Scholarship Programs – Summer 2025

CITY GARDENS CLUB SCHOLARSHIPS For New York City Public School Educators
The application for the Summer 2025 Scholarship Programs is now open.

From July 8-11 in Hartford, CT, hundreds of educators from around the country will unite to share how gardens can embody and serve as teaching tools, both for scientific concepts and for collective memory of landscape and culture. The 2025 Symposium will focus on “Science & History in Youth Gardening.” It will explore relationships between gardens, science, and history.

The symposium offers interactive learning sessions, from basic building blocks to advanced topics, addressing pre-K-12 learning. Personalized visits to the area’s impressive and relevant gardens will offer opportunities to apply new concepts and connect with fellow youth garden educators from a diversity of communities. Come for the fun and learn skills, ideas, contacts, and resources to bring back to your own community!

The CGC scholarship for this program covers $125 pre-symposium day on July 8, $425 registration fee, and three-night hotel stay at $194/night, pretax.

CGC Scholarship application deadline: March 21, 2025.

Program Location: Connecticut Science Center, Hartford, CT.
Intended Audience: Pre-K to grade 12 teachers
Course Provider: The American Horticultural Society
Date and Time:  Tuesday, July 8, 2025 to Friday, July 11, 2025 

For more information about the Symposium, contact Director of National Programs Courtney Allen at [email protected] or call (703) 768-5700 ext. 121.

Applicants must register at the American Horticultural Society’s website:

 2025 symposium webpage

What Did a Plant Ever Do for You?

Explore the beautiful gardens and collections at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and gain an
understanding of the value of plants in natural and human history. Through an inquiry-based
approach, we will discover how plants are built, how they work, and how they interact with the
living and nonliving components of the diverse environments they inhabit. Emphasis is placed on
experiential, authentic learning that participants can readily bring back to their classrooms.

Fee includes curriculum materials and resources, plant and potting-up supplies, and access to
the Garden.

The CGC scholarship for this Brooklyn Botanic Garden program covers the $250 fees for the
course and all necessary materials, as well as the $125 fee for the “P” in-service credits. You
must register for both the class through BBG and the P credits through ASPDP. CGC
Scholarship application deadline: March 21, 2025.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact Judith Hutton, at [email protected].

Program Provider: Brooklyn Botanic Garden http://www.bbg.org/
Program Location: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 990 Washington Ave., Brooklyn, NY
Intended Audience: Pre-K to grade 12 teachers
Date and Time: In person , August 18 -August 22 ,2025 8:30-5:00pm; two self-paced
asynchronous sessions: final assignment is due by August 28, 2025.
Credits: 45 hours – 3 “P” credits through ASPDP

Program information is the best available at the current time, and may change pursuant to
institutional/government/health/safety guidelines.

Sharing Nature: An Educator’s Week

Learn practical approaches and add inspiration to your environmental education curriculum during this action-packed program. Our experienced and enthusiastic instructors share their favorite approaches, methods, and activities for engaging children and adults with nature.

Workshops using techniques in art, music, photography, theater, journaling and other disciplines will be presented. Participate in a host of classic Audubon Camp field trips, including a boat trip to the restored Atlantic Puffin and Tern colony on Eastern Egg Rock, intertidal explorations, and hiking through Hog Island’s unspoiled spruce-fir forest. In a beautiful outdoor setting, these experiences provide a wonderful opportunity to learn new methods of teaching to bring home to your students. We’ll explore citizen science, create inquiry-based lessons on birds and other topics, and demonstrate low and high-tech methods of teaching.

The CGC scholarship for the Hog Island Audubon Camp program covers the $ 1,590.00 tuition fee. Tuition includes meals, Standard Room housing, instruction and all boat trips. Participants must arrange transportation to and from the Audubon dock in Bremen, Maine, at the start and end of the session. CGC Registration Deadline: March 21, 2025.

You must register through the Hog Island Audubon Camp. If you have questions or for further information about the Hog Island Audubon Camp, please contact Rosy Tucker  at 207-360-7733 or [email protected].

Provider: National Audubon Society, Hog Island Audubon Camp
Course Location: Hog Island Audubon Camp, Bremen, Maine
Dates: August 10,11,12,13,14,15, 2025

Seedlings Summer Institute: Nature and Science for Early Childhood and Elementary Educators

Learn how to use plants and nature to engage children in science across the curriculum, with connections to literacy, math, and art. Created for teachers of Grades Pre-K-2, the Seedlings Summer Institute provides a weeklong immersion in nature and plant science . Explore the unique resources available at NYBG 

The CGC scholarship for this New York Botanical Garden program covers the $250 fees for the course as well as the $125 fee for the “P” in-service credits.  You must register both for the class through NYBG and for the credit through ASPDP.  CGC Scholarship application deadline: March 21, 2025.

