Teacher Professional Development

Free Registration for practicing K-7 Teachers!
September 2023 – June 2024
Wednesdays from 7:00pm – 8:30pm
September 6, October 11, November 8, December 6, January 10, February 7, March 6, April 10, May 8, June 5

This online 10-part series with Megan Zeni will support K-7 elementary teachers eager to explore opportunities for teaching across the curriculum in their Westcoast school garden.

Each month we will review timely tasks that help keep gardens growing, as well as specific curricular connections, and practical management tips for teaching outdoors. Seasonal resources will be shared, and participants are encouraged to share their own success stories and challenges to broaden our collective expertise.

Register now!

The VBGA is pleased to offer Private Teacher Professional Development Workshops at VanDusen Botanical Garden for your full staff team this upcoming school year!

Design your perfect day of customized learning and skill-building for your team by selecting from a menu of workshop themes best suited to your team. Our workshops are facilitated by our dynamic VBGA education staff, using the 55-acre garden as our classroom for the day. Programs will run out of the Guides Classroom in the Visitor Centre.

Choose from half day (3hrs) or full day (5hrs) programs.

Themes include:

• Iconic BC Trees
• Natural Heritage Walk
• Flowers & Pollinators
• A Seasonal Sense of Nature
• Coastal BC Native Plants
• Nature Play in the Garden
• Birds & Plants

*Please confirm availability of  seasonal programs.

We look forward to welcoming your staff team to the Garden!

With a limited number of dates available each year, booking well in advance is highly recommended.

How to Book: For inquiries, please send an email with your preferred workshop date, name, school and district, estimated number of staff, to Jessica Henry, Assistant Director of Education: jhenry@vandusen.org.

2024 Program Fees:  

*A non-refundable deposit of $250.00 for half-day/ $450.00 for full-day programs is required to reserve your program date at the time of booking. The booking deposit will be applied towards the remaining fee for the program. The remainder of the program fee; (+gst) and charges for all additional participants (over the 20 participants included in the base fee) will be invoiced on the day of the program, to be paid in full within 2 weeks of the program date.

Cancellation Policy:
Due to high demand for these programs on professional development days, we are unable to offer refunds of the booking deposit fee. If you need to cancel your program, please notify us of your cancellation in writing to jhenry@vandusen.org.

If you are a K – Grade 12 teacher, you may be eligible for free online Botany, Ecology or Gardening classes to aid in your classroom teaching or development of a school garden. Check out our online course offerings under Adult Education – Botany & Ecology or Gardening & Design, then please complete this Request Form, and send to apineda@vandusen.org to register.