Founded in 1997, First Green is the only STEM education and environmental outreach program in the United States and Canada that uses golf courses as learning labs. First Green is a Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) program that pairs golf courses with local schools for unique Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities. First Green programs can be found in 28 US states, and on April 21st, 2022 Kentucky was the 29th state to host a First Green learning lab.

Shad Lacefield was awarded the First Green grant to cover the cost of the field trip for his 4th grade students. Shad is the 2021 recipient of KSTA's Outstanding Elementary Science Teacher award. See the attachment for full details. Garden Springs Elementary First Green Field Trip.pdf