Planning, building and making new spaces is super fun and a great way to engage people. After the build is over, then what? Reasons to activate a space:
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keep it looking good
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let folks know it is there
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let folks know WHAT is in the space
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why is the space unique to that property
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use the space to teach a curriculum
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what cool things can folks learn from the space
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how can the space be used
At nature+play designs, we are just as excited to help you learn how to use the outdoor spaces to promote play, learning and well-being, as we are in helping get the features in the ground. Learn about the different ways we can support you and your team.
SCHOOL
GARDENS
Garden spaces to meet every need - There are so many great examples of gardens to meet a variety of needs and goals:
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Vegetables- raised beds, ground level beds
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Sensory & tactile - plants to touch, feel, smell, weave and enjoy
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Butterflies - Butterflies and lady bugs are great introductions to children, so adding locally sourced flowering plants attract wildlife
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Local ecosystem habitat - use native plants and materials to replicate native habitat (great for animals in their habitat studies)
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Food forest - teaching kids where their food comes from can be a powerful lesson with easy to grown and maintain plants
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Rock cycle garden - use native rocks/stones to demonstrate the rock cycle (igenious, sedimentary, metamorphic & plant with native rock garden plants)
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Stormwater gardens - capture roof runoff into rain gardens, bioswales or wetland ecosystems
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Experiential / Experimental gardens - create garden spaces that are actively used to test ideas and showcase creativity
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Art gardens - create spaces with frames and display structures to showcase temporary and/or permanent area
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Learning gardens - create features to showcase projects, units and activities for students, such as year-long change of seasons projects, weather observations, seasonal precipitation calculations, etc.
Garden programming - Learn how to use gardens throughout the year to meet curricula, horticultural therapy, social/emotional goals and more:
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Stakeholder meetings - facilitate stakeholder discussions to determine a good fit for your school programming and features on the campus
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Recess based programming- short activities to run at lunch recess to encourage use and exploration of the gardens
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After school clubs - there are several options for after school clubs such as garden, environmental, STEM/STEAM clubs
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Community work parties - scheduled events throughout the year to use and maintain the various garden areas
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Community partners - network to meet partners who may be interested in supporting your garden features (donations, service days, events, etc.)