• 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 
• 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.

Ideally participants complete the series of courses over 1 year.  However, if there are extenuating circumstances participants can become certified if they take all required courses within 2 years.  The next set of courses will begin again in the fall of 2021 

• People who have taken a previous in-person Life Lab workshop within the last 3 years can count that workshop towards the certification. Workshops that transfer to the certification program:
  • Plant to Plate workshop → Plant to Plate Course
  • School Garden Program Sustainability workshop → School Garden Program Sustainability Course
  • The Growing Classroom → The Garden as a Classroom Course
• If you are interested in earning the full certification and want to use your completion of a previous workshop towards the certification, please contact Nicole at admin@lifelab.org for more information on how to register.

Upon successful completion of each course, 2 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 relicensure 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. If you are a Santa Cruz County Educator, we also offer a significant discount. Please email admin@lifelab.org or call (831) 400-2016 for details. 

We understand that plans can change.  Should you wish to cancel your registration, please submit, in writing, your cancellation to admin@lifelab.org.  Your registration fee will be refunded, less a $50 administrative fee.  Regretfully, we will not be able to refund any fees if cancellation is made within 1 week of the opening course date except, of course, in cases of illness or emergency.