Brookside Gardens
October 16, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (ET)
1800 Glenallan Ave, Wheaton, MD 20902
About
Brookside Gardens is Montgomery County’s incomparable, award-winning 54-acre public display garden within Wheaton Regional Park. Free to visit year-round, there are several distinct areas: Aquatic Garden, Azalea Garden, Butterfly Garden, Children’s Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese inspired Gude Garden, Idea Garden, Rain Garden, and the Woodland Walk. The Formal Gardens areas include a Perennial Garden, Yew Garden, the Maple Terrace, and Fragrance Garden. Brookside Gardens also features two conservatories for year-round enjoyment, and two signature extended events: The Butterfly Experience which spans Spring and Summer and Garden of Lights at end of calendar year.
Focus: Next Generation Green
This installment of the 2026 Regional Learning Series explores how public gardens in the DC region are redefining the pathway for the next generation of green professionals! Learn how to design and implement intentional volunteer programs and internships that serve as true career on-ramps — engaging high school students and youth through nontraditional workforce pathways. Attendees will gain insight into how to strengthen their programs through collaboration and mentorship that translate directly into professional employment.
We’ll further highlight the vital role of public gardens in workforce development through strategic alliances with nonprofit organizations and schools. Hear from diverse professionals from Brookside Gardens and the region, as they share their personal career stories and provide actionable strategies for institutions looking to recruit, support, and retain a workforce that represents their community.
Event Schedule (subject to change):
8:00-9:30 AM: Arrival and breakfast (provided)
9:30-10:30 AM: Engaging Youth in Green Careers
This session explores how partnerships between schools and community organizations can open meaningful green career pathways for youth. By connecting classrooms with local experts, these collaborations provide hands-on learning experiences, mentorship, and exposure to real-world applications in horticulture, conservation, and environmental science. Participants will hear from organizations that have worked with youth both inside and outside the classroom. Come to this session to discuss practical strategies for developing and sustaining impactful, equity-centered programs that support students on their career journeys.
10:45-11:45 AM: Workforce Development Programs
This session explores how workforce development programs can create intentional pathways into green careers. Participants will examine strategies for providing mentorship, meaningful work, and skill development that lead to resume-ready accomplishments and employment opportunities. The discussion will highlight defining moments that make green careers accessible, common challenges and effective solutions, and innovative practices that strengthen career-connected outcomes.
12:00-12:30 PM: Lunch (provided)
12:45-1:45 PM: Tour
2:15-3:15 AM: Voices from the Field: Building a Diverse Workforce in Public Gardens
Hear directly from emerging professionals representing diverse backgrounds from across the public garden field as they share their personal career trajectories. These speakers will offer candid, firsthand perspectives on what it takes to build and nurture a diverse workforce in public gardens. Their honest storytelling reveals what works and what doesn’t when it comes to creating pathways that welcome and retain people of all backgrounds.
3:30-4:30 PM: Fostering Belonging
As Baby Boomers retire and younger professionals enter the workforce, organizations face new challenges and opportunities in attracting and retaining talent. How do we create a culture of belonging, align organizational values with personal goals, and make work more meaningful? This session explores how gardens are recruiting, mentoring, and retaining the next generation of professionals while fostering engagement, growth, and purpose in the workplace.
