“The conference
is structured to offer an ideal setting in which schoolyard garden supporters
can learn to use a garden as an outdoor, living laboratory for hands-on learning
across disciplines. In a schoolyard garden, kids engage all of their senses and
educators bring learning concepts alive in a way not possible in other settings,”
says Tim Kenny, Arboretum director of education.
Kenny
adds, “A schoolyard garden appeals to numerous learning styles and it means
that teachers can connect learning standards in the most effective ways. I’ve
watched it happen again and again, and at this conference, participants will be
able to engage with experts and others who have put these principles into
action.”
In
addition to a day filled with plenary and interest-track sessions designed to
help school
gardeners reach the full potential of this educational
asset, the conference offers an opportunity for current schoolyard garden
champions to present their work in poster sessions. This year’s conference
features an “Answer Room,” where experts will be on hand to answer questions
and talk about plants, curriculum, garden design, training opportunities,
funding and other schoolyard garden resources. The conference is geared to
educators, volunteers, nutritionists, parents and all interested parties.
Learn more
and register at http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/2014SchoolyardGardens.aspx.
Or call 952-443-1422. Conference tuition is $60 Arboretum
members and conference affiliates, $70 general registration – discounts available for teams of three from
the same school.
The Minnesota
Landscape Arboretum, the largest public garden in the Upper Midwest and a
premier northern arboretum, is part of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of
Minnesota and a community and national resource for horticultural and
environmental information, research, and public education. It is located nine
miles west of I-494 on Highway 5 in Chanhassen.
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