Fertilize your sprouting school garden with lesson plans, funding advice, and creative ideas from these experts.

American Horticultural Society — Offers annual Youth Gardening Symposium for educators interested in using gardens to support curricula. Call (800) 777-7931.

Chicago Botanic Garden Education Programs — Conducts workshops and an annual School Garden Symposium open to all educators. Contact Teacher Services at (847) 835-8323.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources — Offers Project WILD, a set of schoolyard habitat curricula adapted to Illinois state learning standards. Also provides schoolyard habitat grants. Call (217) 524-4126.

Illinois State Board of Education — Shares online information on schoolyard ecosystems and lists extensive curricular, classroom, and career resources.

National Gardening Association's KidsGardening program — Provides teachers' resources, keeps a school garden registry, and offers Youth Garden Grants. Call (800) 538-7476.

National Wildlife Federation — Explains how to turn a school campus into a certified habitat-based learning site as part of its Backyard Habitat Program. Offers information kit and newsletters, explains certification process, provides list of certified gardens. Mini-grants available. Call (800) 822-9919.

Mighty Acorns — A region-wide collaboration, introduces elementary school students to nature through stewardship and exploration. Contact Colleen Kulesza at (847) 428-2240.

Openlands Project — Collaborates in the Chicagoland Green Teacher Network, which features an online bulletin board, teacher workshops, and newsletters. Contact Glenda Daniel at (312) 427-4256 x228.

Wild Ones — A national organization with chapters in Illinois which work with schools and other places of learning to develop outdoor learning centers using native plant species not only through their Seeds for Education committees, but also through their Seeds for Education Grant Program. Contact Seeds For Education Director at (877) 394-9453.