Landscape Architect Articles

ASLA Launches Educational Resources for K-12 Teachers, Students04-14-14 | News

ASLA Launches Educational Resources
for K-12 Teachers, Students

The ASLA educational resources explain to students how landscape architects draw upon knowledge of the environment, sciences and arts to design outdoor spaces and green infrastructure, such as plazas, campuses, parks, playgrounds, streetscapes and residential properties. The Career Discover website shows the evolution of Columbus Circle in New York City from sketch to reality as a prime example for students.

The American Society of Landscape Architects announces two new educational resources to help young people and teachers explore the landscape architecture profession: a redesigned Career Discovery website and the new Tools for Teachers. The launch is part of ASLA's outreach for National Landscape Architecture Month in April.

The Career Discovery website's target is middle and high-school students. It explains what a landscape architect does and how to become one. With a background that features the evolution of Columbus Circle in New York City from sketch to reality, the website shows how landscape architects creatively solve complex urban and environmental issues through design. Columbus Circle was redesigned the OLIN landscape architecture firm, and received a 2006 ASLA Honor Award in the general design category.

The website also includes two videos—"Personal Paths" and "Why Become a Landscape Architect?"—featuring landscape architects and designers on why landscape architecture is the perfect career for art and science-oriented students.

Tools for Teachers is an educational hub for K-12 teachers. It offers fun, free classroom activities to inspire lesson plans and start classroom discussions about landscape architecture. It includes links to all of ASLA's educational resources, including:

Hands-on classroom activities aligned to national teaching standards

The Roof is Growing! green roof education program

Designing Our Future: Sustainable Landscapes pages offering educational animations, case studies and K-12 classroom activities

A link to a reservation form to visit the green roof on ASLA's Washington, D.C. headquarters.

"Students need to know at an earlier age why landscape architecture is a fun, rewarding, and important career that helps communities become great places to live," said Mark Focht, FASLA, president of ASLA and first deputy commissioner of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.