Participant Hub - SGSO Leadership Institute 2023

Radios in Tabernacle to reach Mission Springs staff before 10:30pm each evening. 
10:30pm-7:00am Mission Springs Night Emergency 831.247.5535

December 4, 2023 at 4pm – December 9, 2023
Mission Springs Conference Center, Scotts Valley, CA

 

School Garden Leaders at the 2023 Leadership Institute

 

What?

Every year, the School Garden Support Organization Leadership Institute provides an opportunity for school garden professionals from across the country to collaborate, learn from one another, and develop resources to share with a national audience. In this way, we all become able to better support school gardens in our regions, and also advance the national school garden movement.

2023 Photo Album - Add Your Photos

Participant Agenda for the 2023 Leadership Institute

Where and When?

Mission Springs Conference Center, 1050 Lockhart Gulch Road, Scotts Valley, 95066

Directions: Map It / Driving Directions

Enter at the second driveway, park, leave your stuff in your car, and check in at the Tabernacle Room.

We will provide transportation from and to SFO or SJC for those arriving on the 4th and leaving on the 9th. Look for an email from Kelsey@lifelab.org for carpool information. Plan to arrive at Mission Springs no later than 4pm on December 4.

Mission Springs Conference Center

Items To Pack

  • Attire for changing weather. At this time of year, we often have daytime temps in the 50s or 60s and evenings in the low 40s. Check the forecast before you come. Rain is definitely possible.

  • Sun hat and good walking shoes for the garden and redwood forest

  • Sunscreen

  • Water Bottle and Reusable Mug

  • Laptop computer, if you have one – We will be creating documents using google docs (wifi will be available in some areas of the conference center)

  • Appropriate chargers for your devices

  • Note-taking supplies

  • Personal toiletries

  • Shoes to walk in the forrest

  • Small flashlight with extra batteries - Forest paths to lodging can be dark at night!

COVID 19 Policy

In an effort to reduce the risk of COVID transmission, we ask that all participants take a self COVID test the evening of December 3rd or the morning of December 4th and share your negative test results. The form will allow you to upload an image of your negative COVID test result saved on your computer. If you are using your phone to submit the form, you will be able to upload an image file or take a photo of your test result when you get to the “Upload an Image” question of the form.

Participants who test positive will be asked not to attend and a refund will be provided.

At this time, masks will not be required. Masks may be required if COVID numbers spike or a meeting host venue requests the use of masks.

We will have masks and Covid rapid tests at the conference center. 

2023 Participant Map

 

Detailed Participant Roster Phone & Email

 

2023 Participant List

  • Chatham Public Schools, GA, Rhonda Barlow, School Nutrition Co-Head Coordinator

    & West Broad Street YMCA, GA, Sandra Cason, Garden Manager

  • Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, MO, Kelly Champ, Youth Education Department & Ben Freiman, Farm-to-School Educator

  • DNATL Community Food Council, CA Angela Gray, Food Forest Manager & Melanie Cross, School Garden Coordinator

  • Des Moines Public Schools, IA, Jen Gach, Nutrition Grant Specialist

    & ISU Extension and Outreach, IA, Melissa Blair, Program Coordinator

  • Durham Public Schools (DPS) Hub Farm, NC, Hannah Ball-Damberg, Farm Educator & Geoff Seelen, Farm Educator

  • Greater Richmond Fit4Kids, VA, Maribelle Via, Program Manager & Shanice Harris, Lead Garden Educator

  • Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids, DE, Jennifer Cipolla, Program Manager & Lydia Sarson, Executive Director

  • Humboldt County Office of Education, CA, Jesse Alm, Garden Teacher & School Garden Coordinator

    & Grow Together, CA, Tayloranne Finch, Program Lead Facilitator

  • Life Lab, CA, Whitney Cohen, Education Director, John Fisher, Director of Programs & Partnerships, Regi Jones, National Curriculum and Training Specialist

  • Loop It Up Savannah Inc., GA, Keeli Millard, Senior Program Specialist

  • Muskegon County Creating Healthy Schools, MI, Lynn DeVlieg, Food Literacy Program Coordinator

    & Montague Area Public School, MI, Dan Gorman, Food Service Director

  • Office of the State Superintendent of Education, DC, Sam Ullery, School Gardens Specialist

  • Okanogan Conservation District, WA, Kim Kogler, Grant and Contracts Director

    & Classroom in Bloom, WA, Kim Romain-Bondi, Executive Director

  • Pasadena USD, CA, Katia Ahmed, Wellness Coordinator & Jill McArthur, F2S Field Coordinator

  • Royal Bay Secondary School, BC, Robin Ruff, Home Economics Teacher/Department Head and School Garden Manager

    & Flourish! School Food Society, BC, Matthew Kemshaw, Executive Director

  • Life Lab, CA, Geoff Palla, Live Oak School District/ Santa Cruz City Schools Partner Schools Manager & Santa Cruz County Office Of Education, Amity Sandage, Environmental Literacy Coordinator

  • Schoolyard Roots, AL, Natalie Wulf, Garden Educator & Nicole Dugat, Executive Director

  • SGSO Network, Tristana Pirkl, Director

  • SustainEd Farms, CO, Matt Suprunowicz, Founding Executive Director & Maya McDowell, Manager of Operations and Programs

  • Umpqua Valley Farm to School, OR, Erin Maidlow, Executive Director & Bobbi Wilson, Education Coordinator

  • Wasatch Community Gardens, UT, Emily Büchi, Youth and School Program Director & Kimberly Yapias, School and Family Garden Manager

  • Whole Kids Foundation, Stephanie Porto, Operations and International Programs Leader & Daniel Zoltani, Whole Planet Foundation Interim Executive Director

  • Wylde Center, GA, Tatiana Gonzalez, Farm to School Educator & Dory Cooper, School Programs Manager


View the 2023 Participant Yearbook





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