 600 watts of power is
being installed in the EPACS garden in Fall of 2007. Technical
assistance, donors, and volunteer support is needed to
develop other garden based power projects including wind
 power.

Teacher Training

• Collective Roots is developing an annual conference for

training teachers. This effort will be developed in collaboration
with other regional partners in the garden based learning
world. This training will cover all aspects of developing
programs, sites, and resource development. Our goal is to
partner with local universities so that this training might CEU
credits that fulfill professional training requirements.

• Collective Roots is placing its entire garden based learning

curriculum online for teachers and students to access. This
will be accomplished through use of a content management
system that will allow teachers to contribute and collaborate
on curriculum development.

• Site development services: Collective Roots will be providing

an online forum for teachers regarding school garden
curriculum and site development.

International Exchange

• Collective Roots is seeking support for bringing visiting Artists

and Scientists into garden based learning environments:
Painters, Ceramicists, Muralists, Physicists, Engineers,
Researchers, Performers, Musicians, Indigenous Leaders, etc.

• Backstrap Weaving series: Indigenous Guatamalan / Mam

women will teach the ancient art of backstrap weaving in the
Giant Green Dome at East Palo Alto Charter School.
(Partnership with Xela Aid).

• Develop plan for High School students to travel to Guatemala

to implement development projects. Seek partner schools in
other communities, including Guatemala, offering
opportunities for international student exchange.