Become a confident and knowledgeable garden educator that inspires a love of learning, an appreciation of healthy food, and connection to nature in every child through garden-based education! Throughout all 4 courses participants will learn how to set up their garden classroom as a safe and welcoming space that honors diversity and inclusion while supporting each child’s social and emotional wellbeing. We will learn gardening tips and tricks with children while also demonstrating activities that engage children in using their senses to explore the natural world. We will learn how to use a garden to breathe life into standards-based lessons based on Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Common Core Language Arts and Math. Additionally, we will experience tried-and-true Life Lab recipes for grades K-6 and  explore effective ways to teach nutrition that encourage kids to eat more fruits and vegetables. In the last course, we will discuss key elements of building a strong school garden culture, sustainable school garden program models, planning tools to align year-round garden activities with academic and garden care goals, methods for assessing garden programs, and strategies for increasing funding.  This certification series is open to anyone seeking to become a Life Lab-certified garden educator.  No experience or degree is required to sign up.

Graduate education units available.

Each course is 4 weeks long and includes:

• 4 synchronous virtual sessions that include discussions, sharing of resources, hands-on demonstration lessons, and community building.  These sessions are live and interactive and participants should expect to actively participate in discussion groups and demonstration lessons.
• Asynchronous content that can be completed on your own time 
• Access to high-quality Life Lab vetted materials
• 1 copy of The Growing Classroom garden activity guide
• Digital copies of Life Lab’s newly released Next Generation in the Garden lessons for K-2.
• 3 one-on-one coaching sessions that include specific feedback and reflection questions to support your teaching practice. 
• Opportunity to earn 8 University of the Pacific graduate credit hours for the full series for an additional fee. 
• Free Seeds!

• Complete all 4 courses in the series:
  • Building Connections in the Garden
  • The Garden as a Classroom
  • Plant to Plate
  • School Garden Program Sustainability
  •  

• Demonstrate positive and effective instruction in the coaching session for each course. Participants will model teach relevant lessons and receive feedback and time to reflect with a personal coach.
• Make a good faith effort to attend all synchronous sessions in each course (4 per course)
• Complete a final reflection on the Life Lab approach to garden-based education, and how it applies to your work and community after all 4 courses have been completed.

You will earn the distinction of being a Life Lab Certified Garden Educator upon successful completion of all the requirements!

Accommodations:

Participants who need special accommodations please contact Kelsey at [email protected] or (831)200-1864

Upon successful completion of the full series, 8 University of the Pacific graduate education credits can be earned for an additional fee of $80 per credit hour, payable to University of the Pacific.  Most people seeking these credits are educators who are looking to increase their salary on a credit-based pay scale or for re-licensure credit.  Most institutions do not accept UofP credits towards a specific graduate degree however, if there is a specific program you intend to pursue, it may be worth checking with that institution.

Life Lab offers a limited number of course fee reductions based on need and anticipated impact. To apply for financial assistance, please fill out this Google Form. Scholarship application will be reviewed on a rolling basis between now and December 1st, 2022 or until all funds have been awarded.

*All funds have been awarded as of December 1, 2022 .

We understand plans can change. Should you wish to drop the series before January 9th, 2023 you will be issued a full refund less an administrative fee.

For cancellations after January 9th, 2023, you will be issued a full refund (less an administrative fee) ONLY if we are only able to fill your spot by someone else. We understand this is a big commitment, please consider the requirements of all 4 courses before joining the certification series.