Skip to main content

Hartsfield Elementary

Magnet School for International Studies

EcoSchool Program

  • A group of people, including children and adults, stand around a raised garden bed during a 'Garden Party - planting flowers' event.
  • A teacher holds a small plant, explaining it to a group of attentive children gathered around a blue picnic table.
  • A smiling boy holds up a freshly harvested potato plant with red potatoes attached.
  • Children and an adult stand by a raised garden bed filled with soil, ready for planting.
  • A group of children and an adult wash freshly harvested potatoes in a garden.

EcoSchool Program

A banner displays 'Nationally Certified EcoSchool' with logos and a colorful design.

 

Environmental Education at Hartsfield

At Hartsfield Elementary Magnet School for International Studies, learning extends beyond the classroom. Through hands-on environmental education, students develop the knowledge, skills, and responsibility needed to become thoughtful stewards of the environment.

Schoolyard Habitat

In partnership with the Florida Wildlife Federation, Hartsfield created a thriving schoolyard habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. This outdoor learning space provides students with opportunities to observe ecosystems, explore biodiversity, and learn about conservation through real-world experiences.

Our dedicated Eco-Action Team—made up of students, administrators, teachers, families, and community volunteers—helps maintain the habitat and lead environmental initiatives throughout the school. In recognition of these efforts, the National Wildlife Federation’s EcoSchools U.S. program awarded Hartsfield Bronze-Level Status, marking an exciting milestone in our journey as a nationally recognized EcoSchool.

Vegetable & Herb Gardens

Hartsfield’s vegetable and herb gardens provide even more opportunities for hands-on learning. With the support of dedicated community volunteers, students help plant, care for, and harvest a variety of crops, including carrots, leafy greens, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, herbs, and more.

The gardens encourage inquiry, observation, teamwork, and healthy living while allowing students to experience fresh, home-grown food firsthand. Harvested produce is shared with Hartsfield students, families, and staff, and may also be sold at local farmers’ markets to help support future gardening projects.

Through our outdoor learning spaces, Hartsfield inspires curiosity, environmental responsibility, and a lifelong appreciation for nature while enriching every student’s educational experience.

🌼 Interested in the Hartsfield Gardens? Contact Us! 🌼

Marney Richards
marneyrichards370@gmail.com

Nancy Oakley
nancygrayoak@gmail.com

 

EcoSchools U.S.

Project Learning Tree