Abstract:

The Growing Galveston: School-Based Outdoor Education for a More Resilient Future project seeks to enhance environmental literacy, scientific engagement, and sustainability leadership among K-8 students in Galveston, Texas. Through hands-on, garden-based learning experiences and teacher professional development, students will explore the intersection of food systems, climate resilience, and local environmental challenges. By transforming school gardens into outdoor classrooms, the program will foster inquiry-based learning and empower students to apply scientific knowledge to real-world sustainability solutions in their own communities. This dataset will capture program outcomes for both students and educators, measuring changes in environmental literacy, engagement, and problem-solving skills. Data will be collected through student participation records, teacher training evaluations, surveys, and student-led eco-audits. Additionally, qualitative insights from classroom observations and interviews will document the program’s impact on student learning, environmental awareness, and the integration of outdoor education into formal curricula. The findings from this dataset will inform best practices for place-based education and contribute to broader efforts in fostering climate resilience through experiential learning.