2026 Leadership Institute Overview
June 22-27, 2025 - Santa Cruz, CA
Leadership Institute Webinar Series
Hear from past Leadership Institute Participants as they share their expertise as part of the SGSO Leadership Institute Webinar Series
Agenda Snapshot
Monday 6/22
Afternoon Arrival • Meet & Greet • Check-in Campus Apartments • Dinner • Optional Evening Activities
Tuesday 6/23
Getting to Know Program Models • SGSO Network Resources • Applying a Lens of Equity to our Work • Peer to Peer Solution Sessions • Evening Social Event - Sunset S’mores
Wednesday 6/24
Field trip to Live Oak School District School Gardens, District Kitchen, Farm Site •. Edible Crop Planning. •. Safe Produce Harvest & Handling for Meals & Tastings • Program Model Share Outs • Optional: Explore Santa Cruz / Eat Out
Thursday 6/25
Effective Professional Development Strategies • Redwood Walk & Talk • Optional post dinner Field Trip to Pacific Elementary Garden
Friday 6/26
Team Planning & Share Outs • Cooking with Kids • Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education •. Final Dinner at UCSC Farm with FoodLab Students
Saturday 6/27 - AM Departure • Optional Santa Cruz AM Adventures: Redwoods, Tide Pools, Beach Play, West Cliff / Wharf Bike Ride
Helpful Links
Check out our restaurant and itinerary suggestions.
Connect on Social Media: If you’re on social media, get your fingers ready! Use #sgso2025 or tag @lifelabgarden in your posts
View School Garden Support Organization's Promising Practices
Questions? Contact Kelsey Cerdas kelsey@lifelab.org
Field Trip Site Resources
On Tuesday will visit Live Oak School District School Food Service and Production Farm Site.
Learn more about Live Oak School Food Service:
School Food Professionals Video featuring LOSD
Due to construction at Pacific Elementary School we will now be creating our FoodLab Meal with FoodLab Students & Alumni at the UCSC Farm. We will have an option field trip up the coast to visit Pacific Elementary School Garden after dinner on Wednesday. Learn more about FoodLab:
Photos from 2025 Leadership Institute
Past SGSO Leadership Institutes
Great Summary of 2023 Institute from participant Tatiana Gonzalez of the Wylde Center in Atlanta, GA.
2022 See photos from the 2022 Institute of participating organizations and of 2022 Institute activities.
The 2021 Virtual Leadership Institute Created These Promising Practices Documents
Join the School Garden Support Organization Network E-list to to receive future institute announcements and updates on upcoming events or join the SGSO Network Google Group to be part of a national dialogue of school garden support organizations.
Hosted by Life Lab and Whole Kids, a project of Whole Foods Market Foundation, in partnership with the SGSO Network.