Jump to section
Wild Ones Wayne County’s School Garden Committee has knowledgeable members who can assist educators in creating a native school garden from the initial idea phase to tips for easy long-term maintenance. School gardens are great teaching tools, especially when planted with native plants that attract native fauna, which students can observe to learn about lifecycles and the relationships between plants and wildlife.
What We Do
We provide guidance and connect schools with resources to create and maintain a native school garden. Additionally, we maintain a list of learning resources to help educators teach about how native plants are essential for our ecosystem. If you thinking of creating a school garden, we can help! Please reach out to [email protected], ATTN: School Garden Committee, with your ideas for a school garden and where you are in the process.
Helpful Resources
You can use the curated list of helpful links below to get more information on creating and maintaining a school garden.
Green Schoolyards America
Green Schoolyards America has a library of learning resources as well as free activity guides among other great resources for educators.
Xerces Society
The Xerces Society has great kids program as well as education resources, and classroom series playlists on their YouTube channel that all provide a wealth of knowledge for students and educators related to protecting invertebrates and their habitats.
EcoSchools U.S. NWF
The Nation Wildlife Federation offers a certification program for schools that nurtures environmental learning and climate action.
NEEF Education Resources
The National Environmental Education Federation (NEEF) provides resources that include toolkits, infographics and interactive online programs.
PollinatorLIVE
PollinatorLIVE provides webcasts and resources for programming, education, and teachers.
MAEOE
Michigan Outdoor Education Association (MAEOE) has numerous workshops and resources to connect outdoor and environmental educators.
Pesticide Laws and Alternatives
Beyond Pesticides provides resources on avoiding toxic pesticides, including information on the Michigan school pesticide law and alternatives to using pesticides in schools
Pollinator Partnership
Pollinator Partnership has numerous resources including School Garden Kits for purchase that can be used to help create or augment a garden habitat and provide lessons and handouts.
Homegrown National Park Kids
Homegrown National Park has partnered with WonderGrove Kids, to provide instructional animations on the importance of creating habitats for birds.
Symbiotic Schoolyard
Symbiotic Schoolyard is a biodiversity curriculum designed for middle-schoolers that is intended to work alongside a native planting project at the school.
Grant Information
If you have a native plant project or education opportunity that is in need of funding, grants are a way to supplement funding. Wild Ones Wayne County has a Native Plant Garden Grants Program that can help you navigate grant application processes and connect you with volunteer help.