The Governor of Wisconsin proclaimed Thursday, May 23, 2019 the very first Wisconsin School Garden Day!
Wisconsin School Garden Day honors and celebrates the educators, students, families, community leaders, and all people who have made garden-based education a reality and an asset in their schools and communities throughout the state.
Wisconsin is a leader in garden-based education. This day brings recognition to the people and programs giving Wisconsin’s youth access to innovative, hands-on educational opportunities.
You can participate in Wisconsin School Garden Day by engaging in some type of garden-based education activity or celebration on May 23, 2019 (or another day that week) in solidarity with youth garden programs across the state.
Whether your garden-based education program consists of a half acre of raised beds, some potted herbs, or seeds germinating on a countertop, you can participate in Wisconsin School Garden Day.
Wisconsin School Garden Day Celebrations:
There were many celebrations the week of May 23, 2019. Below are some highlights from around the state! You can read more about Wisconsin School Garden Day 2019 celebrations in our June 2019 newsletter.
- Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Elementary, Woodruff: A school garden picnic and apple tree planting
- Badger Rock Middle School, Madison: Garden-based education activities throughout the week, including a visit from Representative Shelia Stubbs
- Davis Child Care Center, Oshkosh: Planting day with 3 and 4 year olds
- Lowell Elementary School, Madison: School-wide garden work day, including a visit from Representative Chris Taylor
- Community GroundWorks Goodman Youth Farm, Madison: Garden activities with a local group of students
- Spence Elementary School, La Crosse: Transplanting seedlings into the garden and tasting strawberries and asparagus
Pre-Wisconsin School Garden Day celebration with Mayor Tim Kabat - Terri’s Treehouse, Woodruff: Working in raised beds and with their pollinator habitat
- Community GroundWorks Troy Kids Garden, Madison: Garden activities with a local group of students
- Lapham Elementary School, Madison: Activities with the Gardener-in-Residence
- GROW La Crosse Hamilton Garden: Discussion on garden-based education and lessons with local students
- Coon Valley Elementary School: Garden planting day
- Hintgen Elementary School, La Crosse: Garden lessons and activities
- Madison Children’s Museum: Planting bean seeds (2-3); Lilypad theater (11-11:30)
- Oshkosh schools: Sowing seeds and transplanting tomatoes and cucumbers with Growing Oshkosh; 1st graders are making seed tape
- Lake Superior Elementary School, Ashland: School-wide garden day
- Fenwood Montessori School, Milwaukee: Visit from Representative Christine Sinicki
- Highland Community School, Milwaukee: Garden Day activities
- Necedah School Cardinal Retreat and Garden: Garden planting and revealing new garden sign
- Meyer Middle School, River Falls: Planting and redistributing compost
- Lapham Elementary School, Madison: Garden lessons
- healthTIDE, Madison: Staff from this nonprofit organization will visit a local garden in support of garden-based education’s many health benefits
- McDill Elementary School, Stevens Point: Planting native prairie and pollinator plants with 4th graders
- Stephens Elementary School, Madison: Garden activities
- Campus Child Center at UW La Crosse: Planting playground garden with children and families
- Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Wausau: Hosting an art show and garden party where families will be planting kale seeds, decorating ceramic planters, and adding to the “Reasons Why We LOVE Our School Garden banner
- Blooming Grove Montessori, Madison: Preschoolers and elementary school students will plant beans and eat lunch in view of their newly planted garden beds
- Greendale High School: Garden tours and snacks from the garden after school and celebratory signs throughout the school reading, “I eat my lunch from our school garden”
- North Woods International School, La Crosse: Planting a PEACE-themed garden
- Webster Middle School, Cedarburg: Planting their first straw bale garden in their already well-established school garden area
- Cedarburg School District: Schools with gardens will have a presentation highlighting the garden and Wisconsin School Garden Day
