- Author: Susana C. Bruzzone-Miller
Second graders-175 in all, from Sycamore Canyon School in Thousand Oaks gave the 4-H Classroom Outreach lesson rave reviews last week. "Farmers" Jim and Joanne Abing, our UC volunteer team, provided lively presentations to each of the seven classes that rotated through for a morning of fun and learning! The lesson aligns with education in the classroom as well as in the school garden and includes-plant cycle, edible plant parts, pollination, and the importance of healthy eating. Classroom outreach lessons (K-5th grades) will be delivered at different Ventura County school sites each Wednesday throughout the spring.
- Author: Susana C. Bruzzone-Miller
Last week's much needed rain helped our field trip garden and rye maze double in size...just in time for today's spring education and outreach season kickoff. The garden isn't the only thing that's growing. Our education volunteer pool has also grown. Winter volunteer recruitment was very successful. We welcome six amazing new volunteers that have now completed the application, orientation and training process. They are ready to start working with students and we are excited to have them on board.
Dr. Roslynn Brain, Assistant Professor and Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist from Utah State University will be at the Center March 17-19. She will conduct a 3 day train the trainer workshop for her sustainability youth camp called Sustainable You.The program is geared grades 4-6. Our new intern, Chris Massa, will deliver the week-long camp at the Center summer 2014. The training is open to RECs, 4H and community partners. Contact sbmiller@ucanr.edu to attend.
Preparations are under way for May 8th UCCE-Ventura County: A Celebration of Science and Service. Self-guided activities...preschool to adult will be available throughout the day at HAREC. All participants will also be encouraged to participate in a state-wide research opportunity to collect data using the computer application developed by the Centennial committee. The central themes will be water, food, and pollinators. More details to follow, stay tuned.
- Author: Susana C. Bruzzone-Miller
School buses deliver 2nd and 3th graders excited to participate in the agricultural literacy field trip that repeats spring and fall. The farm is transformed with seasonal plantings. This year, raised beds teaming with pumpkins and other winter squash varieties provide an opportunity to explore cucurbits. Students (and adults) enjoy comparing and contrasting the flowers, leaves and learning about the nutritional value of this plant family.