The Victorian Schools Garden Program offers professional development workshops which educate and encourage teachers, parents and volunteers to make the most of their outdoor spaces.
These workshops are designed to help schools introduce or invigorate their garden programs. Participants are provided with the skills, knowledge and expertise needed to manage and increase the success of their gardening activities and explore ways to make outdoor learning a part of the curriculum.
Workshops allow participants to meet other like-minded enthusiasts, hear from gardening experts and visit acclaimed school gardens.
For more information about upcoming events, please contact VSGP Co-ordinator, Tania Karamitos on 03 9576 0599 or vsgp@ngiv.com.au.
Professional Development Workshops:
Winter Gardening – Virtual Conference
| Date: | Thursday 27th May 2021 |
| Time: | 1:30 – 3:30 (2 hrs) |
| Location | From the comfort of your school/home/garden… Virtual Conference |
A number of school garden specialists from across Victoria will be presenting live from their gardens. We will be discussing how school gardens can meet many STEM/STEAM outcomes; practical gardening tricks; and many other benefits of school garden programs.
Conference Timetable
1:30 – Welcome & intro – James McLennan | VSGP Host | Grassroots Sustainability
1:45 – Re-thinking your school garden – Nattie Murray | Apollo Bay P-12
2:10 – School gardens and the links to STEM/STEAM –Tracey Gray | Moonbird Education & Port Fairy Consolidated School
2:35 – Winter gardening – Nick Ritar | Milkwood Permaculture
2:55 – Pruning in Schools – Peter Todd | Fleming’s Nursery
3:20 – Q & A/Network
3:25 – Closing – James McLennan
Teachers, parents, grounds staff, admin, school leadership are welcome to attend.
For more information on the Sowing the Winter Gardening – Virtual Conference or to book click here.
Sowing the Seed – Virtual Conference
This workshop has been recorded, to watch click here Sowing the Seed workshop.
| Date: | Wednesday 2nd December 2020 |
| Time: | 1:30 – 3:30 (2 hrs) |
| Location | From the comfort of your office/home/garden… Virtual Conference |
Join us for this two-hour, interactive and engaging conference focusing on planning for your 2021 school year in the school garden. School garden programs fulfil many STEM/STEAM outcomes and encourage students to develop agency, leadership and a voice around current issues of sustainability and climate change. Whether your school has an established garden program or you’re wondering how you can start the smallest of gardens at school, Sowing the Seed will have something for everyone.
Presenting will be a number of guest speakers who will be joining us from gardens across Victoria.
1:30 – Welcome & intro – James McLennan | VSGP Host | Grassroots Sustainability
1:45 – Reducing school resources & bills through gardens – energy, water, waste – Nicole Butler & Dominique Dybala| | Environment Education Victoria
2:05 – Garden to curriculum – Will Johnston | The Geelong College
2:25 – Breakout – group discussion
2:40 – 2021 Incursions opportunities –Formidable Vegetable | Grow Do It
2:50 – Engaging students with nature through school gardens – Richard Bellemo | RB Landscapes
3:10 – Call to Action – Costa Georgiadis | VSGP Advocate
3:25 – Closing – James McLennan
Teachers, parents, grounds staff, admin, school leadership are welcome to attend.
For more information on the Sowing the Sowing the Seed – Virtual Conference or to book click here.