School Garden Success: Engaging Children Through Growing Food - Saturday 12th September

📅 Date: Saturday 12th September
⏰ Time: 10am - 4pm
📍 Location: GROW HQ, Waterford

A school garden is so much more than just a place to grow vegetables. It’s a space where children can discover how food grows, develop confidence and responsibility, and build a deeper connection with nature.

School Garden Success: Engaging Children Through Growing Food is an in-person course designed for teachers, educators, school garden coordinators, school caretakers, and volunteers who want to create meaningful growing experiences for children.

During our one day course, you’ll learn how to create successful garden routines, manage outdoor learning with different age groups, and turn everyday gardening tasks into opportunities for curiosity, creativity and learning.

In this course, we’ll explore:

• How to create a successful school garden routine
• Practical ways to manage groups and outdoor learning environments
• How to engage children of different ages and learning styles
• How to turn gardening jobs into educational opportunities
• Ways to keep students involved, motivated and excited about growing
• How to plan your garden around the school calendar and seasonal growing cycles
• Tips for maximising growing opportunities during term time
• How to connect gardening with wider curriculum areas
• How to build a culture of care, responsibility and teamwork around your garden

By the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to:

• Create meaningful garden experiences that connect children with food, nature and the living world
• Plan growing activities that work alongside the school year
• Support children in developing curiosity, independence and responsibility
• Make your school garden a valuable part of everyday learning

Suitable for:
This course is perfect for primary school teachers, secondary school educators, SNAs, garden coordinators, parents, school caretakers, community volunteers and anyone supporting children to grow food and learn outdoors.

The course is held at GROW HQ, Farronshoneen, Dunmore Road, Waterford City, X91 NX30

Please note:
If a school is paying for your place and requires an invoice, please email hello@growhq.org. We'll reserve your place while the invoice is processed. 

Enjoy a delicious plot-to-plate mezze lunch overlooking the HQ Gardens (or in the garden if weather permits).

Also included is a copy of Mick Kelly's award-winning book, GROW, COOK, EAT for you to enjoy at home.

Mary Bishop - Head of Education
Mary has been a keen grower since she unearthed her first crop of potatoes at 5 years old. From a mountain of spuds grown on her family farm in Australia, she has continued to grow edibles the world over, in beds, in pots, on balconies, in allotments and now again in her backyard. As an educator, she has spent the last 20 years teaching children in classrooms and gardens across the world, sprouting growing enthusiasm in Australia and Switzerland. Mary is excited to be a member of the team at GIY, where combining both her passions for growing and learning about growing gives her an abundance of hope for the future of our global food systems.

Please arrive 10 minutes before the course starts and come dressed appropriately for a day spent outdoors in the garden.

Cancellation Policy:
We operate a 14 day cancellation policy. If you cancel your booking at least 14 days prior to the event you will be refunded. Cancellations made less than 14 days prior to the date will not be refunded.

Allergies:
Please advise us of any dietary requirements and allergens when booking (email:allen@giy.ie) as we are unable to change the menu on the day.