Thanks to the NEF, and led by Bresnahan's very own teachers Kellie Beeler and Sue Simon, The Community Learning Gardens have blossomed into a vibrant, shared learning space for all students to enjoy. Every grade tends its own garden bed, and native plants were installed through Kristin Spinney's STEM classes, making the space a true community effort. Teachers like Tran Jost and Renee Ames have found meaningful ways to connect the garden to both science and the arts, through flower-focused art lessons and themes read alouds that teach concepts like ecosystems and pollination.

One especially memorable moment came when students discovered painted lady caterpillars on a native plant they had learned about, bringing their learning to life in real time. "It's a great opportunity for students to connect with nature and get their hands dirty," said Beeler. "The NEF has made it really easy for this project to grow and evolve... their support for materials, soil, and a seed library means we can just focus on getting these materials into kids' and teachers' hands," she said.