Hope Street Learning Lab Initiative

The arts are part of the mission too

One thing that is easy to miss is that Hope Street isn't solely an agricultural organization.

The current description explicitly includes the arts alongside science and sustainability.

That means Hope Street Kids can legitimately incorporate:

🎵 music
🎨 art
📖 storytelling
🎭 acting
🕺 movement
✏️ drawing
🌱 gardening

rather than making every episode a straight educational lesson.

That is particularly useful for your video concept.

The Grow Box could become a major part of the children's brand

The current organization has expanded its work into a Grow Box initiative.

Hope Street says its free Grow Boxes are designed to give schools the materials needed to create a small learning garden in a classroom, schoolyard or other space.

The current description says the boxes include:

hands-on learning
standards-aligned activities
classroom/schoolyard applications
curriculum support
student reflection journals

The organization says it prioritizes Title I schools and educational deserts and is distributing the concept nationally.

This gives Hope Street Kids a very natural recurring story device:

“What's growing in Athena's Hope Box today?”

Friendship and teamwork fit naturally

The historical Hope Street material repeatedly connects gardening with children working together.

The organization's current values include:

Learning by Doing
Community-Rooted
Equity
Creativity & Innovation
Stewardship

Those values translate beautifully into children's storytelling.

For example:

Friendship

“We grow better together.”

Teamwork

“Everyone has something important to bring to the garden.”

Kindness

“We take care of people, plants and animals.”

Responsibility

“Someone has to water the garden!”

Stewardship

“We take care of the place that takes care of us.”

Community is a core part of the identity

The current Hope Street site explicitly describes community-rooted learning as a core value.

It says the organization works with:

schools
families
nonprofits
businesses
faith organizations
local governments
community gardens
food banks
regional colleges

Its stated vision is that children should have access to green space and experiential learning regardless of their ZIP code.

That makes community one of the most important themes for Hope Street Kids.

Athena shouldn't just teach:

“Be healthy.”

She should teach:

“Healthy kids help make healthy communities.”

That's much closer to the organization's actual philosophy.

STEAM/STEM is built into the model

The current organization describes STEM & Sustainability as another major focus.

The idea is that children can use real-world environmental problems to learn science and problem-solving.

Historically, Hope Street went even further.

In 2020, plans were reported for a community hydroponics and aquaponics classroom, using shipping containers and soil-less growing techniques. The project involved discussions with Temple University, York College and other partners.

The planned learning environment included:

hydroponics
aquaponics
greenhouse space
herbs and mint
STEM education
food production
community access

The proposed produce was intended to be donated to the community.

That tells me Hope Street's educational philosophy has never been limited to traditional gardening.

It's really:

nature + science + technology + health + community.

https://www.hopestreetlearning.com/

Hope Street Learning Lab Education

Dear School Leader,

I founded Hope Street Learning Lab in York, Pennsylvania, in 2013 to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences. What began as a community garden became a place where students could plant, explore science, learn about nutrition, and contribute to their community.

Today, that vision continues through learning labs, Grow Boxes, and herb kits. Our 2025–2026 impact report documents an organization-wide reach of tens of thousands of children and young people nationwide and progress toward our third Pennsylvania learning lab. These figures reflect program reach; we are continuing to strengthen measurement of student outcomes.

Our herb kits offer a simple starting point: four planting cups, four small cups of potting soil, and herb seeds. Teachers can connect growing herbs with science, mathematics, writing, wellness, and lessons in patience and responsibility.

Please sign up for a Hope Street Learning Lab Grow Box using the link below:

Sign Up for a Grow Box⁠: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfNxt_KK0aGga-9KKWF3HxWukggik0yuqOCwDA_rka0BDVhcQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=104644753678333811451

Together, we can give students meaningful opportunities to grow hope, explore, learn, and thrive.

Warmly,

Dr. Anne Clark
Founder, Hope Street Learning Lab
717-818-7680
www.hopestreetlearning.com⁠
Subscribe on YouTube⁠

Hope Street Learning Lab Free Plant Growing Kit

Founded in York City, Pennsylvania, in 2012, Hope Street Learning Lab is dedicated to making Pennsylvania a healthier place to live, learn, and grow. Through the power of partnership, we bring together residents, students, schools, neighborhood associations, faith-based organizations, businesses, donors, and government agencies to cultivate healthy minds, healthy bodies, and stronger communities through education.

We are excited to offer 50 free Herb Learning Lab Kits to Pennsylvania schools! Each hands-on kit will give students an engaging opportunity to plant, grow, explore, and learn about herbs, healthy living, and the natural world.

Schools are encouraged to register today, as supplies are limited. Please complete the registration form to have a complimentary kit mailed directly to your school in mid-May.

These kits were made possible through the generous support of our donors, including Give Local York. If you would like to help us reach even more students by sponsoring additional kits, please contact Dr. Anne Clark at 717-818-7680.

Together, we can plant the seeds of knowledge, wellness, and hope in schools and communities across Pennsylvania.

With gratitude,

Dr. Anne Clark, CEO
Hope Street Learning Lab Board of Directors

Link: https://forms.gle/U1dqE1HX73UHsyp39

Gardening is more than gardening

The current Hope Street framework identifies agricultural literacy as one of its educational focus areas.

The stated concept is essentially “seed to plate.”

Students can explore:

food systems
ecology
agriculture
sustainability
science
systems thinking

The organization also describes its approach as project-based learning, where students investigate real problems and questions through sustained hands-on projects.

This is an excellent foundation for children's programming.

Instead of Athena saying:

“Today we're learning about vegetables.”

She can say:

“Let's see what happens when we plant this seed!”

That turns the lesson into a story.