Gardening

The RTM Gardening Program is an integrated part of the school program and a complement to the summer wilderness program. Nature, in the garden as well as in the wilderness, illustrates the consequences, both natural and logical, of behavioral choices.

Responding to the needs of living and growing plants creates opportunities for our students to be responsible and to contribute to something outside themselves. Often this process requires the students to delay immediate gratification and to invest energy in long-term results. This becomes an important metaphor and lesson that can be applied to other aspects of the student's life. Hands-on activities in gardening give students with attention issues a chance to remain focused for extended periods of time.

By raising, sharing and utilizing food and flowers from their gardens and greenhouses, students experience a very tangible success. Their efforts create beauty and abundance in a genuine contribution to the living environment of both students and staff. Students report that they feel proud of the food that they produce, find gardening relaxing and appreciate the chance to demonstrate responsibility.