This lecture series, hosted by Green Schoolyards America, will provide technical, design-focused guidance for creating and stewarding high-quality green schoolyards and schoolyard forests. Sessions will feature presentations by subject-area experts including Green Schoolyards America staff, along with time for audience Q&A. All webinars are free and will be recorded.

We invite school district facilities staff, schoolyard designers, landscape architects, architects, public agency staff, and others who are involved in creating green schoolyards and schoolyard forests or want to learn more to join us for this interdisciplinary series. However, all are welcome!

Meeting Information

Registration

Participation is free and open to the public. Please register via Zoom below. Registering once gives you access to all listed sessions.

Format

Each session in this series will include an introduction by Green Schoolyards America and an engaging presentation by our guest speakers followed by Q&A time.

Upcoming Dates and Topics

These recurring online sessions are held on the first Thursday of each month, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm PT / 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET.

Winter/Spring 2024 Sessions — We invite you to join us in 2024 for the following upcoming lectures in the Schoolyard Design Lecture Series:

• May 2, 2024: Wildlife Habitat as Part of Living Schoolyards

• June 6, 2024: Maintenance and Stewardship of Schoolyard Forests
  
  * Additional lectures for summer, fall, and winter 2024 to be announced!

Accessibility

All meetings will occur online via Zoom. Attendees will have access to live captioning and a live transcript. All meeting presentations, including the Q&A time, will be recorded and available to the public on our website after each session.

REDUCING EXTREME HEAT AND SUPPORTING THERMAL COMFORT WITH SCHOOLYARD FORESTS

Guest Speakers
– Dr. V. Kelly Turner, Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Associate Director of Luskin Center for Innovation, UCLA
– Dr. Ariane Middel, Associate Professor, School of Arts, Media and Engineering, Arizona State University
– Dr. Jennifer Vanos, Associate Professor, School of Sustainability and the College of Global Futures, Arizona State University

Webinar Timing
0:00 Welcome, introduction, and updates by Lauren McKenna
4:20 Speaker introduction
8:05 Presentation by V. Kelly Turner, Ariane Middel, and Jennifer Vanos
49:43 Questions and discussion

STORMWATER SCHOOLYARDS

Guest Speakers
– Eileen Alduenda, Executive Director, Council for Watershed Health
– Justin Hegarty, Reflo
– Sharon Danks, Founder and CEO, Green Schoolyards America

Webinar Timing
0:00 Welcome, introduction, and updates by Lauren McKenna
3:20 Speaker introduction by Mikaela Randolph
6:35 Presentation by Eileen Alduenda
22:45 Presentation by Justin Hegarty
22:45 Presentation by Sharon Danks
37:50 Questions and discussion

SELECTING TREES FOR SCHOOLYARD FORESTS

Guest Speakers
– Arran Schultz, Landscape Designer, Bay Tree Design
– Joe McBride, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning at UC Berkeley
– Dr. Jenn Yost, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo & Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute

Webinar Timing
0:00 Welcome, introduction, and updates by Lauren McKenna
4:15 Speaker introduction by Lauren McKenna
7:24 Presentations by Arran Schultz, Joe McBride, and Dr. Jenn Yost
49:23 Questions and discussion

DESIGNING FOR CHILDREN’S HEALTH, LEARNING, AND PLAY

Guest Speakers
– Marcella Raney, PhD (she/her), Sr. Manager, Office of Well-being, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
– Nancy Striniste, (she/her), Principal Designer, EarlySpace, LLC
– Claire Latané, MLA FASLA (she/her), Associate Professor and Chair, Cal Poly Pomona Landscape Architecture

Webinar Timing
0:00 Welcome, introduction, and updates by Lauren McKenna
2:47 Speaker introduction by Lauren McKenna
7:25 Presentations by Marcella Raney, Nancy Striniste, and Claire Latané
49:35 Questions and discussion

SCHOOLYARD FOREST DESIGN PROCESS AND PRINCIPLES

Guest Speakers
– Alejandra Chiesa, California State Director, Green Schoolyards America
– Lisa Howard, Principal, Bay Tree Design

Webinar Timing
0:00 Welcome, introduction, and updates by Lauren McKenna
3:28 Speaker introduction by Lauren McKenna
6:18 Presentation by Alejandra Chiesa and Lisa Howard
42:26 Questions and discussion

INTRODUCTION TO SCHOOLYARD FORESTS IN THE CONTEXT OF GREEN SCHOOLYARDS

Guest Speakers
– Sharon Danks, CEO and Founder, Green Schoolyards America

Webinar Timing
0:00 Welcome, introduction, and updates by Lauren McKenna
3:16 Speaker introduction by Lauren McKenna
4:35 Presentation by Sharon Danks
32:30 Questions and discussion