Exploring the Benefits to Education, Climate, Health, and Community

Green Schoolyards America hosted a free five-part webinar series on the wide-ranging benefits of the Living Schoolyards Act.

In each session experts from a variety of disciplines highlighted a group of benefits of living schoolyards — and of this legislation when enacted — to children and communities across the nation. The sessions provided information, resources, and ideas, and will help build a movement to pass this crucial legislation.

Recorded Lectures

Lecture 5 — May 25, 2023

Schoolyard Design, Green Infrastructure, Green Building Standards

Featured Speakers
– Brenda Kessler, Project Manager, Children & Nature Network
– Danielle Pieranunzi, SITES Director, Green Business Certification Inc.
– Greg Miller, President (2018), American Society of Landscape Architects

Lecture Timing

0:00 Welcome by Nancy Striniste
8:30 Presentation by guest panelist Brenda Kessler
22:12 Presentation by guest panelist Danielle Pieranunzi
37:00 Presentation by guest panelist Greg Miller
51:00 Q&A, moderated by Rachel Pringle

Resources

• References for Brenda Kessler

  • Green Schoolyard District Design Guidelines

  • Green Schoolyards Gallery

• References for Danielle Pieranunzi

  • SITES website

  • Where to download SITES Rating System 

  • CASE STUDIES (Directory of SITES projects)

  • Brent Elementary School

    • SITES Case Study

    • Landscape Performance Case Study

  • Washington Canal Park

    • SITES Case Study

    • Landscape Performance Case Study

  • Family Garden at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

  • SITES Education 

  • SITES Resources

  • Landscapes for Life

  • Sign up for SITES email to stay updated

Lecture 4 — May 10, 2023

Community Benefits and Green Jobs

Featured Speakers
– Laura Thompson, Director of Strategic Alliances, Big Green
– Ryan Parker, Impact and Partnerships Lead, Maine, FoodCorps
– Jeanne McCarty, CEO, Out Teach
– Danielle Denk, National Community Schoolyards™ Initiative Director, Trust for Public Land

Lecture Timing
0:00 Welcome by Nancy Striniste
8:40 Presentation by guest panelist Laura Thompson
21:32 Presentation by guest panelist Ryan Parker
36:34 Presentation by guest panelist Jeanne McCarty
49:50 Presentation by guest panelist Danielle Denk
01:02:00 Wrap up by Nancy Striniste

Resources

• References for Laura Thompson’s Presentation

• Living schoolyards build social and community skills

• Robinson, C.W. and Zajicek, J.M., “Growing Minds: The Effects of a One-Year School Garden Program on Six Constructs of Life Skills of Elementary School Children," HortTechnology, July-September 2005, pgs. 453-457.

• Alexander, J. and Hendren, D., “Bexar County Master Gardener Classroom Garden Research Project: Final Report," Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, 1998.

• Jagger, S., Sperling, E., & Inwood, H. (2016). What’s Growing on Here? Garden-Based Pedagogy in a Concrete Jungle. Environmental Education Research, 22(2), 271–287.

• Living schoolyards foster healthy lifestyle habits

• Boscia, T., “School Gardens Grow Kids' Physical Activity Levels," Cornell University Chronicle, March 2014.

• Morris, J.L., Briggs, M. and Zidenberg-Cherr, S., “Development and Evaluation of a Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education Curriculum for Elementary Schoolchildren," The Journal of Child Nutrition & Management, Spring 2002.

• Fuchs, J. (2022). Environmental Education and Gardening with Children. Exchange (19460406), 264, 78–82.

• Living schoolyards encourage environmental stewardship 

• Skelly, S.M. and Zajicek, J.M., “The Effect of an Interdisciplinary Garden Program on the Environmental Attitudes of Elementary School Students," HortTechnology, October-December 1998, pgs. 579-583.

• Lohr, V.I. and Pearson-Mims, C.H., “Children's Active and Passive Interactions with Plants Influence Their Attitudes and Actions toward Trees and Gardening as Adults," HortTechnology, July-September 2005, pgs. 472-476.

• References for Jeanne McCarty’s Presentation

  • Former Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Matt Ryan helps build new classroom | 11alive.com 

  • Mr. Harris | Out Teach (out-teach.org) 

  • Text OUTTEACH to 22828 to learn about what we’re doing in school districts across the country. 
    

• References for Danielle Denk’s Presentation

  • Belonging:

    • Fisher, B. W., Dawson‐Edwards, C., Higgins, E. M., & Swartz, K. (2020). Who belongs in school? Examining the link between Black and White racial disparities in sense of school belonging and suspension. Journal of Community Psychology, 48(5), 1481-1499.

  • Crime:

    • Shepley, M., Sachs, N., Sadatsafavi, H., Fournier, C., & Peditto, K. (2019). The Impact of Green Space on Violent Crime in Urban Environments: An Evidence Synthesis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,16(24), 5119. 

  • Social Connectivity:

    • Álvarez-Herrero, J.-F., Urrea-Solano, M., & Martinez-Roig, R. (2021). Sustainability and education through social networks. Presence and visibility of the school garden on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. IJERI: International Journal of Educational Research and Innovation(16), 122-141.

