About

Career Discovery and Diversity

Landscape architect Adrienne McCray, ASLA, a principal at Lee & Associates, teaches Washington, D.C. students about the landscape design process at the ASLA Center for Landscape Architecture. / ASLA

ASLA is committed to strengthening the pipeline to include diverse students entering the profession diversity within the profession continue as important strategic focuses for ASLA.  Initiatives directed at these twin goals have been ramped up over the last several years, including through the addition of one full-time staff position focused on K-12 outreach, diversity, equity, and inclusion.  The added staff capacity has enabled ASLA to design a strategic plan that includes the development of career discovery resources and expansion of strategic alliances and increased visibility with organizations representing the K-12/STEM educator community and allied stakeholders, with a special focus on reaching underrepresented populations.  

Critical to the work of Career Discovery and Diversity is its alignment with the ASLA 2022-2024 Strategic Plan. 

ASLA Career Discovery and Diversity is:

• Building strong community relationships
• Developing quality resources for students, teachers and members
• Partnering with educator and advising professionals
• Exploring landscape architecture as a STEM discipline
• Modeling effective outreach engagement for ASLA chapter adoption and implementation

 
The ASLA Green Roof Education Program offers  teacher resources for grades 6-8 to study green roof technology. It includes interactive online presentations; downloadable lesson plans, activities,  student workbook, and teacher guide;  career advice on landscape architecture; and helpful links.
• Activity Books are available digitally in English and Spanish.
• DREAM BIG with Design is a two-day virtual event that allows prek-12 students and educators to experience landscape architecture through live sessions.
•  Green Trees and Sam developed by Shannon Gapp, ASLA/Bolton & Menk, is a delightful digital book of adventures about a young girl aspiring to become a landscape architect.
• I Want to be a Landscape Architect video is a great way to inspire students of all ages.
• The Roof Is Growing! is ASLA's premiere Green Roof Education Program that includes a host of teacher resources, videos and fun interactives.
• Tools for Teachers includes lessons plans, case studies and hands-on activities.    
Landscape Architecture in K-12 STEM Curriculum (Video) Richard Jones, ASLA, Past President of Mahan Rykiel Associates, led a unique partnership with Frances Scott Key Middle School to support the school's  STEM-based environmental education curriculum with Birdland. 
 
  
• Virtual Career Day Center allows students hear from innovative landscape architects around the world who love their careers, have amazing hobbies, and love to travel.
• Virtual Reality Videos:  Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, NY | Klyde Warren Park, Dallas, Texas   |  Underpass Park, Toronto, Ontario.
• YOUR LAND magazine is available only in digital format.
• Your Path to Landscape Architecture is filled with resources for high school students and counselors. The site also hosts “Diverse Voices,” two videos sharing unique perspectives from professionals in the field.

  Outreach Engagement and Partnerships  

Career Discovery and Diversity programming has expanded its partnerships and collaborations to groups that prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion and also focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning including, but not limited to:

• ACE Mentor Program of America (ACE) is a free, award-winning, afterschool program designed to attract high school students to careers in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering industry, including skilled trades.
• DC Environmental Education Consortium (DCEEC) 
• DC STEM Network
• Future City Competition  
• Future Landscape Architects of America (FLAA) is a non-profit organization focused on educating K-12 students about the career field of landscape architecture.
• National Building Museum
• STEM Education Coalition

PreK-12 Summer Camps, Competitions, and Enrichment Programs 

ASLA wants to help kids discover landscape architecture over the summer. Visit ASLA's PreK-12 Summer Camps, Competitions, and Enrichment Programs web page and explore learning opportunities across the U.S. for students of all ages.

• See what ASLA National and members across the country are up to on ASLA LAND (search the Career Discovery News and Diversity and Inclusion categories).
• Follow Career Discovery and Diversity activities on ASLA social media - ASLA Twitter @NationalASLA, #ASLACareerDiscovery and #ASLADiversity.

Due to the growing number of requests for information to share on ASLA’s Career Discovery and Diversity (CD&D) efforts, ASLA has created a slide deck that can be tailored for your outreach needs. Slides include talking points and highlight the CD&D connection to ASLA’s strategic plan, programs, new partnerships, and much more using engaging images and short videos. Access the slides here.

Inspire the Next Generation of Landscape Architects 

If you are in need of PowerPoint slides for K-12 classroom settings, feel free to access the customizable files below:

    Career Discovery Presentation
    Career Discovery Presentation Talking Points
    Career Discovery Presentation Report Form

Please direct requests and questions to Lisa J. Jennings, Senior Manager, Career Discovery and Diversity at discover@asla.org.