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.
Grant Information
Wild Ones Grants
Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program
The Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program (SFE) is named for Wild Ones lifetime Honorary Director Lorrie Otto, the founding inspiration for Wild Ones, Native Plants, Natural Landscapes, Ltd. Lorrie’s life work with students, young and old, was to cultivate wonder, reverence and awe for Nature and all Her creatures. Today, the SFE program provides meaningful learning opportunities that connect youth to nature and the Wild Ones mission. For more than 25 years, this vital Wild Ones donor-funded program has provided grants ranging from $100 to $500 for native plant gardens and landscaping projects throughout the United States. The funds are designated for acquiring native plants and seeds for outdoor learning areas that engage youth (preschool to high school) directly in planning, planting and caring for native plant gardens. Examples include
- pollinator gardens,
- rain gardens to improve water quality,
- tallgrass prairies,
- native plant monarch waystations featuring community science activities,
- and sensory and natural playgrounds.
For information on how to apply, please see the Seeds for Education Program page
Other Grants
These grants are provided by organizations outside of Wild Ones, but we are happy to help you with the application process to increase your chances of getting the grant money that you need for your school.
Wildflower Association of Michigan
The Wildflower Association of Michigan (WAM) annual WAM Grant helps provide funds to plant, seed and maintain native plantings as well as site preparation and signage. Their focus is on education, especially for youth.
KidsGardening.org
KidsGardening.org has multiple grant opportunities each with slightly different focuses, but all with the primary goal of education for kids through gardens.
Southeast MI Butterfly Association
The Southeast Michigan Butterfly Association (SEMBA) awards three grants per year in order to help establish or expand a community butterfly garden