Application Deadline
Three-Day Professional Development Invitation for Elementary School Teachers from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) invites elementary school teachers to a one-of-a-kind professional development event at its headquarters in Washington, DC on Sunday, October 6, Monday, October 7 and Tuesday, October 8.
Landscape architects are responsible for designing a range of outdoor spaces from playgrounds and parks, to zoo, wetland, and urban river spaces to vegetable gardens.
As a formal STEM discipline, landscape architecture is the design outdoor spaces with natural elements that support climate resilience and healthy environments that are sustainable and equitable. Examples of local projects designed by our member landscape architects include Franklin Park and Washington Canal Park.
ASLA’s three-day professional development event was built on the success of its student-focused conference, DREAM BIG with Design, a Showcase of Landscape Architecture, and they are thrilled to launch DREAM BIG with Design: TEACHER’S EDITION in conjunction with ASLA’s Conference on Landscape Architecture at the Washington Convention Center.
Participants will learn about landscape architecture as a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) discipline and profession.
Participants will be trained to teach design principles within an interdisciplinary curriculum.
Participants will leave the workshop with an arsenal of plug-and-play resources and lesson plans to implement in their schools.
Participants will be connected to local landscape architects for classroom presentations and support on project-based projects.
Registration and meals covered by ASLA
Preliminary Schedule
Sunday - Lunch Reception 1-3pm at Farmers and Distillers
Monday and Tuesday - Lively sessions and hands-on activities led by ASLA design experts - 9am-4pm at ASLA Headquarters 636 I Street, NW, Washington, DC
Participants will also receive a tour of the dynamic EXPO HALL.
Focus Areas
Landscape Architecture as a STEM Discipline
Interdisciplinary Curricula Design
Design Education and Divergent Learning
Environmental literacy
Integration through the arts
Teaching Tools and Practices
Plug and Play Lesson Plan(s)
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
Be a current, licensed elementary-school educator in Washington, DC with a minimum of 3 years of classroom teaching experience. “Educators” include classroom STEM teachers and/or career educators.
Submit a detailed letter of interest with resume. Letters of interest should include a statement about current efforts to support climate resilience at their school and a description of an outdoor school project in need of support.
Optional: One letter of recommendation from a school administrator (principal, department head, etc.),
Application materials must be sent to Lisa Jennings, Senior Manager of Career Discovery and Diversity, ljennings@asla.org by Friday, September 6.
Learn more about landscape architecture and member projects on ASLA’s Tools for PreK-12 Teachers web page.