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2009 School Gardening Conference: Learning with the Seasons and Senses

Saturday, June 27, 2009
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Fee: $75 (before June 5)
$100 (after June 5)

Grade level: PreK-12
CPDU credits: 7
CPS Lane credits: NA
Graduate credits: NA

Join us for a day of active inspiration at the Chicago Botanic Garden. This one-day conference will empower educators to engage children of all ages and abilities in meaningful, multisensory school garden activities for every season. Presenters will showcase interdisciplinary plant-based curricula and hands-on gardening techniques that promote universally accessible gardens for indoors and out. Learn gardening basics from concept to construction, as well as secrets for maintaining dynamic and safe learning landscapes. Hear about the Growing School Gardens Initiative, whose mission is to establish gardens that are integrated into the curriculum and culture of Chicago Public Schools. By popular request, this year’s conference will include a facilitated “networking forum” that allows participants to share best practices while tackling tough school gardening questions. Your day ends with a tram ride or a walking tour of selected gardens, including the Sensory Garden and the Buehler Enabling Garden.

The 2009 School Garden Conference is an ideal venue for pre-K through high-school educators, school administrators, parent volunteers, and others who work with children to learn about gardens and schoolyards as teaching tools. The registration fee includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Teachers may earn 7 CPDUs for attending this one-day conference. Due to the limited hours, graduate credit and CPS Lane credit are not available for this conference.

Download the School Gardening Conference brochure.

Garden Camp for Teachers

The Chicago Botanic Garden is proud to present Garden Camp for Teachers in partnership with the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance and Openlands.

Garden Camp I — CLASS FILLED
July 13 – 17, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
In addition, this class will meet on September 12, 2009, plus one other Saturday to be determined, during the spring of 2010.
Fee: $75 for Chicago Public School teachers; non-CPS teachers, please call for fee and availability

Grade level: K-12
CPDU credits: 48
CPS Lane credits: 3
Graduate credits: 3

Garden Camp for Teachers I serves as a primer for plant-based education. Activities focus on such basics as plant parts and functions, ecosystem fundamentals and plant adaptations, urban ecology, and soils. This workshop will enable educators to do plant-based activities using commonly available materials such as produce from the grocery store, and to conduct explorations in their schoolyards. Participants need not have access to a school garden, habitat, or natural area.

Garden Camp II — CLASS FILLED
August 3 – 7, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
This class will also meet on September 19, 2009, plus one other Saturday to be determined, during the spring of 2010.
Fee: $75 for Chicago Public School teachers; non-CPS teachers, please call for fee and availability

Grade level: K-12
CPDU credits: 48
CPS Lane credits: 3
Graduate credits: 3

Garden Camp for Teachers II includes a continued focus on botany/plant science, ecosystems, and natural areas, with an added focus on school gardens and habitats. Educators will practice hands-on gardening and ecosystem activities as tools to support required curriculum guidelines in science, as well as in math, language arts, and social studies. (Garden Camp I is not a prerequisite, although participants should have some basic knowledge of plant science and ecology.)

This program is supported by Polk Bros. Foundation and State Farm Companies Foundation.

Earth Partnerships for Schools Summer Institute — CLASS FILLED
July 27 – 31, 2009
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (early dismissal 2 days)
This class will also meet one Saturday in December;
the date is to be determined.
Fee: $175

Grade level: K-12
CPDU credit: 38
CPS Lane credit: 3
Graduate credits: 3

The Earth Partnerships for Schools (EPS) is currently seeking teams to apply for the graduate level habitat restoration institute. School/ District teams comprised of 3 to 4 teachers are trained to facilitate ecological restoration programs within their classroom, leading up to a school yard native plant landscape project. Through EPS teachers will learn how to teach students about the rich and diverse culture and natural history of the Chicago region as they plan a native plant restoration program for their school grounds. As part of the program participants will also build a working partnership with the education staff from EPS-Chicago Partnerships, which include the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Lake Country Forest Preserves. Earn three graduate or CPS Lane credits and 38 CPDUs.