Our gardens fosters a love of science and nature among kids who are living in some of New York City’s under resourced communities. Learning Gardens provides hands-on lessons for elementary and middle school kids during the school year, and group programs during the summer, teaching kids the fun of community gardening, growing food, understanding biodiversity of our urban environment and more.
5th – 8th Grades
Low Cost
The Learning Gardens Groups Program is a Science-based experiential program that offers youth the opportunities to understand the importance of urban gardens through hands-on lessons in garden maintenance, games, and fun science-based activities. Students practice horticultural techniques and learn concepts related to community gardening, growing food and healthy eating. Groups of up to 25 students are invited to register for this 3- or 5-week program.
For more information on Learning Gardens Group program or to become a partner, please contact Chrissy Word at cword@cityparksfoundation.org.
Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors
February – June
Free
The Learning Gardens Training Program engages high school students in five months of garden based learning, exploring topics including organic gardening, food justice, and urban sustainability. Students develop leadership skills and earn high school credit after completing 60 hours of instruction, with the opportunity to participate in a paid summer internship with City Parks Foundation.
Students, apply for 2025 here!
For more information on the Learning Gardens High School Program or to inquire about becoming a school partner, contact kleier@cityparksfoundation.org.
2nd-8th Grades
October – June (School partners can select from a full program of 14 lessons or an abbreviated program of 7 lessons)
Low Cost
The Learning Gardens Program is a science-based experiential program that offers youth the opportunity to understand the importance of urban gardens through hands-on lessons in garden maintenance, games and fun science-based activities. In one of our Learning Gardens, students practice horticultural techniques and prepare garden vegetables while learning concepts related to urban biodiversity, food justice and healthy eating. In the classroom, activities are designed to meet the needs of diverse learning styles and abilities in every lesson. Through the stimulating strategies of exploration and real work, we are committed to helping teachers and students meet academic objectives, mandated science curricula and the New York State Science Learning Standards.
For more information on Learning Gardens school program or to become a partner, please contact Stephanie Sullivan at ssullivan@cityparksfoundation.org.
Grove Hill Learning Garden
158th Street and Eagle Avenue in Morrisania, Bronx
Abib Newborn Learning Garden
495 Osborn Street in Brownsville, Brooklyn
ENY Success Gardens
449-446 Williams Avenue in East New York, Brooklyn
Liberty Learning Garden
173rd Street and 106th Avenue in South Jamaica, Queens
Generous private support for CityParks Learning Gardens is provided by The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation, ExpandED Schools through funds administered by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development in Partnership with the City Council, Glenn W. Bailey Foundation, The Linda B. and Howard S. Stern Family Foundation, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Rose M. Badgeley Charitable Trust, the Michael Tuch Foundation, and the Jane and Frances Stein Foundation. Public support is provided by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the NYC Council under the leadership of Speaker Adrienne Adams, with special thanks to Council Member Farah Louis, Council Member Julie Menin, Council Member Chi Ossé, Council Member Lynn Schulman, and Council Member Nantasha Williams. Supporting Sponsor Ernst & Young.
In Partnership with NYC Parks.
Solar Panels at our Learning Gardens
Our four learning gardens are becoming even greener in 2022 thanks to our partners Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. The new, off-grid solar installations and battery storage will expand and diversify existing environmental programming and education offerings to include food preparation demonstrations and additional capacity in garden maintenance and food crop production making it possible to provide beautiful open green spaces and more free fresh food to local community members. Additionally, 3 new electric vehicles provided by the Sun Club will further reduce our carbon footprint, providing clean transportation to our program teams.
Because of you, NYC’s kids are learning how to protect our environment and being introduced to a new sport for life, community volunteers are transforming a green space in need of care, and free world-class performing arts are being brought to our parks all around the city—all for free. When you support City Parks Foundation's free programs, you are helping our parks, our communities, and our city thrive.
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