BUGS is a nonprofit that teaches youth and adults the fundamentals of gardening and nutrition through science and environmental-based lesson plans.

Education, Sustainability, Connection and Curiosity. These are the values that are integral to the mission of the Boise Urban Garden School.

Each year, BUGS serves approximately 10,000 youth through our multiple education programs. These include outdoor pre-school, on-site field trips at our ¾ acre garden and kitchen, in-school outreach lessons, and culinary and garden camps and classes.

We provide “real life” experiences because we know that a student with the ability to dig in the soil, plant a seed, and watch it grow is excited to eat the fruits of their labor.

Dig

Want to share the joy of gardening and cooking? Join our team of passionate educators as a parttime culinary instructor!

Check it out here.

BUGS is hiring!

Everybody has to start somewhere. For Boise Urban Garden School, it started out in the heads of Amy Hutchinson and Wendy Young. It began as a simple desire to make the community healthier and educated about gardening in order to foster a body of people with an aspiration to grow their own food. From a simple passion came a whole team of fellow garden enthusiasts driven to improve the Boise garden scene. From there, it sprouted into the non-profit you know today.

Plant

Grow

What our visitors have to say about BUGS:

“Our group that went on the field trip yesterday had such a blast! They came back smiling from ear to ear. Thank you so much for the opportunity for kids to explore and have fun!”

— Local Community Program Director

“THANK YOU for the most incredible experience at BUGS! My daughter had the best week meeting new friends, working with the chefs and the gardens and recipes and trying something new. We will send our boys next year as well.”

— Participant Parent

“Our girls had a blast and I’m so excited to see them enthused about being in the kitchen cooking vegetables. Thanks to you and your staff for this wonderful program!”

— Participants Parent

Come check out the garden!

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Let’s connect

Join the conversation on preparing for climate change in our community at this event with #idahostatesman. https://www.idahostatesman.com/living/home-garden/article275023551.html

Your Idaho Gives contribution to BUGS will support our remodeling project to allow for expanded culinary programs. Link in bio. Thanks for your support by May 4!

Idaho Gives starts today! We are thrilled to participate this year to raise funds for our upcoming kitchen remodel. These changes will create a more efficient kitchen, and increase the number of participants in our culinary classes. Donate today through the link in our bio.

Our summer camps will be better than ever thanks to the generous support of the Gladys E. Langroise Advised Fund in the #idahocommunityfoundation! Registration open now, link in bio.

On Saturday, April 15th, from 10am-1pm, our City Forestry team will be at our Joplin Road Compost Giveback site with a loader and will load up to 2 yards of compost into open pick-up trucks or trailers - for free! Compost can be applied now to your lawn, veggie gardens and shrub beds to save water and feed your plants throughout the summer. This opportunity is open to Boise residents, and we will ask for proof of address (recent piece of mail, ID, etc.) You can also check out the Earth Day Celebration at the WaterShed, running the same hours.

Spring means starting seeds, and we’re starting extras just for you! Plan to support our programs at our plant sale fundraiser on Saturday, May 6. We’ll have veggie starts aplenty. Check out pollinator plants available from our partners at the www.adaswcd.org/treasure-valley-pollinator-project, as well!

We’re back in School Gardens this week, teaching all about growing local foods, and using our new mobile gardening kit. Thanks to all the BUGS supporters who help fund this kind of programming!

Come join our team! Check the link on our bio for details.

Play is the foundation of learning, as our preschoolers know well. Hope you can enjoy some time outdoors this weekend!

Our preschoolers practiced their fine motor skills and color recognition in a bead-sorting activity this week.