REAL
school gardens are stimulating, inviting and beautiful spaces that encourage a
child's learning across subject matters.
They are unique outdoor classrooms designed to provide hands-on,
experiential learning opportunities for elementary-aged children. This real-world learning can be integrated
into all academic subject areas and has been shown to benefit children by
boosting academic achievement, nurturing healthy lifestyles, cultivating life
skills and promoting environmental stewardship.
Do
you know of a North Texas elementary school whose students would benefit from
having an outdoor learning classroom (school garden) at their school? Well here’s your chance to make that dream a
reality! REAL School Gardens’ partner
application process is now open!
During the 2011-2012 school year, REAL School Gardens will serve over 80 schools in five major districts: Arlington ISD,
Birdville ISD, Dallas ISD, Fort Worth ISD and Grand Prairie ISD. (Announcement of our new school partners will take place later this Summer.) We are now accepting applications year round from elementary schools in these 5 partner districts. If you are a school in one of our partner
districts that is passionate about engaging children outdoors, and at least 70%
of your student population participates in the free and reduced lunch program,
please complete an application and submit it to Scott Feille at REAL School
Gardens. An electronic (Microsoft Word)
version of the application is available for download here. The next review of applications will begin
March 1, 2012 with interviews of select schools to follow. A timeline is included for your convenience.
| Year 1 | Years 2 and 3 | Established |
| Ongoing | REAL School Gardens accepting
applications | Educator Training:
- Individualized onsite teacher training - Cohort training with other schools joining in 2012-2013 (Year 3 only) - Health & nutrition training and implementation -Garden Coordinator
training three times annually (stipend provided) Community Networking Events:
- Bring together educators and community advocates
Garden Support:
- Guidance and materials for planting and maintenance | Trained educators are actively using the garden
Strong community partnerships sustain the garden
RSG continues to provide: - Guidance and materials for planting and maintenance - Community networking events - Customized educator training (fee) -
Garden Coordinator
training three times annually (stipend provided) |
| March 1, 2012 | Applications received by February
29 are reviewed |
| By March 9, 2012 | Interviews are scheduled with top
applicants |
| Week of March 26, 2012 | REAL School Gardens conducts
on-campus interviews |
| Week of April 2, 2012 | Schools are notified regarding
partnership; Design and Dine scheduled
for May, 2012 |
| May, 2012 | Design and Dine gatherings with new
school partners |
| Fall 2012 | Gardens are installed |
REAL
School Gardens’ partner schools receive up to three years of support, ensuring
that learning gardens become a central part of the school’s teaching culture
and community. During the first year,
each partner school is led through a community design process which begins with
a Design and Dine gathering and culminates in the installation of a learning
garden and an onsite, school-wide professional development day. For the ensuing two years - provided your
school demonstrates a continued commitment to your learning garden as outlined
on the following pages - REAL School Gardens continues to offer garden support
as needed, professional development, and multiple opportunities for networking
with other schools throughout North Texas.
REAL School Gardens is committed to providing rigorous, standards-based
professional development throughout the three-year partnership. By aligning garden-based lessons with
specific TEKS across grade levels and across subject areas, we help educators
make outdoor learning a regular part of their practice and not simply something
“extra.”
“The
garden is central because we do reading, writing, and arithmetic out there. Every
day we’re collecting scientific data…When students fertilize, they learn about
volume, ratio, and rates of applications.
It’s a very integrated curriculum with math and science.”
– Educator with a REAL school garden
If
you have any questions, you may contact Scott Feille, Program Director at
817.348.8680 or at sfeille@realschoolgardens.org.
Link to electronic (Microsoft Word) version of REAL School Gardens Partnership Application: Click Here