A primary focus of the BGA is to educate young people about plant and earth science with the goal to inspire a love of gardening and encourage beneficial stewardship of the environment.

We Offer...

• Interactive demonstrations encouraging individuals to improve their skills and raise horticultural standards in their neighborhoods.
• Horticultural training, job experience, and internship opportunities for high school and college level students.
• Research studies on water, soil and plants for college level biology and horticulture students.
• Formal and informal horticultural classes for all ages and experience levels.
• Hands on science training for students K-12.

Current outreach programs...

UPSIDE Ohio – Using Plants for Science Instruction & Diverse Education
A unique program developed by The Botanical Garden Association in partnership with the Stark County Educational Service Center (SCESC) and funded for two years by a grant from the Ohio EPA’s  – Ohio Environmental Education Fund.
This program supplies stark county classrooms with a grow lab, seeds, soil, a curriculum and provides a science instructor integrating plant science with music and art. A twelve week program, just the right amount of time for students to grow a native Ohio plant to take home at the end of the program. Focusing on Ohio Academic Content Standards as well as building a student’s positive self image. Developed for second, third and fourth graders, the program has also successfully been used in a high school setting with students attending the Multi-County Attention Center.
Currently in the second year of the program with approximately 1,000 students participating from thirteen Stark county elementary schools. Last year the program served over 2,000 students. The BGA believes this program plants seeds of environmental stewardship  that reaches beyond the classroom and into the community and that the planted knowledge will grow for a lifetime.
The BGA’s grant committee is working on other grants to continue this program.