Life Lab, Santa Cruz

About Life Lab

Life Lab is a garden-based education center in Santa Cruz that cultivates children's love of learning, nourishing food, and nature through hands-on outdoor experiences. Visitors participate in field trips, summer camps, and professional development programs at the demonstration Garden Classroom, where experiential learning takes place in vibrant outdoor garden classrooms. The facility operates as the national leader in training garden educators for schools, equipping educators with innovative training and award-winning curriculum. At Life Lab's Santa Cruz location, current and future educators learn to lead students through garden-based activities and outdoor learning experiences. The organization has been bringing learning to life in the garden since 1979, preparing educators across the country and internationally to engage students in nature-centered education. Field trips, summer camps, internships, and professional development workshops form the core offerings at this Santa Cruz attraction, making it a resource for both visiting groups and educator training.