Educator Certification Program:
Become a Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator!
Building on Life Lab’s 40 years of experience in the school garden movement, we’ve updated and put together a series of 4 virtual courses that will guide and support educators in becoming a Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator. Upon completion of the full series of 4 courses, participants will receive a certificate and the distinction of being a Life Lab – Certified Garden Educator! Due to demand, educators must sign up for the full series. We are not offering individual course sign-ups at this time.
$1,400 for all 4 courses and the certification
Registration Opens January 25th, 2022
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:
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 Han at admin@lifelab.org or (831) 400 – 2016
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 click FinancialAssistanceApp or you can fill out this Google Form.
We understand plans can change. Should you wish to drop the series before February 23rd, 2022 you will be issued a full refund less an administrative fee.
For cancellations after February 23rd, 2022, 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.
Specific details for each course can be found here
Develop a child’s love of nature and support their social emotional wellbeing through garden-based activities. Participants in this course will learn how to set up their garden classroom as a safe and welcoming space that is inclusive and respectful of all living things. 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. Additionally, we will explore best practices in mindfulness and social emotional learning through an equity lens and how to incorporate this into the garden classroom.
Live Sessions:
Wednesdays 3:30 - 5:00 PST
March 9th
March 16th
March 23rd
March 30th
Learn 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. Participants in this course will also explore best practices for establishing and maintaining a positive, engaging culture of learning and fun in a garden setting. We will learn how to set the tone for equitable and inclusive instruction; garden class routines; and specific techniques to maximize student engagement and participation using Life Lab’s The Growing Classroom activity guide for grades K-6 and our newly released NGSS-aligned lessons.
Live Sessions:
Wednesdays 3:30 - 5:00 PST
April 6th
April 13th
April 20th
April 27th
Make the connection from seed to table in this empowering course! Using tried-and-true Life Lab lessons and recipes for grades K-8, participants will explore effective ways to teach nutrition and encourage kids to eat more fruits and vegetables through hands-on garden-based activities. We will demonstrate important routines for preparing and enjoying healthy food with kids such as, harvesting from the garden, kitchen and garden tool safety, and group and materials management. We will also learn different approaches to crop planning, composting and regenerative agriculture that inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.
Live Sessions:
Wednesdays 3:30 - 5:00 PST
May 4th
May 11th
May 18th
May 25th
Why do some school gardens take root and become well-established, while others struggle? In this course, we will discuss key elements of building a strong school garden culture. Together, we’ll explore different, 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.
Live Sessions:
Wednesdays 3:30 - 5:00 PST
June 1st
June 8th
June 15th
June 22nd
Registration Opens January 25th, 2022
Students’ Enthusiasm
Saw marked improvements in students’ enthusiasm for learning after attending our workshops, in 2019.
Social & Emotional Skills
Saw marked improvements in students’ social and emotional skills (i.e. interpersonal skills, responsibility, cooperation) after attending our workshops, in 2019.
*Number reflects participants of in-person workshops, virtual workshops and webinars since 2013
*Number reflects students reached as reported by participants of in-person workshops, virtual workshops and webinars since 2016
At Life Lab, we believe the world needs informed, inspired, creative, and collaborative leaders, ready with the skills and the motivation they need to work for justice, sustainability, and healthy communities. And we believe that the garden is an ideal space for growing just such leaders! Now, more than ever, we need dedicated educators to lead children in cultivating a love of learning, healthy food and connection to our natural world through garden-based education.
Upon completion of the 4 courses, participants will receive a certificate and the distinction of being a Life Lab-Certified Garden Educator.
The courses are designed to support leading students in face-to-face learning, however modifications for potential distance learning opportunities will be embedded in each course while COVID restrictions are still a reality. University of the Pacific graduate education credits are available (8 credits for the entire certification series)
Thanks for joining Life Lab in supporting garden-based education!