If you have questions about this program, please call 718-817-8140 or email [email protected].

Course Location: New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY
Program Provider: The New York Botanical Garden
Intended Audience: Pre-K-2 grade teachers
Date and Time: Monday, July 14,15,16,17,18,19,2025 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Credit: 45 hours – 3 “P” credits through ASPDP.  

Program information is the best available at the current time and may change pursuant to government/health/safety guidelines.

Plant, Learn and Grow!  School Gardening 201

Plant, Learn and Grow! School Gardening 201 is designed to provide classroom teachers with strategies to support student learning through the integration of a garden project into their curriculum. Whether your school garden is plants on your windowsill or in the schoolyard, participate in hands-on gardening methods to build your background knowledge. Topics include pest management, soil quality monitoring, pollinator interactions and more. 

The CGC scholarship for this New York Botanical Garden program covers the $250 fees for the course as well as the $125 fee for the “P” in-service credits.  You must register both for the class through NYBG and for the credit through ASPDP.  CGC Scholarship application deadline: March 21, 2025.

If you have questions about this program, please speak with the NYBG professional staff at 718-817-8140 or email [email protected]. 

Course Location: New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd. Bronx, NY
Program Provider: The New York Botanical Garden
Date and Time: Monday, August 18,19,20,21,22,23,2025 9:00 am – 5:30 pm.
Credit: 45 hours – 3 “P” credits through ASPDP  

Program information is the best available at the current time and may change pursuant to government/health/safety guidelines.

The Art of Science

Discover ways to help students experience the wonder of the outdoors through art and science. Hone observational skills and ask questions using the Garden grounds and exhibition as inspiration. Explore how natural forms can provide an inquiry-based framework for learning and art making.

The CGC scholarship for this New York Botanical Garden program covers the $100 fees for the course as well as the $45 fee for the one “P” credit.  You must register both for the class through NYBG and for the credit through ASPDP.  CGC Scholarship application deadline: CGC Scholarship application deadline: March 21, 2025.

If you have questions about this program please speak with our professional staff at 718-817-8140 or email [email protected]. 

Program Location: New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY
Program Provider: The New York Botanical Garden
Date and Time:  July 24-25-2025, 9:00 am – 5:30 pm.
Credit: 15 hours – 1 “P” credit through ASPDP 

CGC Scholarship application deadline: March 21, 2025.

Program information is the best available at the current time and may change pursuant to government/health/safety guidelines.

Questions about programs should be directed to the program providers noted in the program descriptions above. Questions about the scholarships themselves may be sent to [email protected].

Foundations in Education for Sustainability 2025

Spend five rich days with colleagues from around the country at an informative and restorative
experience that will give you the opportunity to deepen your understanding of Education for
Sustainability (EFS). This program is held at Shelburne Farms and is part conference, part
workshop, part retreat.

Designed to be dramatic and democratic, the Institute offers teachers the time and space to
develop projects of personal interest while providing opportunities to learn from colleagues and
other leaders in the field of Education for Sustainability. Interactive sessions will feature a blend
of individual work time, peer-to-peer feedback, resource sharing, hands-on learning experiences,
and large and small group discussions. Our overall goal is to ensure participants have the
opportunity to develop connections between curriculum and community, work and dialogue
together, and reflect in an inspiring setting that models sustainability and systems-thinking.
The CGC Scholarship for Shelburne Farms program covers the $750.00 tuition with light
breakfast and lunch and the four nights $350.00 accommodation fee. You must register for the
course through Shelburne Farms. CGC Scholarship application deadline: April 3, 2025.
If you have questions about the program, please contact the Director of Professional Learning,
Jen Cirillo at [email protected] or 802-985-0315. For registration, contact
[email protected]

Program Location: Shelburne Farms, 1611 Harbor Road, Shelburne, Vermont
Intended Audience: Pre-K to grade 12 teachers
Course Provider: Shelburne Farms
Date and Time:  Monday, July 7,2025 to Friday, July 11,2025

CGC Scholarship application deadline: CGC Scholarship application deadline: March 21, 2025.

Program information is the best available at the current time, and may change pursuant to
institutional/government/health/safety guidelines.

Farm to Table Experience for the Classroom

Join us at Snug Harbor’s Heritage Farm to break a sweat, get your hands dirty and be a farmer for
a few days. This is a behind-the-scenes, hands-on opportunity to learn how a farm and compost
site operates. You will learn classroom techniques for guiding students in your school garden and
create home-school connections. Topics include site design and crop planning, seed germination,
greenhouse engineering, harvesting, food waste diversion and composting. Participants should
expect to exercise both their minds and bodies throughout the course.

