Patsy presentation for Public garden management session at APGA

1. Formal Education at Public Gardens Patsy Benveniste, Vice PresidentEducation and Community Programs 2011 APGA Presentation

6. What Does “Formal Education” Mean? Formal education in public gardens means lessons, activities and classes that Convene students (of any age) in a structured way under the guidance of a subject-qualified teacher Have defined educational goals with associated curricula and materials Are capable of evaluation and replication

7. What is its Use? Formal education programs Signal a garden’s philosophy, values and future direction Allow the garden to communicate in depth with the larger knowledge community Effect change

8. What is Formal Education’s Leverage Power? Benefits the garden’s ongoing operations Inspires and motivates short and long term goals Influences public discourse and action about the environment Shapes innovation in the education system Brings sustainable practices and behaviors to broad awareness

9. Who are the Audiences? Early Childhood Elementary school students After school students (Scouts, etc.) Child specialty High School students – in school and summer College students – in school and summer Post-graduate students Teachers, PreK-12 Adult life-long learners Adult landscape workers Adult certificate students Adult healthcare and design professionals Corporate sustainability managers Human service agency sites City and county environmental managers (forest preserve districts, natural areas managers)

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23. Publications for Professionals

35. Richard J. Daley College Arturo Velasquez West Side Technical Institute/ Continuing Education

38. Informal Programs Kids & Families Secondary, Undergrad and Grad Studies K-8 School Field Trips Teacher Training Library Collections Garden Site Education Science Camps & After-School Health & Wellness Adult Continuing Education

39. Community Garden Support Hort Therapy for Clients at Agency Sites School Garden Assistance Off-Site Education Adult workforce training & certification School-based teacher and student training Youth Training In Communities

40. Hybrid Teaching and Certification Programs Consultation, design and staff training services K-8 Curriculum dissemination & training Hybrid Education Cooperative, Multi-garden Initiatives Collaborative, multi-site adult courses Citizen Science programs

41. Hallmarks of Good Programs Place-based Project-based Developmentally appropriate Accessible Internally collaborative Responsive to external standards Evaluated

42. Basic Rules for Delivery and Management Education programs should be Reflective of the garden’s larger mission Able to take full advantage of the garden’s natural and designed spaces Sensitive to the audience Internally collaborative Connected with the larger community Business smart

43. Start with Staff Hire an educator first! Quality trumps quantity -- and sustains itself over time Find a way to offer professional development on a regular basis Put educators in dialogue with other department staff, no silos allowed Welcome volunteer expertise and assistance, but manage it carefully

44. Funding the Programs Garden-based programs are sexy to funders A balance of earned and raised revenue signals astute management Ambitious programs evolve over time: “under promise and over deliver” Understandand implementongoing program evaluation

46. “HUMAN HISTORY CAN BE UNDERSTOOD AS THE RACE BETWEEN CATASTROPHE AND EDUCATION.” H.G. Wells