About Us
Our Mission
The San Francisco Green Schoolyard Alliance serves children and families of San Francisco by promoting and supporting green schoolyards.We provide resources, training, and advocacy to school communities to help them create and sustain outdoor learning environments.
Background
The SFGSA was formed in 2001 to support the creation of outdoor learning areas in San Francisco’s schools. Since 2006, the Alliance has evolved from an all-volunteer project to an effective, professionally-staffed organization. In 2007 and 2008, thanks to support from the San Francisco Foundation, the Alliance engaged in a strategic planning process, in which all of the stakeholders in the green schoolyard movement participated. The result was a community-wide, yet also organization-specific, plan for supporting student learning through outdoor school environments. SFGSA successfully advocated for schoolyard greening by securing $12 million in the November '03, '06, and '11 San Francisco Proposition A voter-approved school bonds. These large bond measures are for facilities upgrades at SFUSD school sites. Specifically, all elementary schools and 10 middle and high schools in SFUSD have received or will receive $100,000-$150,000 to green their schoolyards.
SFGSA Advisory Board
Tom Bressan, Owner, The Urban Farm Store
Marian Chatfield-Taylor, Chair
Sharon Danks, Principal, Bay Tree Design, Inc.
Ayesha Ercelawn, Garden Coordinator, Tule Elk Park Early Education School
Annette Huddle, Director of Youth Education, San Francisco Botanical Garden Society
Raymond Isola, Principal, Sanchez Elementary School
Marcie Keever, Clean Vessels Campaign Director, Friends of the Earth
Nan McGuire, Former Chair
Dawn Nakano, SFUSD Parent
Richard Parker, Principal, 450 Architects
Rachel Pomerantz, Environmental Education Coordinator, Department of the Environment
Bolivar Puyol, Project Manager, Kwan Henmi Architecture/Planning, Inc. and SFUSD Parent
SFGSA Staff
Arden Bucklin-Sporer
Executive Director
Phone: 415.355.6979 x1565
Email: arden AT sfgreenschools DOT org
Rachel Pringle
Director of Programs
Phone: 415.355.6979 x1566
Email: rachel AT sfgreenschools DOT org
Joyce Lin-Conrad
Program Coordinator
Phone: 415.355.6979 x1538
Email: joyce AT sfgreenschools DOT org
Kat Sawyer
Project Manager, Tap the Sky Rainwater Harvesting Program
Email: kat AT sfgreenschools DOT org
Office
135 Van Ness Avenue, Room 408
San Francisco, CA 94102
info AT sfgreenschools DOT org
Fax: 415.252.5935
FAQs
Is a “green schoolyard” the same thing as a school garden?
A school garden is often a component of a larger green schoolyard. SFUSD green schoolyards might consist of a pond or water feature, a native garden, a food-system garden, solar panels, rainwater cisterns, and other ecologically appropriate teaching tools.
What can children learn in a green schoolyard?
A green schoolyard can offer children hands-on opportunities to learn about plants and animals (biology), the relationship between the seasons and weather, the sun and the earth (geology/environment), about the interrelationships between living things in the garden (ecology), about how to grow food and flowers and care for a garden (gardening/horticulture) and about how prepare food grown in the garden (cooking/nutrition). In addition, the green schoolyard is an outdoor classroom for the teaching of state education content standards.
What would I find in a green schoolyard?
Green schoolyards come in many sizes and forms, but certain features are common: a variety of accessible paths, varied habitats, a gathering place where an entire class can work together, seating areas for individuals and small groups, shade structures, flower and vegetable gardens, composting bins, and creative features such as murals, mosaics and paving stones created by children. One might also find a sundial, a weather station, a greenhouse, a labyrinth, birdhouses and bird feeders, or a chicken coop or rabbit hutch.
How do green schoolyards help the environment?
Green schoolyards are created in an environmentally sustainable manner:gardens are maintained organically, some school lunch waste may go toward supporting a worm bin, gardens feature native plants that are easy to care for and require less water, plants are chosen to favor local birds and butterflies. Asphalt is removed allowing natural rainfall to soak into the soil and nurture plants and animals rather than becoming storm water run-off. And most importantly, the city-dwelling children who spend time in a green schoolyard learn about nature, their local ecology, and are introduced to the values of stewardship.
Who maintains the green schoolyard?
The children, teachers, parent and community volunteers all have roles in maintaining the green schoolyard. In addition, most schools with green schoolyards employ a part-time garden teacher or coordinator to help the teachers design science projects and to work directly with the children in the garden.
How are green schoolyard projects in the public schools in San Francisco funded?
Historically, projects were funded entirely through parent association funds and private donations. A 2003 and 2006 facilities upgrade school bond provided public funding for design and construction of green schoolyards at forty five SFUSD elementary schools.
Do many public schools in San Francisco have some kind of green schoolyard space?
Yes, an increasing number of schools, from the pre-K level up to high school have green school yards. Presently, over 75 SFUSD school sites have some kind of school garden.
This FAQ sheet was in part written by Lynn Fuller, a parent at Sherman Elementary School.
Technical Help
help AT sfgreenschools DOT org