By Governor’s Proclamation, Thursday, May 21, 2020 is Wisconsin School Garden Day!
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.
Now, more than ever, youth garden educators are displaying resilience, innovation, and creativity as schools and programs are finding ways to continue making gardens an essential part of children’s education.
You can participate in Wisconsin School Garden Day by engaging in some type of garden-based education activity or celebration on May 21, 2020 (or another day that week).
This year, we will be celebrating together separately. We encourage everyone to celebrate Wisconsin School Garden Day in a way that best fits them and/or their programs. Any activity that involves kids engaging with a garden or gardening–including, but not limited to, activities around planting, observing, art, literature, STEM, weeding, and planning–can be a way to celebrate Wisconsin School Garden Day.
There are so many ways to celebrate, even without access to a garden. You, your family, and/or your child can:
- Draw a picture of a plant, a flower, a pollinator, or a garden
- Write a short poem about gardens or gardening, like a haiku, an acrostic, or a limerick
- Go for a walk and observe neighbors’ gardens or the trees an animals in a local park
Whatever you do, tell us about it! Email us or share on Facebook/Twitter with the hashtag #WISchoolGardenDay!
If you’re looking for more inspiration:
- Scroll through last year’s participants to see what other programs have done to celebrate.
- Read through the Wisconsin School Garden Day activity guide for suggestions that are engaging and easy to implement at your school or program.
- Organizations from across the country have been developing activities and curricular materials to help families and educators incorporate garden-based learning–both in the garden and in the virtual classroom–in ways that are accessible to all children. You can find these high quality, free resources here.
We want to know what you have planned! If you know how you will celebrate Wisconsin School Garden Day, tell us about it! You can email Communications Director Renata Solan or share on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #WISchoolGardenDay.
Wisconsin School Garden Day Resources: 
Wisconsin School Garden Day Activity Guide: This guide has information to help you participate in Wisconsin School Garden Day in the garden and on social media. Please remember that these are just suggestions. The beauty of garden-based education is that there are infinite permutations and every program is unique. We encourage everyone participate in a way that best fits your program.
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Free & Discounted Seeds for Youth Garden Programs: This document lists companies and organizations that provide free and/or discounted seeds for youth garden programs. This list is not specific to any state or region, so you may also want to check with local stores and organizations if you are looking to source seeds for your youth garden program.
Wisconsin School Garden Day Celebrations:
Wisconsin schools, programs, educators, and early care sites are letting us know how they will celebrate Wisconsin School Garden Day this year. Check out their plans below!
These celebrations are in addition to many students across the state who will be celebrating in their homes, gardens, and neighborhoods with their families. If you know how you plan to celebrate Wisconsin School Garden Day, let us know!
- Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Elementary, Woodruff: Students will be receiving grab & go “grow kits” during the school’s lunch pick-up
- Badger Rock Middle School, Madison: Garden educator and farmer, Sarah Karlson of Rooted, will give a tour virtual of the school’s garden and greenhouse
- UW Extension, Milwaukee County: The Food Wise Program will share youth garden resources on social media accounts and invite Milwaukee County families to participate in the day
- Lansing Street Food Forest, Madison: Local youth garden educator, Emily Steinwehe of Blooming Grove Montessori, will arrange for neighborhood children to plant herbs in the new local food forest
- Blooming Grove Montessori, Madison: Preschoolers will be asked to bring a vegetable to their online meeting and do a lesson related to food and gardening.
- Great Outdoors Learning Center, Holmen: Staff and children will be gardening all week long at the ECE site
- Grow Academy, Madison: Instructor, Travus Maloney of Rooted, is recording and sharing a video on beehive inspection
- Colby Elementary School, Colby: 2nd graders will have a garden-related assignment
- Goodman Youth Farm, Madison: Rooted’s Goodman Youth Farm manager and training program participants are maintaining the farm so that it’s ready to welcome students whenever it is safe
- GROW, La Crosse
- Madison Children’s Museum, Madison: museum staff will celebrate by posting on social media and inviting families to participate in the day
Copy the Wisconsin School Garden Day 2020 logo to use at your program!
Copy the Wisconsin School Garden Day logo to use at your program!
