Become A Landscape Architect
Design Academy for K-12 Educators: TEACHING ENVIRONMENTAL HUMANITIES THROUGH LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
istockphoto.com / Leo Patrizi
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) believes that great
landscapes reflect the diverse voices of the communities they serve, honor the
history of placemaking, and inspire stewardship across generations. These values can
only be realized when all voices — including those of k-12 educators and young
learners — are engaged in design-centered learning.
From Wednesday,
July 23 to Friday, July 25, 2025, ASLA will host a three-day immersive
professional development workshop specifically tailored for K–12 educators eager
to explore environmental humanities through the lens of landscape architecture. The program includes
an optional Saturday excursion to the Smithsonian Institution to deepen
understanding and spark new ideas for bringing environmental humanities and design
into the classroom.
Hosted at
ASLA’s state-of-the-art Headquarters in Washington, DC, the Teaching
Environmental Design through Landscape Architecture workshop will empower
educators to integrate environmental design into humanities curriculum by
uncovering meaningful connections between landscape architecture and subjects
such as history, anthropology, human geography, archaeology, literature, and
visual arts.
Participants
will engage in dynamic educational sessions led by practicing landscape
architects and explore the roles of history, culture, and storytelling in
shaping our built and natural environments through guided site
visits to iconic urban landscapes and cultural landmarks that exemplify design
excellence and ecological awareness.
Workshop Themes or Design Connections include:
- Sustainable Design
- Climate Resiliency
- Environmental Humanities
- Green Building Design
Sites and Site Designers include:
- Franklin Park with David Rubin, FASLA, PLA, FAAR
- City Center Plaza with Rodrigo Abuela, ASLA, PLA, LEED AP BD+C
- Georgetown Day School Playground with Nathan Schleicher
- Howard University with Glenn LaRue Smith, FASLA and Marc Massay, ASLA
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library Modernization Green Roof Project with Sara Downing, ASLA, PLA, LEED AP BD+C
- Smithsonian Institution Gardens with Matthew Sellers
ASLA's Design Academy for K-12 Educators would not be possible without the generous support of ASLA Fund donors.
Please direct questions to Lisa J. Jennings, Senior Manager, Career Discovery and Diversity at ljennings@asla.org.