North Farm Teacher Training InstitutesAbout the ProgramTeachers in the U.P. are already making agriculture, food, and natural resources education (AFNRE) part of their classrooms. Students are using school hoop houses and gardens, visiting farms, and saving seeds. To support their efforts and encourage the development of AFNRE education in the U.P., Michigan State University, Growing U.P. Ag Association and the U.P. Food Exchange will provide support to teachers through training, funding classroom projects, and mentorship. Our goal is to train and fund 30 middle and high school teachers in the U.P. to do AFNRE projects. ASSET MAP Inventory the footprint of existing school agriculture activities and local resources available to form a network of agricultural education resources. TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTES Host trainings for teachers at MSU North Farm to empower educators to carry out project-based natural resources, food, and agriculture science in the classroom. MINI-GRANTS Fund class projects that put the business, science, and social consciousness of farming into an experiential learning context for students. MENTORS Create a peer mentorship network to link teachers engaged with agriculture education in the UP with colleagues across the state. TEACHERS CAN GAIN... - knowledge of AFNRE curriculum and how to integrate with existing courses to satisfy science standards. - connections with other AFNRE teachers. - skills to plan, implement, and manage school farm projects. - ability to formalize AFNRE programs at their schools. COORDINATING CIRCLE Matt Raven - MSU Department of Community Sustainability Abbey Palmer - MSU North Farm Ashley McFarland - MSU U.P. Research and Extension Center Sarah Monte - U.P. Food Exchange/Marquette Food Co-op Paul Naasz - Growing U.P. Ag Association This project is supported by the SPECA Challenge Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA Grant # 2016-38414-25820. Check out a printable summary of our project, and stay tuned for dates and program details! How to ParticipateWe are seeking Upper Peninsula teachers who currently include Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNRE) content in their curriculum, or who would like to do so in the future, for information gathering, training, and project funding opportunities. Start by taking the survey! | 75% of teachers surveyed indicate interest in developing a school agriculture project.    MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. |