Calabasas Internship

Garden/Environmental Education at Calabasas Elemetary School, Watsonville

The Calabasas Elementary School Discovery Garden has gone through a transformation since January 2010. When the program lost funding for a garden teacher two years ago, four enthusiastic UCSC interns stepped in to adopt the garden as their senior project. As part of the After School Program at Calabasas, the interns have taught hundreds of students and transformed the garden into a healthy and fun place to learn and grow.

Each class participates in a 4 week learning cycle in the garden where students spend an hour learning about their environment in a fun and hands-on way. A big emphasis of the garden is that it is an open learning space that encourages curiosity and integrates direct interaction with nature. Both Calabasas students and UCSC interns work hard every week, turning the compost, watering, weeding, planting, teaching and learning.

The lessons largely focus on the Life Science standards but also promote the development of investigation and writing skills. The hands-on lessons encourage students to explore the garden, use their 5 senses, conduct experiments, ask questions, practice critical thinking skills, and try new things! By tending to the garden and sharing food from it, students learn about their local food system, develop an understanding of the nutritional value of different foods, and taste new fruits and vegetables.