The Fairview School Learning Garden grew from Northwest Dayton Partnership with investments from Blue Meridian Partners, through Learn to Earn Dayton, and with generous support from the CareSource Foundation, the Berry Family Foundation, and the Louise Kramer Foundation.
Installed 2024
Seeds of Knowledge,
Cultivated by Community
The Fairview Elementary Learning Garden transformed an underutilized area into an inspiring, inclusive green space that fosters education and creativity. Based upon a community-identified priority in the Power of Place Plan for Northwest Dayton, Grunder Landscaping worked with the residents, Learn to Earn Dayton, and Dayton Public Schools to create an engaging and inspiring learning space.
Having opened spring 2024, the garden now serves as an outdoor classroom promoting hands-on learning and improved physical and mental health for students. Ensuring year-round use, the Learning Garden is available to educational partners for afterschool and summer programming. The project is a meaningful collaboration between the school and local community, inspiring a love of nature, healthier lifestyles, and creative approaches to learning.
Thank you also to the many dedicated community partners who activate and care for the space, including Omega CDC Freedom Schools, The Victory Project, and the Dayton Public Schools teachers, staff, and administrators at Fairview Elementary.
Lisa Minor, Associate Superintendent of Dayton Public Schools, shared these insights:
“Research shows that school gardens and outdoor learning spaces create a sense of well-being, confidence, collaboration skills, and an overall appreciation for nature. The newly constructed Fairview Garden will prove to not only benefit the children, but also the community as the administration looks forward to expanding partnerships with community volunteer gardeners. Allowing students to create their own community sensory garden with vegetables, flowers and herbs will create a space of wellness and discovery which will have a lasting impact on the overall health and education of the students. Teachers now have a space where they can extend learning beyond the classroom walls to allow students to enjoy learning through nature and hands-on experiences. We look forward to watching our teachers create engaging lessons for the outdoor space as well as seeing the increase in academic achievement through the use of this wonderful learning environment. Once again, thank you for a wonderful space where staff and students can grow and explore.”
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