School Gardens Program

School gardens, food gardens and urban parks are important green spaces for learning, discovery and exploration.

These living classrooms help each of us reconnect with the natural world through observation and exploration of biodiversity, plant life, nature cycles and food literacy. Studies have highighted the impact of both gardening, and time spent in nature’s influence on improved mental, physical and emotional health.

Gardening can also teach us valuable lessons about reciprocity, our local food systems, and how it contributes to healthier food choices and less waste.

The School Gardens Program strives to provide equitable access, to connect children and youth to their food, classmates, nature, and community by delivering inclusive and interactive programming on environmental and food literacy education for K-12 schools, municipalities, and not-for-profit organizations during the year.

For inquiries or to book a specific type of program, please email the School Gardens Program Coordinator, Sharlene at Sharlene@spec.bc.ca or fill out and submit the program booking request form.

Explore the online education platform Neighbourhood Nature School. A social space where anyone can participate, from the comfort of their home and outside in nature. This resource is ideal for educators and parents seeking nature-based lessons and activities.

NEW! After School Garden Clubs

The SPEC School Gardens Program is seeking inner city schools to participate in after school garden clubs (between 3 to 5pm) either weekly or bi-monthly during the school year.

This is a free program for K-12 schools that meet the criteria:

1. Must be an inner city school or demonstrate lack of funding for environmental literacy programs

2. K-12 school that is situated in Vancouver (excluding North and West Vancouver) and Richmond

3. Must have an existing school garden or community garden space for lessons and activities.

To apply, please fill out the form. You will be contacted byt the School Gardens Program Coordinator for a follow up call.

Program Details

Overview

Operates during the school year and summer months.
Includes 45 minute to 3 hour facilitated sessions/workshops
Free curriculum resources
With a focus on the BC Curriculum

Programs

Environmental Education (K-12)
Out-of-School Care (K-7)
Garden Site Assessments
Teacher ProD Workshops (K-12)
Training/mentorship for educators
Specialized Workshops (all ages)
Climate Friendly Design

Topics

Climate Friendly Gardening
First Peoples Principles
Garden Design/Planning
Life/Seasonal Cycles
Insects
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Organic Gardening practices
Pollination
Seed Saving
Soil Science
STEM linked to the BC Curriculum

Impact

SPEC volunteers started the School Gardens Program in Vancouver in 2008 to introduce food gardens and education to school age children and youth. Since the inception of the program, we have helped establish food gardens, supported food literacy, and led environmental education lessons/workshops in over 25+ different schools and organizations. The Program continues to adapt and expand to other communities and school districts to proactively respond to both educator needs and current environmental issues.

Schools and Organizations We've Worked With:

Annie B. Jamieson Elementary – Admiral Seymour Elementary – Bayview Community School – Britannia Community Elementary – Britannia Secondary – Burnaby Village Museum – Carnarvon Elementary – Champlain Heights Community School – David Livingstone Elementary – Eastside Family Place – École des Colibris – Garibaldi Annex – General Brock Elementary – Grauer Elementary – Grandview Elementary – Henry Hudson Elementary School – Hillcrest Community Centre – Insight Global Education – John Norquay Elementary – KidSafe Project Society – Kitsilano Secondary School – L’Ecole Bilingue – Little Mountain Neighbourhood House – Lord Selkirk Elementary – Queen Elizabeth Elementary – Queen Mary Elementary – Richmond Youth Addition Services Society – Riley Park Community Garden – Samuel Brighouse Elementary – Simon Fraser Elementary – Sir Wilfred Grenfell Community School – Southlands Elementary – St. George’s School – Thunderbird Elementary -Tillicum Community Annex School – UBC Botanical Garden

insect scavenger hunt — bug scavenger hunt

Testimonials

"I have been thoroughly impressed with the garden workshops that my class has participated in this spring, including the lesson planning, hands-on learning, student engagement, and the passionate and knowledgeable educators who have led the School Gardens Program. Not only were the students able to participate in preparing and introducing new seeds into the school’s garden beds, but our students were then also connected to the near-by community garden, so as to engage with tangible learning opportunities each week. We explored everything from pollinators, to insects, to Indigenous medicinal plants, to symbiotic relationships in the garden, and much more. The school garden’s program facilitator had age appropriate learning materials to enhance every one of their lessons."

Children holding fennel that was pulled out of the ground from the school gardens.

Teacher Testimonial

Designer

The outdoor hands-on learning, eco-literacy, awareness of food systems, and current environmental challenges that the SGP focuses on is greatly beneficial for kids and youth as they learn about climate change and ways to live more sustainably. I have seen first-hand how the program builds confidence, sparks curiosity, and encourages student-led learning and teamwork. I cannot say enough good things about the program as a volunteer, it greatly benefits the school and surrounding community, the students, and the volunteers.

Robyn Zettler

Designer

Supporters

Acme Delivery Company

BC Community Gaming Grant

Tides Foundation

New Horizons Grant

School Parents and Individual Donors

Curriculum Resource: Green Thumbs at School

SPEC believes quality education on food literacy should be accessible to all. That’s why we created Green Thumbs at School: SPEC Food Garden Lesson Book, a free resource. The lesson book consists of 9 lesson plans for teachers with activity sheets on soils, worms, composting, seeds, pollinators, and more.

The lessons support the BC Ministry of Education Integrated Resource Package (IRP) Guidelines for Science. Several of these lessons have been translated to French and can find them here: Lesson 3, lesson 7, lesson 9, and lesson 8 on insect anatomy and insect life cycles.

The development of the Green Thumbs at School lesson book was made possible by funding provided by the Vancouver Foundation.

Stay tuned for a revised, grade specific curricular resource available in the Winter 2026.

Garden Site Assessments: For New and Existing Outdoor Learning Spaces

SPEC provides one-on-one consultations for K-12 schools and not-for-profit organizations with either a proposed or existing garden through a site assessment. Site Assessments are offered each September to early October, and March only. The consultation consists of an on-site visit to discuss and determine best location, aspect, water sources, crop planning, addressing climate adaptability, composting systems, infastructure, and funding sources. Virtual site assessments are available as well (pricing varies).

A follow-up written report is included. Consultations are $150. Depending on location, additional fees will be added for travel.

Please choose from one of two options for the site visit questionnaire.

Dive Deeper

Here are some great resources to help you dive deeper into gardening and food literacy or learn even more about the School Gardens Program.

Resources

Vancouver Board of Education School Food Garden Policy
West Coast Seeds Gardening Basics
West Coast Seeds Fall & Winter Planting Guide
West Coast Seeds Planting Chart
West Coast Seeds Gardening Guide
Environmental Youth Alliance – Seedlings and Workshops for School Communities
Site Assessment Guide by Melissa Iverson

Media

Vancouver School Board news article “Creating a Buzz about School Gardens”.
Watch CBC’s clip/article on our Program.
Starting Your Sustainable Urban Garden – Farm Folk City Folk
View our School Gardens video on our YouTube page