Celebrate 30 Years of Life Lab

30 for 30

As part of Life Lab's 30th Birthday Celebration we are sharing 30 great quotes from Garden Classroom program participants:

Field Trip Visitors and Campers

I learned that I could make tortillas out of corn anf I learned that you can eat leafs.

I learned all the parts of the plant. I feel so happy.

I learned that some kinds of leaves are eatable. I learned how a flower grows. I lastley learned how fun a farm is.

It sure is amazing that it takes more than 100 years to make soil.

I never knew plants and bugs were so so so so so enpoten [important].

 

Teachers and Parents

I wasn’t expecting the activities to be so perfectly placed in my health and nutrition curriculum. You all did a wonderful job of inspiring the students to be better gardeners and nutrition ‘experts.’ We are in the process of beginning our own school garden so this field trip was a great inspiration!

Thank you so much for the best field trip ever. I was speech-less and so grateful that my class could experience you, your fabulous Garden, and fabulous activities . You  have so much to offer there.

This is, by far, one of the best camp experiences I’ve seen. The staff is smart, good with young ones and able to have fun while teaching…My son came home with songs, stories and information about recycling and how to live in harmony with the natural world.

 

"Food, What?!" Teen Program Interns/Staff

I've learned how to be comfortable with myself, to make good decisions, to take opportunities and have no regrets.

I used to be more, I guess, angry and more on guard and defensive. Just being here and doing the things we do has calmed me down in an anger sense.

I've worked harder. I'm eating healthier. Ive done much more good here than being on the street. I am much happier, more independent, and more responsible.

Food what is a really cool job opportunity for youth doing things they normally wouldn’t be doing. FoodWhat is a family space and a safe space to learn about yourself and your world. We cook good food and eat it. FoodWhat is da’ bomb”

Here are things you’re gaining you don’t even realize until after (you finish you job at FoodWhat) and you look back and you realize all the things you’re now capable of and all the power you have.

I've accomplished getting a job and found my inner self a little more. I've learned a few things like cooking healthy meals and taking care of numerous vegetables. I've changed by being more aware of my surroundings.

 

Educator Workshop Participants

The workshop was even better than I expected- lots of usable ideas and activities! Had a great day!

I got a good foundation for implementing gardening/nutrition in the classroom not only in science, but cross curriculum as well.

The workshop gave me activities and information regarding using a school garden that makes it easy to to use it as a part of my classroom. 

The workshop gave me activities and information regarding using a school garden that makes it easy to use it as a part of my classroom.

Life Lab Science Program presents a holistic approach to gardening and that is so much more meaningful

I left feeling ready to go get out in that garden and teach!

Thanks for making possible a space for learning that is a love, relevant, exciting, and fosters exploration! Life Lab is a kaleidoscope of learning opportunities and I'm inspired by its possibilities.

 

Past Field Trip Interns

I first came to Life Lab feeling very skeptical about my teaching abilities and often doubting that I would ever be a good teacher...I will use the skills that I learned at Life Lab for the rest of my life.

I first came to Life Lab as a way of combining my major (environmental studies) and minor (education) and found my home: TEACHING SCIENCE! I am now a full time science teacher and I'm finishing up my teaching credential program...It made me into the type of teacher I am today: crazy and loud. Before I might have been a more reserved teacher, but part of my teaching style now is to use enthusiasm, genuine excitement, and laughter as the cornerstones of my teaching style.

The skills I developed as well as the information I acquired have been useful in both my personal and professional life; from managing people better, to just being a better informed consumer.

It made me realize I wanted to be a garden educator. I have taken what I learned and used it to host garden clubs at elementary schools and community gardens. I became much more confident in my ability to effectively communicate concepts to kids, especially how to be more animated and engaging. It also helped me a lot with behavior management.

My internship at Life Lab helped me connect my desires to engage in community work, environmental studies, education, food systems, social justice and sustainable lifestyles.

Now I am becoming an elementary school teacher through the UCSC Masters in Education/teaching credential program and am doing so in large part because of the extremely positive experiences I had at Life Lab. In my future career as a teacher, I will work hard to inspire environmental stewardship in my students and will do so using many of the techniques I learned at Life Lab.

As a student teacher in the UCSC Masters in Education/teaching credential program, I call upon the skills and knowledge that I gained at Life Lab every single day. I include as much hands-on science in the classroom as possible and educate the students on nutrition and environmental issues. I am a much better teacher for having worked at Life Lab

Life Lab is like a secret treasure chest on campus full of knowledge, beauty, and silly kids and chickens. When you find it, you feel like it's only yours but then you see what a wonderful extended community you just stumbled into and it alone is worth the price of tuition, if you have to put a price on it.