The Athenian Garden Lab: Here’s What You Need to Know

Has Athenian forgotten about Round Square's Environmentalism pillar? The internationalism, democracy, leadership, and service pillars are apparent in students’ everyday lives,. but the Environmentalism pillar hasn’t received much attention. A new Garden Lab project may revive Athenian’s focus on this important principle after years of decay. 

The Garden Lab project was started in order to support Athenian’s stewardship of its environmentalism pillar. 

The Athenian Garden Lab will be a collection of gardens and intentional outdoor spaces placed around Athenian’s campus, inviting the broader community to be in touch with the environment available around them. 

“[This is a] huge opportunity to create a space and an outlet for students to learn about [eviromentalism] together,” said Erin Frederick, Director of Philanthropy at Athenian and member of the Garden Lab Committee with an administration standpoint.

Frederick, along with Whitney Hofacker, Dean of Experiential Education, and Cassie Kise, Director of the Carter Innovation Studio at Athenian, have been stewarding this project in many phases. In 2020, a generous donation was given to the school to support the project of revitalizing the school’s connection to nature and a culture of responsibility to environmental sustainability. 

While the Garden Lab hopes to shift individuals’ viewpoints on their responsibility to the environment, some physical results the Garden Lab would like to incorporate include: an organic outdoor garden, a greenhouse, an indoor vertical garden, rainwater catchment, orchard revitalizations, an olive press, and even an apiary. These structures will encourage student involvement and hopefully make students cognizant of the purpose of the space. 

These structures will be established with the objective to educate and empower students, for “if students have something tangible that [they] can enjoy the fruits from, then [the nature is] more incorporated in [their] lives, and the connected culture around environmentalism will be strengthened,” said Andrew David, current physics and astronomy teacher in the Upper School.

The Garden Lab Committee consists of three administrative members, one resident or boarding community member, two middle school faculty, two upper school faculty, and three upper school students. 

“This committee brings together people who share [the same] interest of bringing environmental education and sustainability and garden programs here to Athenian, and can speak from different viewpoints,” Britt SchlaeGuada, current environmental science and chemistry teacher and a member of the Garden Lab Committee, said.

The purpose of the committee is to inform decision-making on landscape and architectural design, the integration of the Garden into the school curriculum, and to cultivate a culture of shared responsibility for the environment. 

The Garden Lab supports Athenian’s environmental stewardship pillar and will be a space to explore food systems, climate solutions, and wellbeing. It will be in the working over the next few years and will hopefully make a successful recommitment to the Environmentalism pillar.