School Gardens and Environmental Literacy in

Washington, DC

Sarah Holway Bernardi

Co-Founder and Education Director

Where We Were in 2000

Pockets of work, approximately 40 school gardens, a handful of non-profit partners running programming in schools a few champion teachers, DDOE grants, DC School Garden Week, one annual training.

HSA Components

• School Nutrition • Nutrition Education and Promotion• Farm to School and School Gardens • Environmental Literacy • Local Wellness Policies• School Wellness Councils • Physical Education/ Physical Activity • Accountability and Evaluation

HSA Implementing Agencies

• School grants• Technical

Assistance• Data Collection• Outdoor

classrooms

• Composting• Recycling • Outdoor

Classroom infrastructure

• Environmental Literacy Plan

DC Greens

Uses the power of partnerships to support food education, food access, and food

policy in the nation’s capital.

DC Greens

• Environmental Literacy Framework• Professional development• Collaboratively advocating for staffing

Where We Are Now 2015

Where We Are Going

HSA Staff person as a budget line item at every school.

• Teaching earth science standards to students;

• Supporting classroom teachers with professional development in NGSS;

• Creating and maintain the putdoor classroom, ensuring that it is a resource to the entire school staff and community;

• Overseeing school-wide implementation of composting and recycling programs, ensuring that the educational potential was maximized;

• Creating and managing the school wellness committee.