Beginning in November, the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood, housed in University of Delaware's College of Education and Human Development, will again offer the Let’s Grow Outside! professional development initiative for early childhood education programs. The innovative program teaches educators about outdoor gardening with young children and provides a grant-funded opportunity for participants to develop their own edible garden.

Funded by a Delaware Department of Education Farm to School grant and offered in collaboration with UD’s Cooperative Extension, this professional development experience helps participants understand the benefits of connecting children with gardening, gain the knowledge and skills for developing and sustaining a garden, use a supplemental gardening curriculum and plan for age-appropriate garden activities with children. As part of this experience, participants will receive the materials and tools needed for gardening.

This year, participants will visit existing gardens and attend four in-person learning sessions, including three workshops and a concluding celebration. The program begins on Nov. 22.

The application for the program is open now through Sept. 30. To learn more and apply, visit: https://www.dieec.udel.edu/lets-go-outside/