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Cultivate

Cultivate: Growing STEM Educators

Cultivate, STEM professional development sessions at Huntsville Botanical Garden for K-6 teachers!

Are you a little unsure of how to incorporate STEM lessons in your classes? Do you need solid resources, hands-on lessons and advice from professional educators to give you a boost of confidence in teaching STEM lessons? Then look no further than Cultivate. 

We will present ideas rooted in plant science for STEM lessons in a 5E Lesson Plan. All activities are linked to the Alabama Course of Study: Science standards and learning progressions. In addition to new enthusiasm and confidence for teaching STEM lessons, participants will leave with curriculum, a bin of STEM resources and a certificate for three PD credit hours.

Learn More

Register for Cultivate Sessions

Hands-on, plant science-based lessons designed to inspire your students.

Cultivate sessions take place here at the Garden. Participants are encouraged to bring a notebook and pen. Don’t forget your cell phone for taking photos! Dress comfortably for the weather because we will walk through the Garden. Additional details are provided to all registered participants via email a few days before each scheduled session.

Please email cultivate@hsvbg.org if you have any questions. To register, check out our upcoming Cultivate Sessions below.

Inspire & Engage Day

Winter 2025 Cultivate Session

Join us for Cultivate: Inspire & Engage Day for STEM Teachers at the Huntsville Botanical Garden on Saturday, February 1, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. This dynamic event will provide fresh, hands-on STEM activities focused on plant and environmental sciences, alongside 5E curriculum lesson plans tailored to Alabama Course of Study Science standards for PreK—6th grades.

Start your day with a professional development session specifically aligned to your teaching grade level, followed by a guided tour of the Garden. In the afternoon, participate in a Lunch & Learn session, where you’ll have the opportunity to network and gain insights from fellow educators and community STEM partners such as USSRC, WaterWorks, Energy Alabama, Huntsville’s Green Team and Hudson Alpha.

Attendees will receive curriculum materials, a bin of STEM resources, and a certificate for five PD credit hours.

Registration

  • Complete our scholarship application to receive your Inspire & Engage event tuition at 90% off.
  • Register for your corresponding morning session below, to reserve your spot for this event. We look forward to empowering you with STEM resources that you can immediately take back into your classroom to engage with your students!

Event Schedule

9:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. Cultivate Sessions by Grade Level

11:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. Guided Garden Tour

12:00 p.m. — 2:00 p.m. Lunch & Learn Networking in Carriage House

Cultivate Scholarship

Apply to receive 90% off the cost of tuition.

Receive 90% off the cost of tuition by completing and submitting the scholarship application! A member of the Huntsville Botanical Garden team will contact you with registration information within 2-3 business days after receiving your application.

This program is valued at $100.

Cultivate: On The Road

Bringing STEM to your campus!

In addition to our Cultivate sessions at the Garden, we’re excited to bring Cultivate directly to school administrators and teachers at their campuses! This program is available for professional development days or during faculty meetings—and best of all, it’s completely FREE to book!

Our on-the-road program offers hands-on STEM activities that focus on plant science and conservation, along with a curriculum that teachers can easily implement in their classrooms. Plus, we’ll lead a walking tour of the natural environment around your campus to inspire even more learning.

Contact cultivate@hsvbg.org or 256-830-4447 ext. 270 to schedule your preferred date.

Funding for this program is provided by the State of Alabama Legislature with additional support from The Daniel Foundation of Alabama, Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Alabama, Rotary of Greater Huntsville, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, and other philanthropic assistance.