Wonder Gardens are outdoor garden learning centers developed to empower IPCS students with a deeper understanding and practical knowledge about the interwoven connections between food, humans, culture, and nature. We believe that the process of growing food offers invaluable, limitless learning opportunities. Our vision includes edible ecosystems encompassing the campus to provide education and food for the entire school community. Located in the heart of Pua‘a Ahupua‘a in Kailua-Kona, garden lessons span science, math, reading, arts, biology, social studies, and provide physical exercise in outdoor classrooms.

Wonder Garden curriculum was expanded in 2009–2010 to include “green projects” and studies focused on increasing ecoliteracy. Green projects implement sustainable living habits into school culture. The 2009–2010 green projects include creating a school-wide recycling system, a carbon-footprint offsetting program, integration of compostable food service ware, integration of a bike-blender, taking students on field trips to view green community models, and a worm composting test site.

The year 2009 also kicked off a partnership between Wonder Gardens and our A+ program. Collaboration between instructors created a snack program integrating weekly Wonder Garden produce, Adaptations (a local farm-to-fork organization) produce, and bulk items like rice with students working in the garden or kitchen. Local, tasty foods are providing a historically underserved population with the best nourishment our ‘āina offers and lessons that last a lifetime.