The 3rd Annual D.C. School Garden Week is scheduled for Oct. 5-10, 2009.  This week we celebrate and build awareness about DC's school gardens.

There are many different types of gardening projects in approximately 80 DC schools. These gardens provide wildlife habitat, absorb stormwater runoff, beautify schoolyards, nourish students' minds and bodies, and more. We encourage everyone to get out to explore and celebrate DC school gardens!

NEW! Click here for the Save the Date!

Visit this site often for updates!

AMONG THE EVENTS PLANNED

  1. School Garden Photo Contest! DC Schoolyard Greening is sponsoring a photo contest for all students in grades K-12.

    Click here to download the flyer and registration form.

    Click here to enter the contest via our online form (you must submit the photos via email separately).

    A panel of judges will announce the winners from each category and award prizes to the students at the D.C. School Garden Week Kick Off event October 5. Winning photos will be displayed at the MLK Public Library and at select schools during the remainder of the school year.

    All submissions must be received by September 21, 2009.

  • Event: DC School Garden Week Kick-Off
    Come celebrate the beginning of DC School Garden Week! We will be planting a garden and presenting awards to our photo contest winners.
    Date    : October 5
    Time: TBD
     Location: TBD
  • Event: 6th Annual Fall Schoolyards Tour
    Come and see exemplary and diverse greening projects at various DC schools. At the sites, you will learn how these outdoor spaces can easily be integrated into the teaching curriculum, and get ideas for how to start your own school project. Participants have the option to travel via bicycle or van.

     Date: Saturday, October 10
    Time: 9:00am-3:00pm
     Locations: TBD
    Fee: $20 before Sept 30; $25 after Sept 30 (includes lunch and van transportation). DCEEC members receive $5 discount.
    Registration: By October 5th.

  • Event: Capitol Hill Walking Tour of School Gardens TENTATIVE
    Three elementary schools in the Capitol Hill area welcome you to an "open garden." In this self-paced walking tour, discover how three different elementary schools in the Capitol Hill area are planning and planting educational gardens and greening their schoolyards. Visit one or visit all three, but come away with new ideas.
     Date: Saturday, October 10
    NEW Time: anytime from 10:00am-12:00pm
    Locations    : Brent ES (301 North Carolina Ave, SE), Tyler ES (1001 G St, SE), and Watkins ES (420 12th St, SE)
    Information: Contact Cheval Opp or call 703-395-1501.


  • Event:  Garden Volunteer Workdays
    What a better way to celebrate school gardens than by making sure that it looks its best!  Gardens need constant care and attention, something that can be left on the end of a to-do list of school priorities.  This week, let's put it high on the list! 

    Schools: Are you interested in having volunteers help you with your school garden?  If so, register your volunteer event with Grace (click here) so potential volunteers can get out and garden with you.  We will be posting your contact info here so volunteers can find you.

    Volunteers: Are you interested in volunteering during DC School Garden Week? Email the site leaders below for more information about their events.

HOST AN EVENT AT YOUR SCHOOL

Please join us in this great effort to celebrate the success of school gardens in Washington, D.C. Let us know how you plan to participate! You can...

  • Plant some fall seeds or bulbs
  • Host a garden party
  • Use your schoolyard as an outdoor classroom for a day
  • Organize some volunteers to do some garden maintenance
  • Plan on starting a new garden in the spring

    Whatever you decide to do, please tell us about it!

PLANNING MATERIALS

  • Click here for the Save the Date.
  • Click here for quick ideas to Get Out and Garden!
  • Click here for a list of garden curricula on the Web compiled by the National Environmental Education Foundation.

PRESS

  • forthcoming!

 

PARTNERS IN D.C. SCHOOL GARDEN WEEK

As of June 24 , 2009

 

Click here to read about the past DC School Garden Week events.

For more information, email Grace Manubay, DCEEC Co-President, or call 202-236-5856.