Professional Development

We're growing more than just plants in our gardens! Check out these opportunities to grow your skills and knowledge in gardening with youth. Skip to a category that interests you or scroll to view all professional development opportunities.

• Virtual and Offered Anytime

• Virtual and Offered at Specific Times

• In-Person

• Conferences and Networking Events

Please note that these opportunities are recommended by the Kids Garden Community but hosted by our fellow youth gardening organizations. If you have questions, please reach out to the specific organization. 

Virtual and Offered Anytime

Landscape Design for Youth Gardens e-Course

Cost: $25

Hosted by: KidsGardening

Description: A youth garden provides opportunities for kids to play, learn, and grow through plant-based and garden-based activities. But how do we design youth gardens to facilitate play, learning, and engagement for all kids? In this course, instructors will introduce participants to the basic steps and elements of landscape design that can be used to plan a youth-friendly garden that is engaging and appealing to youth and their communities. The focus will be on the practical application of basic design techniques to help new-to-youth gardening educators, community volunteers/leaders, and family members start a gardening journey with the kids in their lives.

Format: This course includes 8 pre-recorded classes so students can pace their own learning over the course of 12 weeks. Each class module also includes a recommended reading and an optional assignment. At the end of each class, students are asked to complete an evaluation survey. A community discussion board is available for students to interact with each other and the course instructor.

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Celebrating Cultural Inclusion in the School Garden e-Course

Cost: Free

Hosted by: KidsGardening

Description: In collaboration with experienced garden educators from across the country, KidsGardening has created a curriculum of original lesson plans, growing guides, worksheets, and more designed to celebrate the intersections of garden education and culture with K through 6th-grade students. In this course, instructors will familiarize participants with pedagogical principles for centering culture in garden education, a host of culturally-significant food plants, and provide context and insight into the lesson plans included in the curriculum. Lessons feature vetted and researched background information so you feel confident talking about the biology, origins, and cultural significance of these plants with your students, as well as introductory activities, step-by-step exploratory activities, and lesson extensions to keep the learning going!

Format: This course includes 8 pre-recorded classes so students can pace their own learning. Each class module includes lessons, growing guides, and supporting materials that can be downloaded and kept forever. A community discussion board is available for students to interact with each other and the course instructor.

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Growing Together: Developing Enduring Youth Gardens e-Course

Cost: $30

Hosted by: KidsGardening

Description: An effective and sustainable youth garden must be built on a strong foundation that includes a carefully planned garden educational program along with the design of the growing spaces. It demands thoughtful planning, strategic implementation, and ongoing support. In this course, we will introduce participants to the basic steps for creating a sustainable youth garden program. The goal is to share the tips we have gleaned over the years on how to plan and implement your garden initiative for success. Creating a garden is a significant investment of time and money for schools and educational organizations. Through the course, we hope to help you match your needs with the resources available to you so that you can maximize the returns on your investment.

Format: This flexible, self-paced course features 8 pre-recorded classes, allowing you to learn at your convenience over 12 weeks. Each class module also includes a collection of recommended readings and resources and an optional assignment to further your learning. At the end of the course participants will be awarded a personalized certificate of completion. A community discussion board is available for students to interact with each other and the course instructors for ongoing support. 

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Virtual and Offered at Specific Times

Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator Program

Cost: $1,400

Hosted by: Life Lab

Description: Building on Life Lab’s 40 years of experience in the school garden movement, we’ve updated and put together a virtual course that will guide and support K-6 grade educators in becoming a Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator! Throughout four courses, participants will learn gardening tips and tricks, how to breathe life into standards-based lessons, how to build a strong school garden culture, and so much more. 

Format: This 16 week long course includes: 

• Synchronous virtual sessions that include discussions, sharing of resources, hands-on demonstration lessons, and community building. These sessions meet live, once a week. 

• Three 1-on-1 coaching sessions that include specific feedback and reflection questions to support your teaching practice. 

• Asynchronous content that can be completed on your own time 

Dates: Next cohort will be offered in fall 2024.

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Teaching in Nature’s Classroom Online Course

Cost: Free

Hosted by: Rooted, Life Lab, and the Wisconsin School Garden Network

Description: This course, developed as a companion for the book Teaching in Nature’s Classroom: Principles of Garden-Based Education, is an opportunity for educators new to outdoor and garden-based learning, as well as educators who are experienced in the field, to consider best practices and reflect on their own teaching practice in outdoor learning environments, with a focus on school and community youth gardens. Upon completion of this 30-hour course, participants will receive a certificate of completion.

