About

Career Discovery and Diversity

ASLA is committed to strengthening the pipeline to include underrepresented students entering the profession. Diversity within the profession continues as an important strategic focus for ASLA.

Career discovery  

 ASLA Career Discovery and Diversity is:
  •  Building strong community relationships
  •  Developing quality resources for students, teachers and members
  •  Partnering with educator and advising professionals
  •  Exploring landscape architecture as a STEM discipline
  •  Modeling effective outreach engagement for ASLA chapter adoption and implementation
Green Roof Tours

ASLA welcomes schools opportunities to visit our headquarters and learn about landscape architecture, take part in hands-on design activities, and hear from staff on the work of ASLA.
  
 
   ASLA Outreach

 

 Connoly Holy Child  

Explore Career Discovery and Diversity Resources for PreK-12 Teachers

 ASLA invites educators to explore a host of free resources that support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curricula. Visit ASLA's Tools for PreK-12 Teachers web page.

       ASLA Outreach  
     The ASLA Green Roof Education Program offers  teacher resources for grades 6-8 to study green roof technology. It includes interactive online presentations; downloadable lesson plans, activities,  student workbook, and teacher guide;  career advice on landscape architecture; and helpful links.
  • Activity Books are available digitally in English and Spanish.
  • DREAM BIG with Design is a two-day virtual event that allows prek-12 students and educators to experience landscape architecture through live sessions.
  • Green Trees and Sam developed by Shannon Gapp, ASLA/Bolton & Menk, is a delightful digital book of adventures about a young girl aspiring to become a landscape architect.
  • I Want to be a Landscape Architect video is a great way to inspire students of all ages.
  • The Roof Is Growing! is ASLA's premiere Green Roof Education Program that includes a host of teacher resources, videos and fun interactives.
  • Tools for Teachers includes lessons plans, case studies and hands-on activities.    
Landscape Architecture in K-12 STEM Curriculum (Video) 

Richard Jones, ASLA, Past President of Mahan Rykiel Associates, led a unique partnership with Frances Scott Key Middle School to support the school's  STEM-based environmental education curriculum with Birdland. 

          
  • Virtual Career Day Center allows students hear from innovative landscape architects around the world who love their careers, have amazing hobbies, and love to travel.
  • Virtual Reality Videos:  Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, NY | Klyde Warren Park, Dallas, Texas   |  Underpass Park, Toronto, Ontario.
  • YOUR LAND magazine is available only in digital format.  
  • Your Path to Landscape Architecture is filled with resources for high school students and counselors. The site also hosts “Diverse Voices,” two videos sharing unique perspectives from professionals in the field.

Outreach Engagement and Partnerships 

Career Discovery and Diversity programming has expanded its partnerships and collaborations to groups that prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion and also focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning.

Future City Competition

As the first and only design group represented in the international STEM competition, ASLA is thrilled to sponsor its Special Award for Design-Centered Solutions with Nature. The Future City Competition attracts over 60,000 middle and high school students annually.

Each year, ASLA members serve as mentors and judges to support students who design authentic and innovative projects that transforms their understanding of the role landscape architects play with engineers to strengthen their teamwork, problem-solving, and project management skills. 

    FCC
(Photo Credit: Future City. As a partner of Future City, ASLA sponsored the special award category, Best Integration of Nature-Powered Solutions in 2019 and 2020. Winners from the Central Pennsylvania region ranked highest.)

  In the News: Past ASLA Special Award Winners 

   PreK-12 Summer Camps, Competitions, and Enrichment Programs 

    CDD SLIDES

 Discover landscape architecture over the summer. Visit ASLA's PreK-12 Summer Camps, Competitions, and Enrichment Programs web page and explore learning opportunities across the U.S. for students of all ages. 

 Career Discovery and Diversity News
  •   See what ASLA National and members across the country are up to on ASLA LAND (search the Career Discovery News and Diversity and Inclusion categories).
  •   Follow Career Discovery and Diversity activities on   ASLA social media 
  •   Share your k-12 outreach activities on social media and tag #ASLACareerDiscovery #ASLADreamBig.

Please direct requests and questions to Lisa J. Jennings, Senior Manager, Career Discovery and Diversity at ljennings@asla.org.

 

Contact

ASLA General Inquiries:
info@asla.org  

ASLA Center Event
Space Inquiries: 
Janet W. Davis 
jdavis@asla.org

PR Inquiries:
communications@asla.org  

Diversity, Equity,
and Inclusion
Lisa Jennings
Senior Manager, Career Discovery
and Diversity
ljennings@asla.org 

Donations to the ASLA Fund: 
DonateToday@asla.org  

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