The Classical Academy at Superstition Mountain is launching a new junior master gardener program beginning after the winter holiday break, made possible through a partnership with the Superstition Mountain Master Gardeners.

It will be an ongoing enrichment offering for academy students as part of its whole-child, character-focused educational model, according to a release.

For information on the school in the Apache Junction Unified School District, 1575 W. Southern Ave., go to https://www.ajusd.org/classical-academy.

The program is an international youth gardening initiative created and managed through the university Cooperative Extension network and led nationally by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. The curriculum is research-based, academically aligned, and implemented in schools across the country.

The junior master gardener’s mission is: “Growing good kids by igniting a passion for learning, success, and service through a unique gardening education.”

As part of the program, students will design and help build:

• Raised vegetable gardens to learn cultivation, sustainability and nutrition.

• A succulent garden that explores water conservation and desert ecology.

• A monarch butterfly waystation garden supporting pollinators and habitat preservation.

Through these projects, students will:

• Gain hands-on gardening and environmental science experience.

• Develop leadership, stewardship, and personal responsibility.

• Complete service-learning efforts that benefit both campus and community.

• Work toward Junior Master Gardener certification and recognition.

Instruction will be delivered by certified members of the Superstition Mountain Master Gardeners, with facilitation from Master Gardener Tricia Schaeffer in collaboration with Academy staff.

“This partnership brings learning to life,” Principal Brett Bitterman said in the release.

“Students won’t just read about science and stewardship. They’ll experience it firsthand. Working in the garden gives them a real sense of purpose, pride, and connection to the natural world.”

“AJUSD is deeply committed to community-based partnerships that expand learning beyond the classroom,” AJUSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Pappalardo said in the release. “The junior master gardener program provides authentic, character-building experiences that align beautifully with our values of curiosity, service, and responsible citizenship.”

To support the start-up phase of the garden build, the academy is accepting donations of gardening supplies such as soil, seeds, tools, irrigation components, and outdoor learning materials. Community members, local businesses or organizations interested in contributing may contact the school office for a list of needed items or shop the program’s Amazon Wishlist: https://tinyurl.com/rrywrdtc.