STLCC Garden Classroom
Located on the Meramec campus, the Garden Classroom is a 10-acre outdoor learning environment where students move from lecture to living lessons, applying horticultural knowledge through hands-on work with plants, soils, landscapes and ecological systems.
A Living Laboratory for Learning
For nearly 60 years, Ĵý’s horticulture program has prepared students for careers in the green industry through applied learning, strong industry connections and hands-on experience.
The STLCC Garden Classroom extends that learning outdoors. Students can apply what they study in class, work with established plant collections and living landscapes and develop the practical skills, confidence and experience they need to succeed in the profession.
Investing in the Next Generation of Horticulture Professionals
With the completion of STLCC’s Transformed initiative and its new classrooms, laboratories and greenhouses, the horticulture program now has state-of-the-art indoor facilities to support student learning. The next step is strengthening the outdoor environment where much of that learning comes to life.
The Garden Classroom Master Plan provides a vision for a more connected, accessible and useful learning landscape, giving students greater opportunities to build the practical skills they need for careers throughout the green industry. With your support, we can turn this vision into a stronger outdoor classroom for the next generation of horticulture professionals.
Help Grow the Future of Horticulture at Ĵý
$350,000 Challenge Gift
The Mysun Foundation has offered a $350,000 challenge gift to help bring the Garden Classroom Master Plan to life. Support from the community can help STLCC meet the challenge and expand opportunities for horticulture students.
Help us create a space where students learn, connect with industry professionals and prepare for careers that contribute to the St. Louis region.
Connecting Students, Industry and Community
The Garden Classroom brings students, faculty, horticulture professionals and community members together in a shared outdoor learning environment. Planned improvements will strengthen the Garden Classroom as a place to learn, demonstrate, connect and engage through:
- Expanded plant collections that support horticulture courses and hands-on learning.
- Native plantings and green infrastructure that demonstrate sustainable landscape practices.
- Improved pathways and accessibility to make the Garden Classroom more connected and welcoming.
- Outdoor teaching and demonstration areas for instruction across the horticulture curriculum.
- Industry connection spaces where students can learn from and interact with horticulture professionals.
- Community learning spaces for educational programs, events and public engagement.
Together, these improvements will create a more useful, accessible and connected Garden Classroom for students, industry and the community.
Questions?
For questions about the horticulture program or Garden Classroom, contact Jerry Pence, horticulture program coordinator, at jpence@stlcc.edu.
For questions about supporting the Garden Classroom, contact Faith Barnes, executive director of the Ĵý Foundation at faith.barnes@stlcc.edu.