get started

Step 1: Meet with Principal or After-School Director

The first step to establishing a Rebel Gardeners project in a school is through contact with the Principal. Of course this meeting is different depending on whether you are a teacher at the school or a passionate undergraduate volunteer. This is the meeting where the logistics of the site are set up. Primarily -what grade and class will the students be recruited from? Depending on the goals and needs of the school, the students can be pulled out of different classes during a particular period of the school day or after-school. If an existing teacher wants to participate, the projet could be built into an already formed class. Rebel Gardeners projects also transcends age- so a group can be 3rd graders, 8th, or 11th, or even a combination of students from different age ranges. If you don’t already work in the school, also make sure the principal identifies a primary school-based point person for support when needed.

You should leave the meeting with the principal with the following:

  • potential student participants and/or partner teacher
  • project schedule (days, times the project takes place)
  • location of project
  • contact information for primary school point person

Step 2: Recruit Students

The initial recruitment for any project at a school is an application process. This involves delivering a short presentation to all potential participants (for example every 7th and 8th grade classrooms) explaining the responsibilities and expectations of the project, followed by the dissemination of a parent permission form and written application. Those students who return both documents enter an interview process. Although it won’t work for every project, once a core group of students is established the interviews can be peer-led. Although it’s a bit different for each project, in general a ratio of 4-6 students per adult is ideal.

 

 

 



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