Thank you to everyone who participated in our inaugural garden-based sustainability education workshop!  


It was a huge success with over 40 educators from around the state (plus New York!) in attendance. 

Program Overview:

• Benefits: Three day, 10 hours (1 CEU) of quality garden-based pedagogy training including cooking with children (early childhood), standards-based science and ELA garden lessons (elementary), visits to learning gardens, and opportunities to connect and network with other teachers and professionals practicing garden-based education at their schools and in their classrooms.
• Cost: $25 registration fee to secure your spot
• Both Tracks are currently FULL but we are accepting waiting list applications.

Resources from workshop

• Workshop Guide
• Opening Welcome Celebration Presentation
• Presentation by Growing Minds (day 2 of Preschool Track)
• Lettuce Learn's Best Advice by Courtney Baines Smith (day 3 of Preschool Track)
• Possible Grant Funding Agencies (compiled by Leslie Bradbury)
• Resources for Outdoor Learning Environment Improvements (compiled by Natasha Bowden, Shape Up NC)

What is sustainability education and how can gardens be used as a platform to teach this holistic pedagogy?
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How can you teach Common Core and State Standards in a garden?

These and other questions will be discussed in a three-day hands-on professional development workshop featuring real-life learning gardens.  An elementary track and early childhood track are offered making it ideal for formal and informal educators who work with children age 2-12.  Anyone who's interested in using gardens as a teaching tool is welcome to attend!

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Details

Early Childhood Track

Participants on the Early Childhood track will: 

• visit two diverse preschool gardening programs to gain a variety of ideas and to explore what would work best for your early childhood education program
• participate in a special 3 hour workshop from Growing Minds, a successful farm to school program based in Asheville
• learn best practices for integrating cooking, literacy, early math & science skills into early childhood garden activities

Elementary School Track

This workshop will focus on:

•  creating and implementing garden-based units that integrate Common Core ELA and NC Essential Science Standards. 

Participants will:

• experience classroom-tested garden based units
• learn how to strategies to garden in classroom and on school grounds 
• plan their own integrated garden-based unit for their classroom. 
• receive supplies to use in garden-based lessons

Presenters include:

Led by Courtney Baines Smith, founder and director of Lettuce Learn.  Courtney imagined and created the first Lettuce Learn garden at the ASU Child Development Center in 2013.  She teaches Sustainable Development and is a Doctoral Student in Educational Leadership at Appalachian State University. 

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Brittany Wager, ASAP's Growing Minds program coordinator.  An in the in-the-classroom-cooking guru who is excited to share her skills and knowledge about cooking with young children!

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Jessica Sparks-Mussulin, ASAP's Growing Minds program coordinator.   She helps educators with their farm to school programs through training and resources.

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Andrea Anderson (left) and Dr. Cindy McGaha from Lucy Brock Child Development Lab Program at Appalachian State University.

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Led by:

Co-taught by Rachel Wilson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Appalachian State University.   She teaches courses related to science education, including CI 3552: Environmental Literacy in 21st Century Schools. She holds a Ph.D. in Science Education, along with an Interdisciplinary Qualitative Studies Graduate Certification, from The University of Georgia. In addition to garden-based pedagogy, her research interests focus on cultural influences on student participation in science, as well as international education issues, due to her teaching experiences both in Santa Barbara, California and in rural Guyana, South America.

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Dr. Leslie Bradbury is an Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Appalachian State University. Her area of specialty is Science Education. In addition to undergraduate and graduate courses in science methods, she has taught classes in teacher research, assessment, and health education. Leslie earned her Ph.D. in Science Education with an endorsement in Qualitative Research Methodology from the University of Georgia. She has published and presented at the regional, national, and international levels and her articles have appeared in Science Education, Teaching and Teacher Education, The Journal of Science Teacher Education, and Science and Children.

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When:


Where:






How to register:

July 21-23, 2015 (9am-12pm T-Th)


Opening Welcome Celebration begins promptly at 9am on July 21 in room 421 of the Library at Appalachian State University, 218 College Street, Boone, NC 28607 (Sign-in begins at 8:30am)

Training will also feature site visits to see learning gardens in action including the ASU Edible Schoolyard & the ASU Child Development Center Learning Garden



Step 1: Complete the online registration form 




Step 2: Secure your spot by sending a $25 registration fee online or by check:

1. submit your $25 registration fee online using the secure Paypal link to the right -OR-
2. Mail a $25 check* to the address found to the right.  

*make checks payable to Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture with Lettuce Learn PD in the memo line.

Registration Closed

Please note: Both tracks are SOLD OUT. You may complete the online registration above to be added to our waiting list.

Option 1: 
Pay online using PayPal link below

Option 2: Send a check by mail to:
Lettuce Learn
c/o Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture
PO Box 67
Boone, NC 28607

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Thank you to our generous sponsors
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