The Victorian Schools Garden Program (VSGP) recognises the importance of outdoor spaces in progressive modern learning.
A pioneer in environmental education, the VSGP was established by Paul Crowe OAM and the late Kevin Heinze in 1977. The program has a proud history of introducing the joy of gardening to school-aged children. Through the use and development of school grounds, it has literally guided generations of students in their discovery of and engagement with the natural world.
School gardens offer abundant opportunities for children to learn about productive cultivation, biodiversity and sustainable practices. They provide the perfect environment in which students, teachers and parents can share in a practical and ‘hands on’ experience.
Through the development of green spaces at schools, teachers have an opportunity to take the classroom outdoors and enable students to explore the many benefits of gardening. Expand school green spaces not only contributes to exciting learning environments but also benefits student health and well-being.
The Victorian Schools Garden Program comprises of:
The Victorian Schools Garden Program comprises of:
Grants – Encouraging schools to start new gardens or repair existing gardens by providing funding towards school’s garden projects.
Awards – Recognising and rewarding the achievements of students and school communities in their gardening endeavours.
Professional Development Workshops (PDW) – Providing teachers and volunteers the basics of school gardens and engaging our children in outdoor learning.
Garden Support – Connecting schools with a horticulture industry expert to assist with large scale garden problems
The Awards and Grants programs are open to all Victorian State Government, Catholic and Independent Schools.