Oct. 20-26, 2025

During the 2024-25 school year, the District had 133 public and public charter schools with gardens, more than 16,000 students engaged in garden-based learning and more than 1,000 teachers engaged in garden-based teaching. This October, OSSE is excited to bring attention to these school garden programs through DC School Garden Week. Learn more about school gardens that were active during the 2024-25 school year by visiting the Thriving School Garden Success Storymap.

OSSE and Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) staff will be out visiting all 133 schools with gardens over a 24-hour period on Oct. 20, 2025! We think we can do it! Track our progress here.

Background

DC School Garden Week was established in 2007 by the DC Environmental Education Consortium and then led by the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) in 2009. DOEE had been organizing tours of school gardens and outdoor classrooms for more than 20 years. With the passage of the Healthy Schools Act in 2010, OSSE became an event partner and began hosting events to highlight school gardens. In 2012, OSSE combined DC School Garden Week with DC Farm to School Week to create Growing Healthy Schools Week, which became Growing Healthy Schools Month in 2014. School Garden Week historically took place in October to highlight gardens when they are most heavily used by students and teachers.

Participating in School Garden Week

All District public and public charter school staff and students at schools with school gardens are encouraged to participate. Additionally, community-based organizations, District government agency partners, and community members that support schools with gardens are encouraged to get in on the fun!

• Students can submit entries for the Gilda Allen Best School Garden Award.
• School staff can share their school garden successes through
  • social media (#DCschoolgardenweek)
  • the School Garden Success Survey (coming soon)
  • the Sprout it Out Forum
• Anyone interested in learning more about school gardens can register for the School Garden Van Tour taking place on Oct. 25 from 10 a.m.12 p.m.

Related content: School Gardens Program (SGP)