Program Components

COHORT WORKSHOPS: The program centers around a series of four day-long professional development workshops. Participants will learn about best practices for schoolyard forest design, implementation, maintenance, and use and will build an understanding of the key components of a robust schoolyard forest system. Each session will include work time for teams to craft a shared vision and strategy for schoolyard forests in their district.

DISTRICT ACTION PLANS: Each team will develop an action plan to strategically shift district policies, systems, and practices to support the long-term success of schoolyard forests across their districts. Our flexible framework will meet districts where they are, identify and prioritize areas for change, and provide a roadmap that districts can follow beyond the timeframe of the program.

SCHOOLYARD TOURS: Two optional day-long tours will provide inspiration, a chance to learn about real examples of successes and challenges, and an opportunity to share promising practices for scaling schoolyard forests districtwide.

TAILORED SUPPORT: Green Schoolyards America staff will meet with each school district team on a regular basis to help districts develop their action plans and deepen their engagement with schoolyard forest and green schoolyard ideas, methods, and strategies.

REGIONAL NETWORK: This program will include school districts from across Southern California with a wide range of experiences and contexts. Teams will be encouraged to explore this diversity, get to know their colleagues, and learn from one another. In addition, Green Schoolyards America will bring in and help to connect districts with local experts who can continue to support their efforts beyond the Institute.

Dates and Locations

The Leadership Academy will begin in Fall 2024 and run through Spring 2025. Exact dates will be determined once the cohort is selected. In-person events will be hosted throughout Southern California within Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles counties.

Eligibility

We are looking for school district teams that:

• can commit for a period of one school year—and are also willing to advance the work long-term;

• ideally include three to four senior district staff members with decision-making authority from the superintendent’s office, facilities, health, and instruction/curriculum departments;

• have a desire to bring schoolyard forests to their district and implement greening at scale;

• are interested in children’s health and wellbeing, improving academic outcomes, and protecting their community from climate change; and

• are willing to commit staff time across departments, including between events, to advance the work.

Participation Stipend

Green Schoolyards America will provide up to $10,000 in funding for selected participating districts to cover certain costs needed to allow district staff to fully participate in the Institute. The funding will be disbursed in two installments tied to certain milestones of participation.

Enrollment Process and Timeline

Applications for the 2024-2025 SoCal cohort are now closed. We will be running a second cohort in the region, likely beginning in Fall 2025. If you are interested in participating, please contact the program director below.

For More information

For more information, contact Mikaela Randolph, Associate Director of Regional Programs at mikaela [at] greenschoolyards [dot] org and download our program flier, here.

For more background information on schoolyard forests and how this program fits within the California Schoolyard Forest System®, click here.