  • Family Engagement:

    • Baker, T. L., Wise, J., Kelley, G., & Skiba, R. J. (2016). Identifying barriers: Creating solutions to improve family engagement. School Community Journal, 26(2), 161-184.
      

Lecture 3 — April 20, 2023

Ecological and Climate Benefits

Featured Speakers
– Sharon Danks, Founder and CEO, Green Schoolyards America
– Lisa Neeb, Green & Healthy Schools Program Manager, Reflo
– Liz Soper, Senior Director of K-12 Programs, National Wildlife Federation

Lecture Timing
0:00 Welcome by Nancy Striniste
7:33 Presentation by guest panelist Sharon Danks
20:25 Presentation by guest panelist Lisa Neeb
41:04 Presentation by guest panelist Liz Soper
51:17 Q&A, moderated by Rachel Pringle
58:32 Wrap up by Nancy Striniste

Resources

• References for Lisa Neeb’s Presentation

  • 2022 Milwaukee Flood and Health Vulnerability Assessment

  • Milwaukee’s Climate & Equity Plan

  • MMSD Regional Green Infrastructure Plan

• References for Liz Soper’s Presentation

  • Collaborative Research: MSB-FRA: Alternative ecological futures for the American Residential Macrosystem

  • Webinar: You Built It They Came

  • Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants. Douglas W. Tallamy. Timber Press, 2007.

  • Chan, Jennifer M., Terry H. Chen, Yuxin Jin, Nicole M. Tachiki, Sara L. Vetter, Megan L. Vyenielo, and Gina Y. Zheng. "Evaluating Certified Wildlife Habitats and the Minds Behind Them." Practicum in Environmental Science. Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles, 2014.

  • Busch, Katherine L.M. "Impact on the National Wildlife Federations’ Certified Wildlife Habitat Program on Mammalian Species Richness in Urbanized Residential Properties." Thesis, George Mason University, VA, 2013.

  • "National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitats® Planning Guide and Webinar Series, 2021." National Wildlife Federation.

Lecture 2 — March 28, 2023

Mental and Physical Health Benefits

Featured Speakers
– Dr. Stacy Beller Stryer, Pediatrician and Associate Medical Director, Park Rx America
– Prof. Claire Latané, Associate Professor & Interim Chair, Department of Landscape Architecture, Cal Poly Pomona
– Prof. Nilda Cosco, PhD, Co-Founder and Director of Programs, Natural Learning Initiative, North Carolina State University

Lecture Timing
0:00 Welcome by Rachel Pringle
6:15 Presentation by guest panelist Dr. Stacy Beller Stryer
18:46 Presentation by guest panelist Prof. Claire Latané
30:57 Presentation by guest panelist Prof. Nilda Cosco
42:08 Q&A, moderated by Lauren McKenna and Rachel Pringle
55:00 Wrap up and next steps by Rachel Pringle

Resources

• References for Prof Nilda Cosco’s Presentation

• References for Dr. Stacy Beller Stryer’s Presentation

• References for Prof. Claire Latané’s Presentation

  • Roger S. Ulrich, Ph.D, “Effects of Healthcare Environmental Design on Medical Outcomes,” International Academy for Design and Health, 2000

  • Youth Risk and Behavioral Survey Data Summary & Trends, Center for Disease Control (CDC), 2021

  • Steiner, Elizabeth D. and Ashley Woo, “Job-Related Stress Threatens the Teacher Supply: Key Findings from the 2021 State of the U.S. Teacher Survey.” Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2021.

  • Lisa Strong, “Classrooms without Walls,” Masters Thesis, Cal Poly Pomona, 2019

  • Matsuoka, RH, “High School Landscapes and Student Performance.” Dissertation, University of Michigan, 2010

  • Eben Harrell. “The Power of Awe,” Harvard Business Review, January 2023

Lecture 1 — March 08, 2023

Equity, Educational, and Academic Benefits

Featured Speakers
– Whitney Cohen, Education Director, Life Lab
– Karen Cowe, CEO, Ten Strands
– Liza Lowe, Director, Inside-Outside
– Sarah Bodor, Director of Policy and Affiliate Relations, North American Association for Environmental Education

Lecture Timing
0:00 Welcome and introduction by Nancy Striniste, Green Schoolyards America
6:10 Presentation by guest panelist Whitney Cohen
16:06 Presentation by guest panelist Karen Cowe
27:18 Presentation by guest panelist Liza Lowe
36:36 Presentation by guest panelist Sarah Bodor
48:08 Q&A, moderated by Nancy Striniste and Rachel Pringle, Green Schoolyards America

Resources

• Antioch University’s Certificate in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education

• Inside-Outside Events Calendar

• Children and Nature Network’s Infographic: “Green Schoolyards Can Provide Mental Health Benefits”

• Children and Nature Network’s Infographic: “Nature Can Improve Academic Outcomes"

• Children and Nature Network’s Infographic: “Green Schoolyards Encourage Beneficial Play"

• Children and Nature Network’s Infographic: “Nature as a Pathway for Healing from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)”

• NAAEE resource page: “The Benefits of Environmental Education for K–12 Students”