Who We Are

Learn about Ground Education’s history and what makes us unique!

About Ground Education

At Ground Education, the natural world is our classroom, fostering curiosity and mutual care for our surroundings.

We are a growing nonprofit with a passion for bringing high-quality, nature-based lessons to thousands of elementary school students as part of their school day.

Get Involved

Children and adults at a community garden, with one girl tending to leafy greens, and a large informational sign listing garden rules and values.

Line art of a cluster of cherries with leaves, drawn in white on a black background.

Our History

Founders pilot a garden learning program at Lowell Elementary

2008
Lowell's unique garden program recognized with CA PTA Spotlight and national Green Ribbon School Awards

2014
Founders cultivate seed funding and formally start Ground Education, expanding to 3 additional schools

2016
Our staff of 6 teaches and inspires 5,500 students virtually, 950 classes taught throughout COVID

2020
Our Summer enrichment program launches, creating year-round school site programming

2021
Ground Education grows into 24 schools, serving 52% of Long Beach elementary students

2024
Ground Education's during school program reaches 18,300 students in 33 schools with a staff of 33!

2026

Our Program

Think. Explore. Connect.

Our monthly lessons give students opportunities to think, explore and connect in the context of the natural world. They observe baby chicks, grow and pickle veggies, make fresh strawberry jam, build and cook with solar ovens, compost with worms, and so much more!

What We Do

Ground Education designs, builds, and maintains edible and native-plant gardens on elementary school campuses.

As part of our year-round outdoor education program, we provide ongoing lessons that nurture every student's academic, physical and emotional well-being.

We serve 33 campuses and more than 18,300 students in the Long Beach Unified School District, with the goal of reaching all 53 elementary campuses.

A Garden Educator smiles while teaching kids on their first day in the garden.

Our Curriculum

Our thoughtfully designed TK-5 eco-STEAM curriculum provides an immersive outdoor experience that complements a broad range of California content standards and brings classroom concepts to life.

Learn More

Kids use magnifying glasses to look for worms in the soil of a garden bed.

Our Founders

Holland Brown

Co-Executive Director and Founder

Holland has been a garden educator for the last 15 years and co-founded Ground Ed to bring nature to all students as part of their school day. She has a background in sustainability, training and consulting and when she's not working, you can find her in a forest.

Karen Taylor

Co-Executive Director and Founder

In 2006, Karen signed up at Back To School Night to be a “Garden Helper” and out of one scrappy Kindergarten planter box and a partnership with Holland grew Ground Education. She now hopes that Ground Education elevates the re-naturing of childhood. She hopes school gardens are places where every single one of us can be authentically present. She hopes we all can learn with nature that there are solutions to share.