Flagstaff Junior Academy is a Montessori-based free public charter school located just north of the Downtown area. Focusing on exploratory learning and experiential knowledge, FJA’s mission intertwines with that of the School Garden ART.
The School Garden ART first partnered with Flagstaff Junior Academy during the 2011-2012 school year. Working with two FJA teachers and their combined first and second grade students, the School Garden ART organized and participated in the construction of three garden beds showcasing the keyhole, spiral, and rectangular designs.
The work continues at FJA with emphasis placed on both in the classroom and out of the classroom garden-related lessons. SUS graduate facilitators at FJA have the opportunity to work with NAU undergraduates to create activities and curricula for first and second graders. Whether NAU students are leading a planting session, explaining the life cycle of a seed, or planning next year’s crop, FJA offers a space to both educate and to learn.