Why it Matters
Climate Change Education Gaps
Climate change is causing severe disruptions throughout the globe, resulting in major climatic events, including extreme temperature changes and major storms (IPCC, 2023). The climate change narrative is dominated by the hegemony of Western science (Acharibasam & McVittie, 2023). This limited perspective focuses on mitigating strategies or adaptations in the plant and animal communities (Acharibasam & McVittie, 2023). While these strategies are very important to understand and practice, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) emphasized that it is necessary to increase the response and focus, not only on mitigation and adaptation, but on education as well.
Why Early Childhood Matters
Using a land-based approach to introduce climate change at the preschool level will help lay the groundwork for lifelong environmental stewardship (Acharibasam & McVittie, 2023) and will emphasize reciprocity and sustainable living with early learners (Dharmasiri et al., 2025). These experiences help them understand environmental concepts at an earlier age, but this type of exposure helps build “the cognitive constructs necessary for sustained intellectual development” (Louv, 2008).
Why Families Matter
Young children learn more effectively when their family, community, and school are all working as a whole, and when all three of those parts work well with one another, that can impact the learner’s belief systems, thus encouraging healthy eating (Kelly & Brännlund, 2025).
Why Community Gardens Matter
We rely on volunteers to help us maintain and improve our garden. Whether you're looking to get your hands dirty or help out with events, we have a variety of opportunities available. Join us and make a difference in your community!
Why Indigenous Knowledge Matters
According to the IPCC (2022), over 80% of the world's remaining biodiversity is found in the territory of Indigenous Peoples. However, one question is why Indigenous knowledge is not granted the same weight in the conversation and response implementation surrounding climate change, as is Western science (Nxumal, 2015). Indigenous frameworks encourage the use of hands-on activities, like gardening, thus supporting engagement with the natural world for young learners.