Grades 6-12 Programs
Rooting Together works with schools nationwide to enhance their local curriculum for grades 6-12. We focus on supplementing required curriculum by providing intergenerational cultural botany lessons based on traditional ecological Indigenous and cultural teachings both local and international. Here, we teach students that humans are part of the ecosystem and impart the important reciprocal relationships as caretakers between plants, animals, the land and water. Here is where they understand the great gift of reverence, gratitude and stewardship.
Field trips, community service, street care and school gardens are effective learning tools, especially when combined with direct interaction with Elders who can share traditional ecological knowledge. Taking students out into nature, where they can see, touch, and experience native plants and their environments, creates a deep connection to the material. Learning firsthand about the cycles of plant growth, harvesting, and production also gives students a more holistic understanding of their place and stewardship in ecological systems.
Including Elders in these experiences adds a powerful layer, as their teachings often contain centuries of wisdom that can’t be found in textbooks. They can provide context not only about the plants themselves but also about the cultural and spiritual significance of those plants, and how people have cared for the land across generations. This intergenerational exchange of knowledge is essential for preserving cultural practices and ensuring that students develop a deep sense of respect for the environment.
Students report feeling mentally and physically healthier, as well as more engaged with their community, highlights the dual benefit of such service projects , gardening and field trips. Not only are students making a positive environmental impact, but they are also benefiting personally by fostering a deeper connection to their surroundings, developing a sense of purpose, and improving their own well-being. This kind of engagement can be transformative, particularly for young people in fast-paced urban environments who might not have regular opportunities to connect with nature.
Program Areas Offered
Grades 6-12
01
Field Tirps
Rooting Together takes students on field trips to enhance their current curriculum. We offer an array of trips to identify native plants before and after harvest and production. We also recommend supplementing the field trips with Elders who kindly share the relevant traditional ecological knowledge.
03
Street Tree Care Programs
It’s not easy being green. Rooting Street Tree Care connects students with environmental stewardship, where green spaces and trees face significant challenges. The survival rate of NYC trees is low, largely due to pollution, limited space, and environmental stressors, so student involvement in tree care and park maintenance is not just an act of service—it’s a critical contribution to the health and longevity of the city’s urban ecosystems.
04
After School Programs
Rooting Together works with schools to provide afterschool programs that compliment timely curriculum and are developmentally appropriate for particular age groups that incorporates any or all of our program offerings such as gardening, field trips, community service and street tree care. If you are a school interested in providing an afterschool program, or a parent interested in enrolling your child, please contact us below for more information.
02
Community Service
Rooting Together’s Community Service connects students with land based stewardship.
The goal is providing resources to help students think critically about these issues and act as problem-solvers. By using their voices to advocate for trees, parks, and green spaces, they are learning important lessons in both environmental stewardship and community leadership.
04
School Gardens
Students work hands-on in either indoor or outdoor gardens, creating a powerful connection between stewardship, sustainability, community, environmental education, health, and cultural learning. In this program they learn different intergenerational and multicultural scientific technologies such as cover crops from African American Agriculture and companion cropping from Native American crops all the while learning about food sovereignty and independence.
04
Summer Programs
Rooting Together collaborates with summer school programs and local urban camps. For more information, contact us below.