Butterfly gardens are a multi-disciplinary project incorporating math, science, the arts, and languages.  By designing your garden for use as an outdoor classroom, it can be easily incorporated into the state science curriculum standards across the grades.  Gardens have also been used to enhance learning for emotionally and physically challenged students. Our Schoolyard Ecology Program offers hands-on support and $300 in matching funds for elementary, middle or high schools that wish to create natural areas at their school in the form of a butterfly garden.  

To qualify for SC LIFE monetary support:  the proposed garden must be at least 150 square feet, a school administrator must give written approval, at least 3 teachers must participate per site, teachers must attend one of the butterfly garden workshops conducted throughout the year by SC LIFE and Dr. Joe Culin of Clemson University, and documentation of the initial $300 raised by the school must be provided.  To download the school application, click here.  

If you are interested in planting a butterfly garden at your school or want more information, please contact Dr. Joe Culin.  Other sources for information, funding, and ideas can be found at Landscapes for Learning and National Wildlife Foundation. 

SC LIFE materials are available for use only in non-profit educational activities.  Any other uses, including activities involving fees for instruction and/or materials, must receive permission from the SC LIFE Project Director.  Contact Ginger Foulk, SC LIFE Project Office, 132 Long Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, 864-656-4224, with questions about any of our SC LIFE materials or programs.