The CGC scholarship for this Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden program covers
the $300 fee for the program, related materials and a light snack. Snug Harbor cannot grant P
credit, however, we can provide the learning blueprint to your administration.

If you have questions and need more information about the program, please contact
[email protected] or call 718-425-3520. CGC Scholarship application deadline: CGC Scholarship application deadline: March 21, 2025.

Course Location: Snug Harbor Heritage Farm, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY
Course Provider: Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden
Intended Audience: Grades 3-8 teachers
Date and Time: July 28 – August 1, 2025. 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Program information is the best available at the current time, and may change pursuant to
government/health/safety guidelines.

Herbal Wisdom: Exploring Food, Family & Culture

An On-Line course

Herbs have been used for centuries in medicine, religion, cooking, and health, offering benefits like food, healing, creativity, and cultural significance. This course will focus on exploring the world of herbs to understand botany, nutrition, culture, and climate change. Participants will learn how to cultivate and utilize herbs to enrich their curriculum and support culturally responsive education. The course will cover selecting, planting, growing, maintaining, and harvesting herbs in school gardens. We will highlight herbs that are drought tolerant, hardy, and can adapt to temperature fluctuations. Participants will learn about the historical context, customs and uses of the herbs that are commonly grown in New York City. Using herbs as a vehicle for learning, participants will create lesson plans and engaging activities that shine a light on the rich cultural background of their students. Participants will learn how to make various herbal body care products like salves, face masks, and relaxing room sprays with essential oils.
After that, participants will learn how herbs are used in delicious and nutritious cultural staples like curries, Guasacaca, Chimichurri, and teas of all sorts. Additionally, participants will also learn how to use herbs for healing in poultices, infusions, and oxymels. The final project involves designing an herb garden with six types of herbs and five activities that reflect students’ diversity, connect to their lives and engage them in science concepts. 

The CGC scholarships for The Horticultural Society of New York programs cover the $225 fee
for the program and related materials, as well as the $125 fee for the “P” in-service credits. CGC
Scholarship application deadline: CGC Scholarship application deadline: March 21, 2025.

If you have questions or need more information about the programs, please contact the Director
of Education, Pamela Ito at 917-886-1707 or [email protected].

Course Location: On Line with synchronous time daily from 9:30-noon and asynchronous time in the afternoon.
Course Provider:  The Horticultural Society of New York
Intended Audience:  Grades 3-5 teachers
Dates:  Mon July 28-Sat Aug 2, 2025
Credits: 45 Hours – 3 “P” credits through ASPDP

Program information is the best available at the current time, and may change pursuant to
government/health/safety guidelines.

Urban Agriculture: Science, Justice and Sustainability

This on-line course will concentrate on best practices for cultivating vegetables and herbs in
New York City schools. Participants will explore strategies for what, how, and when to grow to
enhance student learning while supporting culturally responsive pedagogy. Key topics will
include climate-smart soil amendments, growing crops in small spaces, sustainable watering
techniques, integrated pest management, and harvesting methods encouraging student
engagement. Participants will also create a collection of nutritious, culturally relevant recipes to
promote healthy eating in school communities. Daily, synchronous, virtual sessions with
instructors from The Horticultural Society of New York will provide step-by-step guidance on
assembling raised beds, using vertical space, installing irrigation systems, harvesting crops, and
preserving produce. Participants will design, budget and create a sustainable fundraising plan to
either establish or improve an existing garden or urban farm in their school. Using urban
agriculture as a dynamic, cross-disciplinary tool, participants will create lesson plans and
interactive activities that reflect the cultural diversity of their students, helping to shine a light
on the rich diversity of their students’ cultural backgrounds.

The CGC scholarships for The Horticultural Society of New York programs cover the $225 fee
for the program and related materials, as well as the $125 fee for the “P” in-service credits. CGC
Scholarship application deadline: CGC Scholarship application deadline: March 21, 2025..

If you have questions or need more information about this program, please contact the Director
of Education, Pamela Ito at 917-886-1707 or [email protected].

Course Location: On-Line with synchronous time daily from 9:30-noon and asynchronous time in the afternoon.
Course Provider:  The Horticultural Society of New York
Intended Audience:  Grades 3-8 teachers
Dates:  Wed July 16, Thurs July 17, Fri July 18, Mon July 21, Tues July 22, Wed July 23, 2025
Credits: 45 Hours – 3 “P” credits through ASPDP

Program information is the best available at the current time, and may change pursuant to
government/health/safety guidelines.