Starting and sustaining a school garden

Teachers, administrators and volunteer leaders can learn how to create and implement effective school gardens by attending the Starting and Sustaining a School Garden Workshop.

Effectively reaching all learning styles in today’s schools has been a recent topic of discussion. Place-based and experiential learning techniques have consistently been proven to increase learner retention. Envision schools where all students go out into a garden for hands-on learning activities that correspond to and support the curriculum they learn in the classroom. Teachers, administrators and volunteers can learn how to create and implement this kind of effective learning environment at the Starting and Sustaining a School Garden Workshop held Tuesday, March 25, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at The Michigan State University Extension Tollgate Education Center located at 28115 Meadowbrook Road in Novi, Michigan 48377.

Participants will learn from Michigan State University Extension faculty and staff presenting on a variety of topics including Starting a School Garden, Using Technology to Connect to the Garden, Grant Resources, Food Safety, and a hands-on demonstration in the hoop house. Moreover, participants will have opportunities to network and brainstorm with other school garden leaders and MSU Extension experts on community organizing, classroom integration and creating a plan of action to get and keep your garden growing.

An emphasis of the workshop will be overcoming the most common barriers by providing funding ideas, volunteer and time saving resources. There will even be a brain storming session on how to sell the school garden to your administrator. Or, if you have been assigned the task of developing the school garden, there will also be discussion on how to make sure you get what you need to make it a success.

The registration fee for the workshop is $90, which includes resource materials, morning refreshments, afternoon lunch and invaluable connections with industry experts. Scholarships are available upon request. Online registration for MSU Tollgate Starting and Sustaining a School Garden is open. The last day to register online is March 21, 2014.

For more information contact Alan Jaros, Education Coordinator, at the MSUE Tollgate Programs Office, 28115 Meadowbrook Road, Novi, MI 48377, by phone at 248-347-0269 or by email at tollgateprograms@anr.msu.edu.

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