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Similar to Anne we have challenges with creeping weeds.  I honestly don't even know what the weed is, but it creeps in and takes over.  The best thing I have found is pulling the weed out of the garden area.  Generally it just creeps in  and will take over if not maintained.  Persistence has been the best cure for this.

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Common Theme: Buy In (parents, teachers, administration), Time, and Funding

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Same challenge with weeds and crab grass, like Anne S...and I tried with cardboard and so far it has worked for 8 months. I cleaned up first, pulling them out...then placed cardboard around!

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Same challenge with weeds and crab grass, like Anne S...and I tried with cardboard and so far it has worked for 8 months. I cleaned up first, pulling them out...then placed cardboard around!

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Same issue like Anne N, nobody is taking responsibility on Green Classroom / full time now. After covid, even our green team is in stand by.

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Same issue like Anne N, nobody is taking responsibility on Green Classroom / full time now. After covid, even our green team is in stand by.

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Mc

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How do you rally students and community members to support garden work during the summer months when the students are out of school?

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Getting teachers to realize that garden learning is very valuable and to make time for it. Getting funding.

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Yes, several similar challenges to most of the videos.

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What are some common hemes you observed?

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What are some common hemes you observed?

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Commitment of time, funding and the value of hands on learning.

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Both our videos and the videos we were assigned show us the impact that gardens and working outside can have on students

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Something that I have found very valuable in my garden practice is the theory that the classroom is an experimental place. While this might not apply for some of my classmates who are providing food for cafeterias and the surrounding community, I've found that showing my humanity in management of weeds encourages student participation in the class and garden.

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Could a summer garden club for students be started? Does your school district have a community education department that could use the garden for programs and classes for kids? How about Master Gardeners? They might be able to use the garden for educational purposes. I am a teacher with our school district childcare, so our program takes care of the garden all summer.

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I would like to hear how experienced school gardeners built the support of their school and community. I am in the process of getting a garden program started and would like to avoid pitfalls.

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The common theme I found was that the greatest challenge was to have community involvement. Many of us are trying to find that connection with our community; parents, experts, and school staff. I believe the ultimate goal is to build a network of trust and collaboration so we can have many opportunities for our students.  

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The common theme I found was that the greatest challenge was to have community involvement. Many of us are trying to find that connection with our community; parents, experts, and school staff. I believe the ultimate goal is to build a network of trust and collaboration so we can have many opportunities for our students.  

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The importance of patience and commitment.  

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The importance of patience and commitment.  

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Whether it is taking the time to build trust with community partners, or to get a curriculum approved, or to receive funding, most successful programs take time.

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For gardens in our school district, the lack of continuity in leadership that Brenda described is a common issue.  We have not faced that yet since we are still young, but I am very conscious of it and hopeful that we can build in some ways to have shared ownership so that the garden's success does not depend on just one person.

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Most everyone had the issue of keeping the community interested, invested, and involved in keeping a program going. It can take a lot of effort from one person or can be made easier with a group of people supporting it. That is the same issue I have seen myself with outdoor classrooms that I have tried to be part of through the garden where I work.

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I see a lot of people with getting a team or multiple people involved in the space so that when one person leaves someone else can pick up where they left off. Without a team, a program or a space can often lose the momentum it is gaining.

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We have a program in Alabama through the AL Wildlife Federation called Outdoor Classrooms. They are great at getting a space started and well supported by guiding the development of the project from the beginning and creating the needed relationships.

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https://www.alabamawildlife.org/classroom/

Not sure what you have for your state, but Alabama schools have this to use.

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The Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program provides free technical and organizational assistance for schools who wish to create a sustainable outdoor classroom site to be used as an orange links below or the Quick Links on the right for more info. effective educational tool for hands-on, outdoor learning opportunities.

Click on the

**NEW** Student Exploration Links - Plants, Wildlife, and Learning Stations
These new webpages are packed with educational information about species of plants and wildlife that are commonly found in outdoor classrooms as well as topical information related to the various learning stations in your outdoor classroom.Learn more...

Plant Identification Signs with QR Codes Connected to Educational Webpages **NEW**
Create permanent plant identification signs for the plants in your outdoor classroom with customized QR Codes that link to webpages on AWF's website for common plant species. Each plant ID webpage includes a description of the plant, photos, the ecological benefits it provides, and maintenance tips for this plant species.Learn more...

