YOUNGSVILLE, LA (March 28, 2025) – Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy (ARCA) 3-5 students will celebrate National Gardening Day early on April 4, 2025, with hands-on activities designed to promote healthy living, environmental stewardship, and creativity. National Gardening Day is officially held on April 14, but the school is on spring break at that time. The principal and science lab teacher didn’t want the opportunity to pass the students by, so they decided to celebrate early.
The school will host these activities as part of its school garden project, a collaboration with the LSU AgCenter. This initiative teaches students about healthy food choices and the importance of green spaces. “We’re excited to offer our students a chance to connect with nature and learn in a fun, interactive way,” said Erin Marcotte, ARCA 3-5 principal. “National Gardening Day lets us integrate science, art, and music to encourage students to consider their world and their role in it.”
Throughout the day, students will engage in interdisciplinary activities that blend environmental education with key life skills. Highlights of the day include:
- Science Lab: Students will observe live caterpillars in the butterfly atrium and learn about the butterfly life cycle.
- Music: Students will create musical instruments from garden materials, then compose a garden-themed song.
- Art & Spanish: Students will press flowers and learn about the life cycle of plants while labeling them in both Spanish and English.
“These projects help students understand how their actions can positively impact the environment,” said Stacey Boone, science lab teacher. “They combine science with creativity, inspiring students to develop a love for nature and healthy living.”
In addition to these lessons, students will harvest vegetables from the school garden during PE and prepare a healthy snack with the fresh-picked ingredients. They will also create recycling posters to support the school’s Girl Scout-led recycling project.
Marcotte added, “By celebrating National Gardening Day, we help students develop a sense of responsibility for the environment and an appreciation for healthy food choices.”
Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy 3-5, located at 600 Savoy Road in Youngsville, serves students in grades three through 5 on the Acadiana Renaissance Charter School campus. The campus includes four separate buildings serving students in kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth, sixth through eight, and nine through 12. It is part of the Charter Schools USA family of schools and abides by its Mission: a relentless commitment to student greatness in school and in life, its values of purpose, passion, integrity, and grit, and its promise: Strong Minds, Good Hearts. For more information or to apply to attend, please visit 3-5.acadianacharter.org.
