Education

Teacher Programs

GREEN TEACHER NETWORK

The Green Teacher Network (GTN) is a powerful collaboration of the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, and Openlands. Through teacher trainings and events, the goal of GTN is to foster the use of plant-based learning in Chicago area schools and support teachers’ efforts to create and use school gardens or growing spaces as curricular tools.

For further information or for your school to become a member, contact Kristin LoVerde at Openlands at (312) 863-6270 or

GTN Membership Fee: $100 per School

Membership Includes:

Four professional development programs per year featuring leadings in the field, lessons for the classroom, networking opportunities, and more. (Up to three teachers, administrators, parents, or volunteers from each member school can attend each training.)
A reduced admission to the School Gardening Conference for up to two people from each member school.
E-newsletter with up-to-date information on programs, classes, and other vetted materials
An opportunity for teachers to increase their content knowledge in school gardening, plant science, and community building
Tools and techniques that will enable teachers to turn their gardens into living laboratories
CPDUs earned at every meeting

Download a PDF of the Green Teacher Network brochure and membership form.

Green Teacher Network Schedule:

Workshop III: Using Gardens, Grounds, and Sidewalks as Nature Inquiry Spaces
Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at the Garfield Park Conservatory
4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the Garfield Park Conservatory
9 a.m. to Noon

The child development experts are speaking loud and clear; we need to find more ways to get students learning outside the walls of our schools and institutions! Learn how to set the stage for inquiry-based learning by activating your school garden, playground, or even the sidewalk and parking lot with loose natural parts, simple tools, and big imaginations. It will do your students a world of good! A light dinner (Wednesday) or a light breakfast (Saturday) is provided.

GTN Member Schools: FREE (up to 3 teachers per school)
Non-Member Schools: $45 per person

Please contact Melanie Harding for more information: (773) 638-1766 ext 16 or mharding@garfieldpark.org

To register visit the Garfield Park Conservatory website.

2013 School Gardening Conference: Solving Problems with School Gardening
Saturday, June 29, 2013 at the Chicago Botanic Garden
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

School Gardens present many challenges and opportunities. From a practical perspective, starting and maintaining a school garden requires a coordinated effort among school and sometimes community members. School gardeners face many decisions and challenges planning and maintaining the garden. Once you have the garden, it can become a living laboratory for science investigations and other curricular connections.

This year’s school gardening conference will provide helpful advice for the practical side of growing a successful school garden and also share activities and lessons that use the garden to teach problem solving and other thinking skills. Join us for a fun day filled with presentations and hands-on activities presented by teachers and professionals in the field that offer practical ways to keep your garden growing and inquiry-based lesson ideas that get your students using the garden to understand nature.. Enjoy the keynote presentation by Sharon Gamson Danks author of the book Asphalt to Ecosystems: Design Ideas for Schoolyard Transformation, who will show you how your efforts to confront the challenges and opportunities with school gardens are shared by educators all over the world. You will have the opportunity to purchase ($39.95) a signed copy of Asphalt to Ecosystems at the conference. Please bring your checkbook if you would like to partake in this opportunity. Bring your questions and “ask the experts” during a panel discussion.

Member rate: $25 for up to 2 people per member school.
To register please call the Chicago Botanic Garden Registrar’s Office at 847-835-6801 and mention that you are from a GTN member school. If you are interested in purchasing lunch, please do so at the same time that you register (see lunch options below).

Non-member rate and additional people from member schools: $95
Please click here to view the Chicago Botanic Garden website and register.

Lunch (optional): $18
You may either bring your own lunch or purchase lunch in advance. Options for purchase are the Strawberry Fields Forever Salad, Turkey Cranberry Wrap, and Roasted Vegetable and Goat Cheese Focaccia Sandwich.

Credit options: CPDUs—7.5
One CPS Lane credit and one graduate credit (additional fee) are available if the conference is taken with the School Garden Road Trip on July 13. Call 847-835-8253 for more information about this option.

Please contact Rebecca Ammann at Chicago Botanic Garden for more information: (847) 835-8253 or

Workshop IV: Organizing & Stewarding Your School Garden
Tuesday, July 23, 2013, Location TBA
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday, July 25, 2013, Location TBA
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Long-term stewardship of a school garden is imperative for sustainability. This workshop covers organizing and building your Garden Team, developing stewardship schedules, and learning how to harvest and weed your garden. Through activities and discussion, there is ample time to network and hear from your peers at other schools. It is highly recommended that at least two people from your school or Garden Team attend this workshop together.

GTN Member Schools: FREE (up to 3 teachers per school)
Non-Member Schools: $85 per person

Please contact Kristin LoVerde at Openlands for more information: (312) 863-6153 or