Educational Organizations

The following organizations offer educational and organizational resources and expertise in specific subject areas:

American Community Gardening Association
http://www.communitygarden.org
ACGA is a non-profit organization that supports school and community gardens with grant money, seeds and study materials.

California Department of Education
http://www.cde.ca.gov/index.asp
Publishes Child’s Garden of Standards which links specific garden activities to academic standards
To view publication: http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/pn/rc/ap/pubdisplay.aspx?ID=001579
Ordering information: http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/pn/rc/orderinfo.asp

California Department of Food and Agriculture
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/kids/
Kids page with many garden based activities

California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom
http://www.cfaitc.org/
Includes Lesson Plans, Resources, and Imagine this writing contest for students

California School Garden Network
http://www.csgn.org/index.php
A collaborative effort of a number of educational institutions and corporate partners committed to enhancing learning through the use of teaching gardens in schools.
http://www.csgn.org/curriculum.php
Link to specific lessons many with grade and California State standards.

California Science Teachers Association
http://www.cascience.org
Represents science educators statewide - in every science discipline at every grade level. Publishes a bi-monthly newspaper packed with news, information, resources, ideas, and activities of current interest to science educators.

Center for Ecoliteracy 
http://www.ecoliteracy.org
Professional development for schools wanting to create learning connections between healthy school food and curriculum

Earthbox
www.earthbox.com
Teachers can use the EarthBox and its accompanying curriculum to teach cross-curriculum, standards-based lessons that excite students and engage them in hands-on activities.

The Growing Connection
www.thegrowingconnection.org
School gardening programs in the U.S., Ghana, Mexico and Nicaragua grow vegetables in an EarthBox system. Students grow food, conduct horticultural experiments and share their lessons and experiences with each other using IT connectivity.

Junior Master Gardener
http://www.jmgkids.us
Information and monthly newsletter

Life Lab Science Program
http://www.lifelab.org
Life Lab helps schools integrate gardens into their science and nutrition curriculum. Numerous publications available. Gardencoordinator@lifelab.org

National Arbor Day Foundation
http://www.arborday.org
Foundation provides trees for Arbor Day plantings, educational and resource materials.

National Audubon Society
http://www.audubon.org
Information on attracting birds and water fowl to your garden

National Gardening Association
http://ww.nga.com
NGA offers books on youth gardening and a bi-monthly magazine with features on children’s gardening programs nationwide. NGA sponsors a grant program that honors noteworthy youth gardening projects. Winners receive grants of materials and supplies for their gardens.

National Wildlife Federation
Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program
http://www.sdcwf.org/sdcwf
Information on wildlife and suggestions on how to attract wildlife to your garden. By meeting certain criteria, your garden can be designated a wildlife preserve.

Nature's Partners: Pollinators, Plants and You
http://www.nappc.org/curriculum/
An inquiry learning-based curriculum for grades 3 through 6.

San Diego Audubon Society
http://www.sandiegoaudubon.org/
Resource for information on birds

San Diego County Water Authority http://www.sdcwa.org/teachers
Numerous programs and materials for teachers in San Diego County, elementary and secondary schools

San Diego Natural History Museum
http://www.sdnhm.org/
Bird and butterfly checklists, online field guides, and teacher’s guides on many topics. Resource to purchase San Diego County Bird Atlas.

University of California Cooperative Extension County of San Diego School Gardens
http://cesandiego.ucdavis.edu
Information on school gardens and agriculture in San Diego County

University of Arizona
http://insected.arizona.edu/uli.htm
Using live insects in elementary classrooms

Youth Nutrition Education Programs
http://sandiego4h.ucdavis.edu/Youth_Nutrition_Education.htm
Gardening curriculum connecting gardening with nutrition