School Gardens: Raising Environmental Awareness in Children
This paper explores the reasons for gardens and natural spaces on school campuses and the effects that such exposure to the natural world has on the students. Blending case studies, observational data and personal experience, the paper discusses the impacts a garden has on the students who participate in it. During the evolution from rough landscape drawing to fully functioning educational environment, the balance of administrative, teacher, parent, and student involvement is used to determine the lasting effects the garden has on student attitudes toward environmental concerns. Elements of what makes a garden particularly effective at bridging the gap between the children and nature is highlighted and evidence of increased environmental awareness in the students is discussed.
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations