Earlier today, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, along with Superintendent Mary Skipper and Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon, announced plans for 10 new raised bed garden programs and an outdoor classroom at Boston Green Academy.
The project is a collaborative strategy involving GrowBoston: Office of Urban Agriculture and the BPS Sustainability, Energy, and Education Program. It signifies Boston's commitment to sustainable living, and the implementation of green spaces as pivotal for child development and environmental education.
"These spaces will sow the seeds of knowledge, environmental expertise, and community among our students," said Mayor Wu while discussing these new educational landscapes, which are funded by the GrowBoston initiative.
In recent years, BPS introduced 23 new school gardens, extending the number of active school garden programs to 79 and outdoor classrooms to 38. The new garden programs will be located to reach students in various neighborhoods.
Previous success in Boston's public-private partnership ventures, such as the Boston Schoolyard Initiative (BSI), provides confidence in the newly planned initiative. Between 1994 and 2014, BSI renovated 88 schoolyards and established 38 outdoor classrooms.
Boston's long-term commitment to sustainable education, supported by federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, has facilitated eco-education for 7th grade students. Partner organizations, including Boston Nature Center, Thompson Island Outward Bound Center, and Hale Reservation, contribute to students' understanding of environmental stewardship. This commitment is indicated in an earlier report.
