KINGSTON, R.I. – September 20, 2019 – Teachers, informal educators, school administrators, parents and others are encouraged to attend the URI School Garden Conference to learn how to use gardens at schools as learning platforms to build student and community engagement and foster academic achievement and environmental stewardship.
The all-day conference, sponsored by University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension, will be held Saturday, Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the URI Kingston campus.
According to conference planners Kate Venturini of URI Cooperative Extension and landscape architect Kate Lacouture, participants will learn how to engage students in school gardens where curriculum concepts come alive through practical application. Attendees will also learn about resources to help them set up a simple composting operation and how to connect their garden to the school cafeteria.
“The conference is designed to empower educators to meet their academic goals by engaging students in outdoor classrooms. It’s a great way to learn more about the value of a school garden in fostering academic achievement in an engaging and memorable way,” said Venturini. “We’ve brought together school garden experts to inspire and support educators in garden-based learning. It will be an interactive experience, with participants involved in hands-on activities and idea sharing.”
The keynote speaker will be Katrina Heron, former director of the Edible Schoolyard Project, who will discuss her experience advocating for what she calls “edible education.” She will also interview Rogers High School teacher Bethany Borgueta about implementing the Edible Schoolyard model as part of a dynamic teaching approach in Newport.
Following the keynote, sessions and panels will offer practical tips for student engagement in school gardens and offer approaches to grant writing and fundraising in support of school gardens and other outdoor learning environments. A lunchtime exhibitor fair will highlight a wide range of local resources for schools and their gardens.
The conference registration fee is $65, which includes refreshments, lunch and conference materials. Registration deadline is Oct. 17. A limited number of need-based scholarships, provided by the URI Master Gardener Program, are available for teachers, school personnel and volunteers involved with school garden programs.
For more information or to register, visit https://web.uri.edu/sgi/conference/ or call 401-874-2900 or email coopext@uri.edu.