2026 NATIONAL CHILDREN & YOUTH GARDEN SYMPOSIUM

JOIN US AT NCYGS 2026

The 34th Annual National Children & Youth Garden Symposium will take place in Pasadena, CA from Monday, July 13 to Thursday, July 16, 2026.

This year’s theme is “The Future of Youth Gardening.” The symposium will include interactive workshops, expert keynotes, engaging garden visits, and networking opportunities. Come for the fun and take back skills, ideas, contacts, and resources to take back to your own community! 

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Symposium Theme: The Future of Youth Gardening

Hundreds of educators from across the country will unite to explore how gardens serve as vital educational tools for conveying scientific concepts and preserving landscapes and culture. Leveraging a proven train-the-trainer model, the Symposium will feature interactive learning sessions covering a range of topics suitable for pre-K through 12th grade learning. Personalized visits to the area’s impressive and relevant gardens will offer opportunities to apply new concepts and connect with fellow youth garden educators from communities across the country.

Schedule at a Glance

Monday, July 13: Pre-Symposium Trip
Tuesday, July 14: Opening Keynote, Awards Presentation, and Sessions
Wednesday, July 15: Field Trip
Thursday, July 16: Closing Keynote and Sessions

Learn more about the 2026 NCYGS

Support Youth Gardening

Help make an impact on hundreds of teachers and hundreds of thousands of students every year. Become a 2026 NCYGS sponsor by contacting programs@ahsgardening.org.

Sponsors

G. Carl Ball Family Foundation
Julia Rappaport Growing Gardeners Endowment
Dr. Scholl Foundation