- Author: Susana C. Bruzzone-Miller
Join the University of California Cooperative Extension in a one-day statewide science project. It's easy to participate. You can join us at the UC Hansen Agricultural Reaseach and Extension Center (UC HAREC) in Santa Paula where we will be celebrating 100 years of science and service all day. Or, you can simply go outside your own home, school or place of work and record observations. Your answers will help build a healthier future for you and your community.
1. How many pollinators do you see? Spend three minutes outside counting how many you see then add the to our pollinator map.
2. How are you conserving water? Tell us how and if you're conserving water in your home, garden, landscape, or on your farm.
3. Where is food grown in your community? Help us populate our California food map by telling us where there's a garden or a farm in your neighborhood.
If you would like to join the celebration at UC HAREC, please do so!! Suggested times:
- Preschool Open House 9-11 a.m.
- School-age Youth Open House 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Community Welcome 2-5 p.m.
For more information go to http://ceventura.ucanr.edu/ANR_Centennial_/
Join the social media conversation by following #BeAScientist on Twitter.
Are you an educator or do you work with kids in an afterschool program? No problem! Download our fact sheets and lesson plans to do fun classroom and learning activities.
There are so many ways to participate! Record your observations, share your pictures, and tell us what's happening in your community.
Be a scientist for a day on May 8, 2014
- 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
Thirty campers, ages 7-11, from Camarillo YMCA enjoyed daily themes and hands-on activities illustrating valuable agricultural concepts. Erynn introduced farm ecosystems, soil science, and composting, planted flowers to attract beneficial insects and identified insects considered to be pests. The children enjoyed meeting and interviewing other farmers and participated in healthy farm cooking making kale smoothies and beet brownies. In assisting Join the Farm staff harvest and deliver over 200 pounds of fresh produce to Food Share—a local food bank, they learned the value giving back to the community. As a way to bring the farm to fork concept to life, Smith urged campers to be “ambassadors of health” at home, encouraging their families to eat fresh food harvested at camp.
- Author: Susana C. Bruzzone-Miller
Last spring, Research and Extension Centers (RECs) were encouraged to submit proposals for the statewide Growing Tomorrows Professionals with Today’s Experiences Intern Program. The purpose is threefold: give students real life experience working in a REC facility; engage in hands-on research or outreach projects; ignite a spark leading to future studies or careers in agriculture and/or natural resources.
We are pleased to announce that UC HAREC was selected to participate and proud to introduce Lauren Martinez, one of two summer 2013 statewide interns. Lauren graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in International Studies and a minor in Spanish. She completed her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and is currently working towards a Masters in Education at California Lutheran University. Lauren is passionate about education and working with youth. She works as a swim instructor and coach at the Family YMCA in Ventura and Santa Paula and was the assistant coach for Ventura High School Girls Cross Country. Her education experiences include substitute teaching for Moorpark Unified and a position as a physical education specialist at Ventura Charter School. She believes strongly in an active healthy lifestyle and individual, hands-on education for all youth.
We are thrilled to have Lauren on board this summer. She will work closely with Center Director, Jose De Soto and Education Outreach Coordinator, Susana Bruzzone-Miller developing a, water themed, youth field trip program targeting 4-6th graders. The project will take about 8 weeks to complete and slated to be implemented spring 2014 as part of the 4-H Field Trip Program on the farm. Interns will deliver virtual presentations of their projects to other RECs at the end of summer. We are confident Lauren will develop lessons and activities that make science and agriculture exciting for Ventura County youth.
- Author: Susana C. Bruzzone-Miller
RECS is the acronym for Research and Extension System. The Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center is one of nine RECS throughout the state operated by the University of California division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR). RECS connect research and educational activites to the challenges in the regions they serve.
Take a tour and learn about the unique contribution of each REC. http://youtu.be/lcj7js1qQ0s
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