What is a native species? An invasive species? Why should you choose one over the other? Learn about why it is important to plant native plant species instead of non-native species and find out which species are native in your area.Learn more...

Use our new Field Investigation Activities & Interactive Lesson Plans to provide fun, hands-on, inquiry-based outdoor activities for your students that help teach the Alabama Department of Education's Life Science Standards.
Learn more...

The purpose of the Alabama Outdoor Classroom Box Turtle Research Program is to provide an opportunity for schools that have developed box turtle habitats through the Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program to research and study the captive box turtles that are in their care. Students collect and record gender, size and brumation data throughout the school year, which will provide valuable information in order to better understand growth and brumation patterns of Eastern box turtles across Alabama. Learn more...

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The Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program provides free technical and organizational assistance for schools who wish to create a sustainable outdoor classroom site to be used as an orange links below or the Quick Links on the right for more info. effective educational tool for hands-on, outdoor learning opportunities.

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Common theme: Keeping gardens safe from vandalism or from being ruined by construction or reconstruction of school building! I felt so bad for Clearview Elem in my same county. :(. I work at an alternative high school near a major roadway and sometimes the school grounds has unwelcomed visitors or weekend visitors. :/

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Great lccal resource for wildlife conservation, native plantings, marsh protections, and hiking and outdoor exploration.

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3701 Lockheed Blvd.
Alexandria, VA,

Map of Huntley Meadows Park
Finding the Park

Due to known issues with GPS units, please use the street address if you are following GPS to the park.

Huntley Meadows has three entrances. The main entrance is at 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria VA 22306. There is a parking lot, and during Visitor Center open hours there is access to restrooms, an exhibit area, and staff naturalists. There is a small parking area at 6901 South Kings Highway, Alexandria, Va., that leads to a paved, one-mile woodland hike-bike trail. Historic Huntley is at 6918 Harrison Lane, Alexandria Va.

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3701 Lockheed Blvd. Alexandria, VA, Map of Huntley Meadows Park Due to known issues with GPS units, please use the street address if you are following GPS to the park. Huntley Meadows has three entrances. The main entrance is at 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria VA 22306.

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When demolished by construction or damaged in building renovations?

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the involvement of the entire community so that the garden is respected and appreciated by all.

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the involvement of the entire community so that the garden is respected and appreciated by all.

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Seems like everyone needs more time either to make community connections, raise funds, or just get things done. Maintaining continuity in a program is a challenge and when most of the responsibility falls on one person, it is a problem if that person moves on to a different job or phase of life.

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A common theme is developing a curriculum that involves the garden and is accepted by adminstration.

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A common theme is developing a curriculum that involves the garden and is accepted by adminstration.

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It seems there is lip-service to the idea of "green spaces" but administration doesn't want to give the final "ok". It is difficult to get real admin buy-in. This makes doing difficult.

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I keep hearing "time" being a big challenge. I think this trickles down from the other challenge I saw of admin support. If we can get administration to see the importance of the classroom garden, there may be spots open up in our schedules to include time in the garden.

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We experience a lot time constraints. As the head gardener at school, I undertake a lot of the tasks, and as much as a try to get the other teachers, parents, etc to help out and volunteer their time-it usually falls on me.

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How do you find grants to help you get the materials you need when funding is low?

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How do you find grants to help you get the materials you need when funding is low?

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Positive, energizing relationships around garden projects have always been the way that things get done in our school garden. Making sure to spend some time each week reaching out to community groups and individuals about what they're up to and sharing what we're doing so that like-minded folks can reach out to us is something I will do more of this year. Thanks for the reminder that relationships come first!

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Sometimes it feels like you may be operating out there all alone and that staff, parents, teachers, etc. aren't into the gardens. But, if you invite them and host a work bee and provide snacks and kids activities, THEY WILL COME! Have faith!

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I think the biggest common theme was the importance of having the involvement of all stakeholders. This can be done in a lot of different ways, but the school garden will likely be more successful if there is involvement by a variety of teachers, administrators, other school staff, community members, parents and of course as many students as possible.

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Yes, I have had similar challenges. Weeding is something that you have to keep on top of. We also have a problem with our gardens being occasionally mowed by maintenance staff.

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If you are getting pushback at the school level, sometimes encouraging students to contact school board members yields results. This is kind of the "nuclear option" but it can get results, especially if the students are the ones with the concern.