Terra BIRDS Grows Kids!

Terra BIRDS, a Flagstaff nonprofit, educates and empowers youth through gardening to help prepare them as the stewards of a sustainable future for humanity. Terra BIRDS is committed to their mission of outdoor, experiential learning that addresses health and happiness, sustainability, STEAM education and the environment, for all our youth. Terra BIRDS does this by developing and maintaining school gardens, delivering innovative programs, supporting teachers, collaborating with other community partners, and striving to be positive leaders for youth and young adults. 

John Taylor, Director of Terra BIRDS, works with students in the native plant garden at Sechrist Elementary School.

During the last school year, with funding from the Flagstaff Medical Center through the Fit Kids program, Terra BIRDS partnered with 38 classrooms at 10 FUSD schools and led approximately 850 students in weekly one-hour sessions for 8 weeks in both the spring and fall. This program gives students the hands-on opportunity to learn STEM content and skills under the broader theme of becoming ecological stewards of their school grounds. Terra BIRDS provided full or part-time jobs for six adults, internships for eight teenagers, and also engaged Ponderosa High School students, youth from the Juvenile Detention Center, interns from the Coconino County Career Center, NAU freshmen in the University College Program, and other volunteers to help deliver this program.  Terra BIRDS is currently piloting expansion of the program to Camp Colton.

Sechrist students share what they learned from their gardening experiences as they sit around the newly planted Three Sisters Garden.

Unfortunately, the FMC funding is no longer available, but Terra BIRDS is committed to continue their dynamic programming. If you can support Terra BIRDS, please go to their website at www.terrabirds.org or directly to their funding site here. Let's work together to grow healthy kids!