STEM Literacy by Design

View the photo gallery of events by ASLA members below.

Outdoor literacy education leverages the natural environment with fun reading adventures that integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics STEM subjects and vocabulary. By engaging with outdoor design through literature, early learners can imagine collaborative ways to interact with their environment. These interactions deepen students’ self-awareness, strengthen community connections, and foster both environmental stewardship and social engagement.

In 2024, National ASLA introduced its first Introduce a Girl to Landscape Architecture initiative as part of its 125th year celebration and during World Landscape Architecture Month. Intended for elementary school girls, the program encouraged young girls to explore landscape architecture using fun, poetic, and colorful stories about adventurous girls who find their passion, courage, and "girl power" in the great outdoors.

ASLA equipped participating members and chapters with a collection of children's books published ASLA members and giveaways to help facilitate outreach activities with local school groups. The initiative quickly grew in popularity among all student groups leading ASLA to scale the program into its STEM Literacy by Design initiative which included an expansion of ASLA's children's book collection and the creation of a Meet the Authors webinar series.

Thanks to the ASLA Fund, toolkits are available for members and K-12 educators who want to host a STEM Literacy by Design event and donate books to their local school community. Click here to Submit your interest request.

To date, more than 30 ASLA chapter representatives have hosted STEM Literacy by Design events across the country.