Laguna Beach Unified School District

Hello,

I am an avid gardener and proponant of incorporating Ecology and Gardens into the learning environment.  I am a volunteer for the LBUSD Garden programs.  I have children in the Elementary and Secondary schools.  I am hopeful to help them continue to grow the programs to continue on through Jr. High and High School.  Currently I have been volunteering for the LBUSD programs for two years.  Prior to that some of my children attended Annelieses Schools in Laguna Beach and have volunteered there for over 8 years.  As my children grow I find that the curriculum required by the NGSS requires outdoor teaching and a more Ecology based learning envioronment, but the schools and the teachers are missing the tools to help them be successful.  I have a great passion and interest to help support my community to transition our schools to have a more vibrant and passionate Edible Schoolyard program.  My mentors at the schools my children attend are all previous attendees at ESYA. Penny Dressler, Kelly Osborne and at Annelieses Samantha Savage.

The Top of the World (TOW) Elementary Learning Garden serves 650 students in grades K -5. Its mission is to help students make the all-important connections between what they are learning in the classroom to the real world around them. 

Our TOW main garden area is a fenced 1/2-acre overlooking Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park, a nature preserve which covers 3,879 acres in the lower watershed of Aliso Creek. Sitting at 1,000 feet high, children in the gardens can experience the majesty of the natural world with the canyon and ocean landscape below. It is wonderful place to feel connected to our environment!

Our Thurston Learning Garden is small but has a lot of potential and serves 700+ children (6th to 8th grade).  We are hoping to grow this year from 4 raised beds and a garden shed, to include a composting station, additional fruit trees, a native plant marquee and a butterfly sitting area. Our greatest hope is to bring awareness to the native species and beauty that surrounds us in the Laguna Canyon while encouraging sustainable practices and an appreciation of our native gifts.