Training Opportunities for School Gardeners

So you find yourself in charge of the school garden and are wondering if you know enough about gardening and teaching to be successful… Here are resources for online and in person training from state and national school garden organizations to help you at any level and keep you inspired! While some charge a fee, others are free and may offer contact hours to help you meet your continuing education requirements too!

In Maine

Maine School Garden Network offers in person events, online resources and more!

Maine School Garden Day is held annually in May in different parts of the state. It’s a one day conference that includes 3 professional development workshops for 7 contact hours. A $50 registration fee includes lunch!
Annual Meeting is held annually in November in different parts of the state. It includes 2 professional development workshops for 2 contact hours. The event is offered free of charge and includes a potluck meal!
School Garden Summer Tours include an educational component and are held in different parts of the state. The tours are free and provide networking and learning opportunities.
msgn.org – Check out our resource pages!

MSGN Newsletter helps keep you inspired every month with a theme, School Garden of the Month, grants, lesson plans, recipes and more at no charge.

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom offers in person events, online resources, grants and more!

MAITC Summer Teacher’s Institute includes meaningful classroom instruction for grades PreK-12 teachers will include curriculum, hands-on activities, demonstrations, online resources, and much more! Participants tour on a custom coach for 2 days with visits including Agriculture research facilities, farms on land and water, processors and preparers of Maine products. Teachers earn 38 contact hours for participating. Fee TBA. Scholarships available.

Maine Farm and Sea to School Network’s mission is to build a communication and coordination infrastructure at the school and community level to support farm to school programs throughout Maine.

Maine Farm and Sea to School Institute is a year long professional program for school food system change. School Teams must apply to participate. $900 fee

Maine Master Gardeners

Maine Gardener Training for those who wish to gain horticulture knowledge to use in their personal gardening. This 18 week online course with a commitment of 4 – 5 hours per week of self-paced content also included live Q&A sessions on Zoom. $600 course fee (discounts available) and you earn 7 Continuing Education Credits.

National

Edible Schoolyard offers training to learn core principles and practical tools for engaging students in academics, sensory learning, and culturally responsive lessons in the kitchen, garden, and cafeteria. They offer Annual Virtual Summer Training Workshops which they post on the website for free.

Kids Gardening supports educators to bring life changing benefits of gardening to kids.

Celebrating Inclusion in the School Garden helps educators learn how to effectively center cultural learning in their school garden program with lesson plans, growing guides, and more. 10 course recordings E-Course is free.
Growing Classroom webinar series in cooperation with LifeLab by donation.

School Garden Support Network is a peer to peer learning network with the goal of growing, sustaining and elevating a movement of equitable garden based education.

Webinars and a recording library are available on their website for free.

National Agriculture in the Classroom

National Conference is held in a different state each year. In 2025 it will be in Minnesota June 22-26th. Costs include registration fee plus travel and lodging.

LifeLab

Educator Certification Program $1400 for the course, materials and certification.
Growing Classroom webinar series with Kids Gardening by donation.

Oregon State University

School Garden Coordinator Certificate Training This 8 week online course covers best practices for building, using and maintaining school and youth food gardening programs. $300 fee includes 12 Professional Development Units.