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The Native Garden Network
The Native Garden Network empowers youth to design, plant, and maintain native gardens that bring life back to local ecosystems. By creating these thriving habitats, participants support pollinators, wildlife, and biodiversity while learning valuable ecological and leadership skills. You lead the vision, organize the project, and engage your community, while Nurture Natives provides guidance, templates, and facilitation to help turn your ideas into real-world impact.
How it Works
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Plan Your Garden: Design a native garden that fits your space and community. Use our guidance to choose plants that support local pollinators, wildlife, and biodiversity while reflecting your vision.
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Connect & Source Plants: We’ll help you connect with local nurseries, community gardens, or seed banks to access the right native plants for your region and ensure your garden thrives.
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Plant & Lead: Take charge of the installation, organize volunteers, and share knowledge about native species and sustainable gardening practices with your community.
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Show Your Impact: Capture your garden’s growth through photos, videos, or stories, and submit updates to be featured on the Nurture Natives Global Growth Map, social media, and website — inspiring youth and communities worldwide.
What Nurture Natives Provides
Nurture Natives helps you turn your Wild Roots project into a success by facilitating connections, providing guidance, and supporting your leadership. We’ll help connect you with a local Nurture Natives chapter if available, or other youth leaders in your area, and leverage our national partnerships to support your project. While we provide guidance on planning, plant selection, and outreach, you lead the vision, organize the event, and make the impact happen. Your work will be recognized globally through our Growth Map, social media, and website features, inspiring youth around the world to take action for biodiversity.
What You'll Gain
Skills, Leadership, and Real-World Impact
Leadership Experience: Plan, organize, and guide a meaningful garden project from start to finish.
Ecological Knowledge: Learn about native plants, pollinators, and sustainable gardening practices while teaching others.
Community Engagement: Inspire your peers, neighbors, and local volunteers to take action.
Support & Facilitation: Access templates, guidance, and mentorship from Nurture Natives.
Global Connection & Recognition: Be part of a worldwide network of youth changemakers and showcase your garden online.
Tangible Environmental Impact: Provide habitat for pollinators and wildlife while increasing native biodiversity in your community.
Who Can Participate?
Wild Roots is open to youth ages 13–21, with adults welcomed as mentors or advisors. Projects can be hosted at schools, parks, community centers, or private spaces— wherever there’s an opportunity to create a thriving native habitat.
To ensure all Native Garden initiatives are officially part of the Native Garden Network, participants should be registered youth members or part of a Nurture Natives chapter. This connection allows your garden to appear on our Global Growth Map and gives visibility to both your work and the organization. We provide guidance, sample plans, and connections to local nurseries or partners, but you remain in control of your garden’s design and activities. By submitting updates and sharing your project, you help showcase youth-led action for native biodiversity while proudly representing Nurture Natives.