Over more than a decade of experience teaching in urban classrooms, Grow + Learn founder David Hartung has sought methods for improving academic outcomes, student motivation, and social-emotional learning. Through research and student interviews, it became apparent that some common experiences of school such as the expectation to sit for extended periods, emphasis on testing above real-world meaning, and lack of multi-sensory learning materials were not best enabling children to succeed. 

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    To improve learning experience in consideration of the mandates of public schools, design thinking was used to ask, are there other ways that a school can safely use the space that is available? What multi-sensory projects can realistically be offered to connect learning objectives with a sense of discovery and accomplishment?

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    Gardening has proven to be such an activity, rich with opportunity for teaching measurable skills and the love of learning. Now having served communities in New York and Philadelphia, Grow + Learn seeks with its partners to support efforts of community engagement with nature in the most budget-conscious and effective ways possible.