The Audrey Stout Learning Garden at Shaker Heights High School is a living outdoor learning lab. The garden provides students with valuable experiential learning opportunities in a collaborative setting. This multidisciplinary learning space is made possible by generous contributions from the Shaker Schools Foundation and the family of Audrey Stout, a beloved Shaker teacher and avid gardener.
The garden is designed to reflect the District's commitment to the International Baccalaureate Programme and the diversity of the Shaker community. The four main quadrants of the garden are organized around regional themes: the Asian garden, European garden, and African garden hold plantings native to those regions; the "farm" is focused on sustainable agriculture; and the four central borders contain plants native to the Americas.
Seasonal plants are raised from seed by Environmental Science classes and the SEEDS club (Service, Environmental Education, Diversity, and Sustainability). Students raise and care for seedlings, keeping careful records of successes and learning opportunities. Community members and elementary school students are invited to planting and harvest events throughout the year.
The produce grown in the garden is donated to area food banks; utilized in school lunches at Shaker Heights High School; transformed into delicious recipes by SHHS students; and used in projects that enable students to learn about scientific concepts in creative ways, like hand pressed paper, canned goods, and dried herbs.
For more information about the garden or to schedule a visit, please contact Learning Garden Coordinator
Stacey Steggert or Assistant Coordinator
Paula Damm.