Moment of the Month - January 2024

Growing together at the School Garden Support Organization (SGSO) Leadership Institute

We were thrilled to host 40 garden educators from around the United States for our 7th annual School Garden Support Organization (SGSO) Leadership Institute. 

Every year, the Institute provides an opportunity for school garden professionals to collaborate and share promising practices for their work with children across the United States.

During our week together, we toured several schools and programs including Emeril's Culinary Garden and Teaching Kitchen at Starlight Elementary in Watsonville; Food Lab at Pacific Elementary School in Davenport, where 5th and 6th graders cook lunch for their younger peers; Del Mar Elementary School in Live Oak School District, where a district farm is being planned; and our own Garden Classroom on the UC Santa Cruz Farm.

According to one participant:  

“We can't say enough about the Institute - the conversations we had, the connections we made, the ideas that percolated and came out of our field trip visits, and the inspiration we felt from meeting so many amazing leaders in school garden education across the country.”

For more professional development opportunities with Life Lab please visit https://www.lifelab.org/professional-development