Life Lab Garden Classroom
on the UC Santa Cruz Farm
2025 Leadership Institute
Participant Hub
Agenda, Updates, Roster & More
June 22-27, 2025 - Santa Cruz, CA
Important Dates & Documents
Check-in takes place at the UC Santa Cruz Hay Barn on the UC Santa Cruz Campus. Check-in is on June 22, from 3:00-3:45pm
Van Pool Grouping: See who you are driving from the airport with - COMING SOON
2025 Participant Roster and Map - COMING SOON
Pre-Arrival Tasks & Deadlines
By June 13, Complete the 2025 Institute Year Book, see instructions on the first slide.
Pre-Arrival Homework
Review the UCSC Attendee Handbook
Preview Participant Agenda - We will provide a printed copy in your Institute Packet
Review Life Lab’s Garden to Cafeteria Resource Page - Watch some videos on garden to cafeteria in action.
Check out the Slow Food USA Garden to Cafeteria Tool Kit & Sample GTC Protocols
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Attire for changing weather. At this time of year, we often have morning wet fog in 50s/60s, days in the 70s, & evenings in the 50s/60s. Check the forecast before you come.
Sun hat and good walking shoes for the garden and redwood forest. We will be walking a lot.
Sunscreen
Water Bottle and Reusable Mug
Laptop computer, if you have one (wifi will be available in most areas of campus)
Appropriate chargers for your devices
Note-taking supplies
Personal toiletries
Linens will be provided and we invite you to bring items you know will keep you comfortable while you sleep
If you plan to jump in the ocean bring at swimsuit and towel
Resources you want to share or show to others
Full Participant Agenda
View 2025 Participant Agenda with map links to daily venue locations
Agenda Snapshot
Sunday 6/22
Afternoon Arrival • Meet & Greet • Check-in Campus Apartments • Dinner • Optional Evening Activities
Monday 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
Tuesday 6/24
Field trip to Live Oak School District School Gardens, District Kitchen, Future Farm Site •. Edible Crop Planning. •. Safe Produce Harvest & Handling for Meals & Tastings • Program Model Share Outs • Optional: Explore Santa Cruz / Eat Out
Wednesday 6/25
Effective Professional Development Strategies • Redwood Walk & Talk • Dinner Reception on UCSC Farm
Thursday 6/26
Team Planning & Share Outs • Field Trip to Pacific Elementary Food Lab • Cooking with Kids • Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education •. Final Dinner at Pacific Elementary FoodLab
Friday 6/27 - AM Departure • Optional Santa Cruz AM Adventures: Redwoods, Tide Pools, Surfing, West Cliff / Wharf Bike Ride
2025 Invited Organizations
Field Trip Site Resources
As part of our week we 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
We will also visit Pacific Elementary School, cook dinner at FoodLab and visit their school garden.
Helpful Links
Check out our restaurant and itinerary suggestions.
Connect on Social Media: If you’re on social media, get your fingers ready! Use #sgso2023 to tag your posts
View School Garden Support Organization's Promising Practices
Questions? Contact Kelsey Cerdas kelsey@lifelab.org
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.