Founded in 1997, the wylde center, formerly the oakhurst community garden project, is a non-profit environmental education organization. It features 4 acres of community greenspace. The wylde center is located in decatur, georgias most densely populated city. The wylde center manages two gardens in decatur and two gardens in atlanta. Its education programs take place in metro atlanta. The wylde center recognizes the importance of engaging with the natural world for youth and adults alike, and provides opportunities for doing so through our on-site and outreach programming, membership, imaginative garden features and variety of native habitats. The wylde center actively engages youth, families, and individuals in their environment, health, and community through organized programs, classes, and events that develop creative skills in sustainable urban living, organic gardening, health and nutrition. Edgewood community learning garden (eclg) and hawk hollow garden are the newest sites of t

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For the year ended december 31, 2017, the wylde center operated the following programs:(i)youth programming:wylde center is a resource for a diverse community and regards the education of youth on environmental sustainability as one of our main priorities. Wylde centers youth environmental education program serves over 12,500 students in grades prek-12 throughout the metro atlanta area including eight of the nine city schools of decatur, ten atlanta public schools, and one school in dekalb county. Wylde centers experiential environmental program teaches students the importance of good nutrition to health and how the food choices we make have an impact on the environment and community. In addition, the program teaches students about the environment through scientific and mathematical studies. In 2017, wylde center saw growth in all educational programs: field trips: wylde center environmental education field trips bring students to wyldes five greenspaces to explore the science of the natural world. Field trips engage students in first-hand discoveries about topics from agriculture to zoology and everything in between. Classes are led by highly trained and enthusiastic environmental educators. As students encounter wyldes gardens, streams, and woodlands, they learn to think critically, creatively, and responsibly about the world around them. In 2017, more than 3,000 students attended a wylde field trip. Farm to school: since 2012, wylde center has been providing the farm to school program to improve students and families awareness of the environment, nutrition, and gardening. By providing on-site education and garden maintenance at partner schools, wylde delivers a high quantity and quality of garden-based education that engages students minds and bodies in a hands-on learning experience. Teachers are able to choose from two dozen classes taught on site at their school by a highly trained wylde educator. Visits to the same partner schools occur several times over the course of the year. In 2017, wylde worked with 19 partner schools. Garden coaching: wylde center offers garden coaching services for schools, churches, and other non-profit organizations to help start gardens and keep them going. In 2017, wylde worked with several schools through its garden coaching program. Healthy living by healthy growing at decatur housing authority: wylde center serves the residents of the decatur housing authority through our healthy living by healthy growing program (hlhg) that works to increase gardening, cooking, and nutrition knowledge and access to and consumption of fresh foods. 2017 marked our second year working with adults, our fourth year working with the senior residents and our sixth year working with the youth. Six years ago we served the dha population once per week, now we provide programming for the residents four days a week with opportunities to expand to every day of the week in 2018. (ii)community outreach and events:community outreach and events enable wylde center to serve diverse populations. Wylde center hosts 15 public events per year including the earth day festival, smores for all, plant sale festival, and beer garden & silent auction to name a few. In addition, wylde center offers free gardening classes throughout the year at the dekalb county public library. Every january, we host a seed exchange free for the community to attend. (iii)decatur farm to school:the decatur farm to school initiative (df2s) is a grassroots effort led by parents, teachers, school administrators, community members and organizations. Farm to school programs connect schools with local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing health and nutrition education opportunities that will last lifetime, and supporting local farmers. The decatur farm to school initiative officially became a program of wylde center in october 2010. Wylde center and the df2s share the same