Environmental Education Centers
BrightFarm Systems designs rooftop environmental education centers for schools, universities, and other educational establishments. These centers provide a space and context for students to learn about core science concepts, local sustainable agriculture, environmental sustainability, and food nutrition.
On-site production of nutritious fruits and vegetables provides healthy food for the student body that can be used in the school cafeteria, while simultaneously emphasizing food quality and nutrition in the curriculum. Exposure and proximity to growing systems, enhances understandings of healthy eating and inspires students to make healthy food choices.
Unlike a school garden, which can have a limited growing season, a greenhouse has the potential to grow food year-round, providing a living resource for the entire school year, as well as summer programming.
We work with a school’s faculty and staff to design systems that combine a premier learning center with innovative sustainable technologies.
The design of these centers is informed by the expertise gained through two successful years of operating New York’s premier environmental education facility, The Science Barge.
Environmental Education Center Features:
- Dedicated classroom space that is designed to accommodate classes of at least 40 students at a time, year-round.
- Capability to produce tomatoes, lettuces, cucumbers, peppers, squash, berries, and/or other plants as selected by the school.
- Facilities that allow for experiential learning activities associated with recycling, composting, wastewater treatment, water purification, and horticulture.
