Gardens Program

Since 1998, the ACPS School Gardens Program has been fostering a love of learning by engaging students in hands-on learning experiences in our school gardens. Students from preschool through high school participate in lessons exposing them to our natural world while also allowing them to deepen their understanding of curriculum concepts.

The vision of the School Gardens Program is to cultivate a community of life-long learners who are empowered to actively engage in academic and environmental learning. Every student will be inspired to care about the wellbeing of themselves, their community and the earth.

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School Gardens Programs

The Habitat – Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology
Native Roots Initiative – John Adams Elementary School and Early Childhood Center

The Habitat – Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology

The Habitat is an outdoor classroom, located in the school courtyard and is certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a Backyard Habitat. In the habitat, students have the opportunity to understand and explore a small pond with fish and water plants, as well as more than 100 species of other plants, birds, turtles, frogs, and insects. All areas of the curriculum are enhanced by Habitat activities.

Native Roots Initiative – John Adams Elementary School and Early Childhood Center

Established in 2025, the Native Roots Initiative is a sustainable landscaping project that transforms the outdoor spaces at John Adams Elementary and the Early Childhood Center into extensions of the classroom, inspiring curiosity and environmental awareness in our students. By incorporating native plants, the initiative promotes water conservation, supports local pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and improves air quality while lowering energy use. The Native Roots outdoor spaces will serve as hands-on learning environments where students can conduct experiments and investigations and develop a deeper appreciation for nature and their role in protecting it.

Contact Us

Melanie Wright
School Gardens Specialist
schoolgardens@acps.k12.va.us

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