About the Project

An outdoor classroom garden space at Country Lane Elementary School has numerous benefits for students, the school community, and neighborhood. The garden space will provide experiential learning where students can explore, discover, and learn about concepts related to agriculture, food systems, nutrition, and environmental stewardship. Our school vision is “Be curious, Be kind, Be the change” which lends itself perfectly to a school garden. The hands-on experience encourages higher-order thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, which are essential for students to develop critical thinking. Additionally, the garden will encourage curiosity among students, sparking their interest in the natural world, and allow them to learn and engage in an interactive way. Moreover, the space will provide a platform for students to develop behavioral, social, political, and environmental skills where students learn to work cooperatively in the garden and learn to appreciate each other’s efforts. The garden will also require the school community and volunteers to help maintain and manage it, providing opportunities to collaborate on projects that benefit the environment and community. Finally, the garden space will also benefit the neighborhood by creating a space that fosters a sense of pride and hope. The community can watch the next generation learn about taking care of the planet, inspiring them to take action themselves.