K-12 Education

School Programs

Theodore Payne Foundation offers unique opportunities to experience our local habitat. Direct experience with Southern California’s rich native environment awakens an understanding of our shared heritage, fosters stewardship and community, and the desire to find a sustainable future.

Our programs foster rigorous inquiry and deepen knowledge of the local environment. Each year, more and more students experience California native plants through the Foundation’s programs. Programs include: field trips to our outdoor site, school and community visits and workshops, service-learning, youth-teach-youth, family programs, and at-school installations of California native gardens.

Engaging students

Many students, especially those living in dense urban areas, rarely engage with our natural habitat. But in every place, students can connect to their environment, from the densest city to TPF’s Wild Flower Hill. K-12 programs engage students from where they live, with the land beneath their feet, in school or in our 22-acre outdoor classroom, to learn more about our environment, past, present, and future.

Collaborating with teachers

Educators are a priority at Theodore Payne Foundation. Our goal is to help teachers to augment and complement their classroom curriculum and to meet local, state, and national academic standards through our expertise and resources.

We offer field trips, teacher professional development workshops, and provide online materials to support teachers in the classroom. TPF helps design and build California native gardens on school grounds.

Theodore Payne Foundation works with educators to help implement Next Generation Science Standards and the Environmental Education Initiative, and transitioning to STEM or STEAM in K-5.  We are currently developing a wide array of lesson plans. Available soon!

Opportunities: 

• At TPF: Field trips, Service training, Pre-school, Community Groups
• At Schools: School Visits, Garden Design and Support
•For Teachers: Plan Your Visit, Professional Development, Lesson Plans (coming soon!)
•Educational internships (coming soon!)