Establishing Schoolyard Forests: Strategies for Incorporating Schoolyard Forests into Districts’ Plans and Systems

This article provides school district leaders, agency partners, and advocates with an overview of strategies and actions they can take to integrate schoolyard forests into institutional systems. By doing so, they can ensure these forests thrive as integral components of both the physical and academic infrastructure in every school. Strategies include: case-making and awareness, a shared vision and goals, establishing a policy framework, site and infrastructure planning, addressing staffing and management, developing partnerships, developing long-term stewardship processes, supporting curriculum integration, exploring diverse funding sources, and tracking impact.