Format: Online via Google Classroom, completed at your own pace

Dates: Fall and spring course options

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School Garden Coordinator Certificate Training

Cost: $300

Hosted by: Growing Gardens

Description: This unique program has been thoughtfully designed and developed to give you the knowledge, resources and inspiration to implement and maintain an edible school garden built on a foundation of broad community involvement and support. By the end of this program's 6 modules, you will gain the insight and knowledge to: 

• Engage diverse stakeholders in a school community in a collective planning process for a sustainable program.
• Explore the elements of school garden infrastructure and planting for the school year. Take virtual tours of multiple school gardens and learn via discussions and interactive activities.
• Teach in the school garden, from curriculum selection to outdoor class management. Several demonstration lessons will be shared.
• Facilitate cooking with children, understand food safety guidelines and see how you can incorporate the garden into the school’s cafeteria.

Examine the long-term financial and program sustainability of school gardens.

Format: This is an 8-week, asynchronous online course. Each week there will be asynchronous materials (videos, virtual school garden tours, presentations) and an optional live discussion session.

Dates: Check for upcoming sessions.

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Pollinator Steward Certification

Cost: $150+, subsidies available

Hosted by: Pollinator Partnership

Description: Pollinator Steward Certification is offered only by Pollinator Partnership and empowers people with the scientific know-how to make a real difference for pollinators, people, and the planet. Topics include an introduction to the wonderful world of pollinators, how they live and thrive, threats to pollinators, and how we all can help. Details will be provided on habitat creation for pollinators in many landscapes including parks, rights-of-way, home gardens, and farms. Additional information on pollinator identification and how to share your knowledge through community outreach will be provided.

This course is ideal for home gardeners, land managers (large and small), farmers, organizations, government departments, and anyone that wants to do more to support pollinators.

Format: This is a two step certification. 

1. Completion of a 7-part virtual training modules (live or view recorded modules). Once complete, a short learning form must be filled out to share training takeaways.
2. Completion of one habitat creation action and one outreach or education action. A similar short form must be filled out to show proof of actions by the following year.

Dates: The 2025 session runs from February to April. Registration now open for 2025! 

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In-Person

Life Lab Workshops at UC Santa Cruz

Cost: $200 per day (financial assistance available)

Hosted by: Life Lab

Location: Life Lab’s Garden Classroom on the UC Santa Cruz campus in California

Description: Life Lab is a leader in school garden education and offers several in-person training workshops for classroom teachers and garden educators. Come to a workshop in the model Garden Classroom to get inspiration and information on bringing learning to life in the garden! Current scheduled workshops:

• The Growing Classroom Workshop

• Next Generation Science in the Garden

• Plant to Plate

Format: Workshops run 9:30-3:30 and typically include a garden tour, discussions, and hands-on activities; continuing educations credits are available

Dates: Upcoming workshops are posted on the Life Lab site and announced via email

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Edible Schoolyard Summer Training

Cost: TBD

Hosted by: The Edible Schoolyard Project

Description: Summer Training is designed to serve educators and program leaders who are seeking to provide joyful and engaging learning experiences in gardening and cooking classes. The 2024 Edible Schoolyard Summer Training will be held on Thursday, June 20, to Friday, June 21. The training is a two-day interactive professional development experience at our program site in Berkeley, California. The training is for teachers, educators, and administrators working with youth and food. 

Format: The 2024 Training will be in-person in Berkeley, CA. Prior virtual trainings are available to access for free online.

Dates: June 20-21, 2024

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Conferences and Networking Events

Growing School Gardens Summit

Cost: $450 Registration, $190 Per Room Per Night

Hosted by: Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, Life Lab, and the School Garden Support Organization Network

Location: San Diego, CA

Description: This is a national gathering of ~500 school garden support professionals 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. Attendees share diverse perspectives and take home inspiring ideas and innovations on building and sustaining vibrant and resilient programs.

Format: In-person sessions/workshops at the Summit venue, networking opportunities, and garden tours

Dates: March 15-18, 2024

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National Children & Youth Garden Symposium

Cost: $300-$425, single-day registration also available

Hosted by: American Horticultural Society

Location: Knoxville, TN

Description: Every year, the National Children & Youth Garden Symposium brings together educators, landscape architects and designers, staff at botanic gardens, non-profits, and more from around the country who are all working to engage children with gardens and the natural world that surrounds them. Begun over 30 years ago, the symposium explores and promotes the many opportunities offered by children’s gardens: helping children develop social skills, enhancing school curricula, bringing families together, and creating an awareness of the link between nature and our food, clothing, and shelter.

Format: In-person sessions/workshops at the Symposium venue, networking opportunities, and garden tours

Dates: July 12-15, 2023

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