Donaldson Way: Growing and Learning in the Garden

Our mission is to create a balance between technology and connection to the earth.  The focus of our program is duel.  The importance of knowing how our food grows and the availability of time and space to engage with learning in an outdoor environment.  Our school is part of a larger group known as New Technology Network and we incorporate use of technology and project based learning in our classrooms grades K-5.  We are building a garden and outdoor classroom aimed at supporting these projects and teachers in a way that creates hands on, real world opportunies for our students. These planned projects include, pollinator gardens, edible flower gardens, social studies project based gardens., native plant gardens and butterfly gardens.  The infrastucture of the garden/classroom is nearly complete and we are now working to make it an accessible place for all learners; teachers, students, community members. Our space is large and we would like to add chikens and bees to our plans in the next few years as well. We are a school located in a small communty that is part of the Napa Valley.