University Park Elementary School Garden

Teaching the Next Generation about Nutritious Food Grown by Strong Communities

Project Lead: Dr. Heidi Scott

Sustainable communities know how to make the most of their limited resources. In suburban Maryland, the need to teach the youngest learners about how to grow their own nutritious food goes hand in hand with the benefits of spending time outdoors with friends. The garden project is a partnership with the Whole Kids Foundation and the UMD Arts for All grants program. 

The new University Park Elementary School Garden is developing six raised beds for vegetables, a pollinator garden, and an outdoor classroom for teachers to share their wisdom under the warm sun. In time, we hope to develop rainwater harvesting and beekeeping in the garden space. Our first growing season will be in 2026.