Our Program
Looking to start or enhance a garden education program, or bring more hands-on learning into your teaching? Powered by Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, our 16-week virtual course offers a Life Lab Garden Education Certification designed for educators of all backgrounds. Gain practical tools, confidence in garden-based learning, and connection to a respected national network of educators.
Next Cohort:
Sept. 8th - Dec. 15th, 2026
Program Overview
Bring learning to life through the garden ~ Transform your teaching practice through garden-based learning.
Designed for classroom teachers, informal educators, afterschool staff, and school garden coordinators alike. Life Lab’s Garden Education Certification helps educators of all kinds bring hands-on, meaningful learning outdoors.
What you’ll earn:
Insights and inspiration from Life Lab’s 40+ years of experience in the school garden movement, a trusted leader in garden-based learning.
Confidence and skills to successfully lead garden-based learning programs in a variety of educational settings.
A supportive community of like-minded educators, sharing ideas, successes, and challenges. It also connects you to a respected national network, opening doors to new opportunities while deepening your impact in classrooms and communities.
A Recognized Garden Education Certification from Life Lab, demonstrating your commitment to innovative, experiential learning. This certification helps educators stand out for roles in classroom teaching, school gardens, environmental education, outdoor learning, and other hands-on educational programs.
What you’ll learn:
Enhance Social-Emotional Learning: Discover methods to create an inclusive garden classroom that supports students' social and emotional well-being by integrating mindfulness, respect, and equity.
Teaching skills: Practical, engaging activities and strategies to connect students with nature, fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and environmental stewardship.
Classroom Management techniques to increase engagement and cooperation in the outdoor classroom.
Nutrition and Healthy Eating: Explore ways to teach nutrition through hands-on, garden-based activities, encouraging students to eat fruits and vegetables and understand food origins.
Discover grant and funding opportunities.
Certification Program Details
Next Cohort:
Sept. 8th - Dec. 15th, 2026
Live virtual sessions: Tuesdays,
3:30–5:00 PM PT
$1,400 for the course, materials, and the certification.
This course includes:
• Weekly interactive sessions that include discussions, sharing of resources, hands-on demonstration lessons, and community building.
• 4 personalized 1-on-1 coaching sessions to support your teaching practice.
• Flexible, self-paced content
• Access to high-quality Life Lab vetted materials.
• 1 copy of The Growing Classroom garden activity guide.
• Digital Next Generation in the Garden K-3 lessons
• 🌱 Free seeds!
Additional Information
100% of program graduates noticed a marked significant improvement in their confidence and motivation to inspire a love of nature, healthy eating, and learning through garden-based education!
“This is the most beneficial class I've ever taken. My confidence and knowledge in the realm of garden based education has vastly increased! I'm so excited to be a Life Lab Certified Educator.”
-Certification Course Graduate
“This is the first virtual course I've had with coaching sessions, and it made a huge difference in how much I was able to get out of the course.”
-Certification Course Graduate
Life Lab has certified 224 Garden Educators to date!
Join us and bring learning
to life in the garden!
Sign up here to recive notifications about future cohorts.
Meet Our Life Lab Course Facilitator and Guest Educators
Regi
Jones
Lead Facilitator
Jenna Mobley
Guest Educator & Coach
Kelsey Cerdas
Communications Manager
Alyssa Ellis
Coach
