SMART PATHWAY / 07
Living Systems Collaborative™
Everything that grows.
Agriculture, horticulture, botany, gardening, nature, and zoology, learned in the field.
OVERVIEW
Program overview
Living Systems Collaborative™ brings experts in agriculture, horticulture, botany, gardening, nature, and zoology together to mentor professionals and youth through hands-on field experiences with partner farms, gardens, parks, and wildlife organizations.
Family: Health & Living Systems · Knowledge Helix pathway: Research ↔ Discovery →
PEOPLE
Who it’s for
01
Youth (ages 10–24)
Explorers walk trails and keep garden journals, Innovators run growing projects and species counts, and Emerging Leaders take on field research, internships, and certifications. Register through Founding Youth →
02
Professionals
Farmers, horticulturists, botanists, zoologists, extension agents, park rangers, veterinarians, and conservationists can join the Field Experts Council, lead field days, and mentor across fields. Join as a professional →
03
Mentors
Share your experience and guide participants in this program, after screening. Become a mentor →
LEARN BY DOING
Hands-on experiences, real skills
Experiences
- 01Monthly field days
- 02Seasonal field trips to farms, gardens, parks, and wildlife centers
- 03A shared garden plot as a living classroom
- 04Career shadowing with farmers, rangers, and vet techs
Skills you build
- GrowPlant, tend, and harvest food and gardens.
- PlantsBotany, forestry, and fungi.
- AnimalsZoology, wildlife, insects, and birds.
- EcosystemsEcology, soil, water, and conservation.
PROJECTS
What we could build together
- 01A shared garden plot that grows food for a community partner
- 02Pollinator and bird counts at partner sites
- 03Seasonal field trips to farms, gardens, parks, and wildlife centers
Projects are shaped with participants as the program launches. Collaborate on a project →
PARTNERS & RESOURCES
Built with partners
Partners we seek
- 01Farms and community gardens
- 02Botanical gardens and nature centers
- 03Zoos and wildlife organizations
- 04Agricultural extension offices and colleges
Partners host experiences, share experts, or sponsor projects, and gain visibility and funding opportunities. Become a partner →
Resources
- 01Garden tools and seeds
- 02Field guides and journals
- 03Transportation from sponsors