Our Program
Looking to start or enhance an educational garden program, or elevate an existing one? Powered by Sprouts Healthy Community Foundation, our 8-week virtual course prepares you to become a Life Lab-Certified Garden Educator, setting you apart as a confident leader in garden-based learning and connecting you to a respected national network.
Next Cohort:
March 16th - May 13th
Program Overview
The Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educators Course will provide educators with tools and techniques to create inclusive and engaging school garden classrooms, integrating environmental stewardship, science-based learning, nutrition education, and community building to foster children’s social, emotional, and academic growth.
This series is open to all who want to earn this certification; no experience or degree required to join!
What you’ll earn:
Insights and inspiration from Life Lab’s 40+ years of experience in the school garden movement, a trusted leader in garden-based learning.
Confidence and skills to successfully lead a garden based learning program.
A supportive community of like-minded educators, sharing ideas, successes, and challenges. It also connects you to a respected national network, opening doors to new opportunities while deepening your impact in classrooms and communities.
A Recognized Certification as a Life Lab School Garden Educator, demonstrating your commitment to innovative, experiential learning. Life Lab certification helps make educators more competitive and sought-after for roles in school gardens, environmental education, and experiential learning programs.
What you’ll learn:
Enhance Social-Emotional Learning: Discover methods to create an inclusive garden classroom that supports students' social and emotional well-being by integrating mindfulness, respect, and equity.
Teaching skills: Practical, engaging activities and strategies to connect students with nature, fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and environmental stewardship.
Classroom Management techniques to increase engagement and cooperation in the outdoor classroom.
Nutrition and Healthy Eating: Explore ways to teach nutrition through hands-on, garden-based activities, encouraging students to eat fruits and vegetables and understand food origins.
Discover grant and funding opportunities.
Certification Program Details
Next Cohort: 3/16/26-5/13/26
*No Class April 6-8th
Live virtual sessions: Mondays & Wednesdays,
3:30–5:00 PM PT
$1,400 for the course, materials, and the certification.
This course includes:
• Weekly interactive sessions that include discussions, sharing of resources, hands-on demonstration lessons, and community building.
• 3 personalized 1-on-1 coaching sessions to support your teaching practice.
• Flexible, self-paced content
• Access to high-quality Life Lab vetted materials.
• 1 copy of The Growing Classroom garden activity guide.
• Digital Next Generation in the Garden K–2 lessons
• 🌱 Free seeds!
Additional Information
100% of program graduates noticed a marked significant improvement in their confidence and motivation to inspire a love of nature, healthy eating, and learning through garden-based education!
“This is the most beneficial class I've ever taken. My confidence and knowledge in the realm of garden based education has vastly increased! I'm so excited to be a Life Lab Certified Educator.”
-Certification Course Graduate
“This is the first virtual course I've had with coaching sessions, and it made a huge difference in how much I was able to get out of the course.”
-Certification Course Graduate
Life Lab has certified 208 Garden Educators to date!
Join us and bring learning
to life in the garden!
Next Cohort: 3/16/26-5/13/26
Sign up here to recive notifications about future cohorts.
Meet Our Life Lab Course Facilitator and Guest Educators
Kelsey Cerdas
Communications Manager
Alyssa Ellis
Coach