Valley View Elementary, in partnership with the VVPC and Growing Together, has transformed the unused land that once housed the old school building into a vibrant farm and outdoor classroom space. What was once an empty area is now a living, growing environment where students can engage in hands-on learning experiences right on campus.
This new space provides opportunities for students to explore science, sustainability, nutrition, and environmental stewardship in a meaningful and interactive way.
The farm and garden serve not only as a source of fresh produce, but also as an extension of the classroom, encouraging curiosity, responsibility, and a deeper connection to nature.
We’re proud of this collaborative effort and excited to see how this outdoor learning space continues to enrich the Valley View community for years to come.
Garden and Farm
Outdoor Classroom at Valley View
Our Future Plans
The Valley View Parents’ Club is continuously working to enhance and expand this special outdoor space. Our future plans include growing the classroom area into a more comprehensive Outdoor Learning School, creating expanded opportunities for hands-on education.
We also plan to further develop a Farm-to-Table program in partnership with Growing Together and nearby De Anza High School, helping students connect food, learning, and community in meaningful ways.
Valley View Outdoor Learning School
The Valley View Outdoor Learning School is a vision for an educational model where the garden, farm, and schoolyard function as a year-round living classroom.
We are working closely with our principal, Mrs. Sundberg, to help develop and support this vision as part of Valley View’s educational program.
Through permanent outdoor classroom infrastructure and the support of a dedicated garden educator, students will have regular opportunities to learn through hands-on experiences integrated into the school day. The Outdoor Learning School will help connect academic subjects with real-world exploration, fostering curiosity, responsibility, and a deeper connection to the natural environment.Mo
Farm-to-Table Program
This proposal launches a Farm-to-Table Career Technical Education (CTE) Pilot anchored at Valley View Elementary’s one-acre productive school farm, located just three blocks from De Anza High School.
The pilot will establish a real, local training site where De Anza students can gain hands-on experience in food production, sustainable agriculture practices, nutrition and food systems, and farm operations. Students will benefit from structured learning opportunities and mentorship while developing practical skills connected to future careers.
To ensure the site functions as a safe, reliable, year-round learning environment, grant funding will also strengthen Valley View’s elementary garden program.
Support will include:
- consistent garden educator working twice per week
- essential outdoor classroom improvements such as shade structures, seating, storage, teaching surfaces, and water access upgrades.
Together, these efforts create an inter-generational learning pipeline:
- elementary students develop early food literacy and curiosity
- high school students gain CTE-aligned skills and meaningful career exposure through a community-based farm-to-table model.
Valley View Elementary School 