Growing School Gardens Summit

April 22-25, 2022

GRAND HYATT DENVER
Denver, Colorado

Plant the Seed – Nashville, TN

A gathering to inform, inspire & invigorate the school garden movement

Join Us!

The Growing School Gardens Summit is a gathering designed to support our shared work to strengthen the school garden movement at local and national levels so that all children and youth can have vibrant, resilient school garden programs. As the first-ever national gathering focused entirely on school gardening, the summit will unite educators and leaders to share innovations and harness our collective power for future change.

Who Will Gather?

400 school garden professionals including educators, program directors, school food & district leaders, researchers, and youth advocates from across the country working to establish and sustain school garden programs at a school, regional, state, or national level. We acknowledge and celebrate diversity and strive to make a welcoming space for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, and identity.

Why School Gardens?

School garden practitioners and researchers agree: school gardens grow healthy kids, engaged learners, environmental stewards, and resilient, empowered youth! Now more than ever, young people are feeling the repercussions of interwoven challenges that impact their identities, safety, health and environments. There is a crucial need for school garden educators and organizations across the country to come together and decide how our collective efforts can help our young people and planet thrive.

Pacific Elementary – Davenport, CA

What Will Take Place

Guided by our Commitments and Values, the summit will have an innovative recipe for learning, including:

Abundant, intentional opportunities to make authentic connections, build community, and learn from one another
Workshop sessions led by school garden professionals
Deeper Dive (3-4 hour) workshop sessions
Field experiences to explore innovative food and garden programs in Denver Area
Engaging general sessions, including seasoned experts as well as inspirational school garden leaders taking the stage for the first time
An Emerging Leaders Program to support young professionals in the field
Opportunities to explore how we can work together to advance the national school garden movement

School Garden Support Professionals will:

Join a national assembly of professionals through the School Garden Support Organization (SGSO) Network
Share diverse perspectives and take home inspiring ideas and innovations on building and sustaining vibrant and resilient school gardens and school garden organizations
Discover promising practices from other School Garden Professionals, so they don’t have to reinvent the wheel
Gain a new spring in their step