Openlands - Green School Programs

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School Programs

In urban areas like Chicago, children need safe and creative places to learn and play. In fact research shows that students are happier in classrooms with plants. Openlands' Green School Programs, including the Green Teacher Network (GTN), Building School Gardens, and The Kitchen [Community] Learning Gardens support the creation and use of school gardens by teachers and students during and after school hours.

Building School Gardens

Started during the 2006–07 school year, Building School Gardens installs gardens at Chicago public schools to achieve the following purposes:

Improving school campuses as vital open space for Chicago residents;
Developing a curriculum connection in the classroom to the garden;
Utilizing art as a part of the garden; and
Encouraging student involvement in creating, installing and maintaining the garden.

Green Teacher Network (GTN)

Turn your school garden or classroom windowsill into a living laboratory by joining the Green Teacher Network (GTN), an innovative collaboration that presents plant-related, standards-based lessons for teaching math, science, reading, social studies, and other subjects. (Click here to download the 2011 Green Teacher Network flyer.)

The Kitchen [Community] Learning Gardens

The Kitchen [Community] is a non-profit organization with the mission to connect kids to real food by creating functional, innovative and playful Learning Gardens in schools across the country. These gardens are highly conducive to learning and serve as excellent teacher tools.

The Kitchen [Community] collaborates with Openlands to provide garden program support, which includes teacher training, lesson plans and workshops. Click here for an interactive map displaying participating schools in Chicago.

Eco Explorations

Openlands works with regional elementary and high schools to provide a curriculum-based educational experience at the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve called “Eco Explorations.” Students in 3rd, 4th, 5th, and high school grades visit the Preserve in the fall and spring each school year for activities and nature observation, supported by in-classroom activities that explore science concepts.