If you are trying to gain support for a farm to school or farm to preschool program at your school, a workshop or presentation by a member of the Growing Minds team can help train and inspire staff, parents, administrators, and school board members. Contact program director Danielle Raucheisen at draucheisen@nullasapconnections.org for information about bringing Growing Minds to your event or meeting. We also offer pre-service trainings for teachers and staff.
Growing Minds staff can conduct workshops, trainings, and presentations on the following topics / to the following audiences:
- What is farm to school or farm to preschool? Why start a farm to school or farm to preschool program?
- Presentations to school boards, principal groups, teachers, college students, child nutrition staff, and parents.
- Incorporating farm to school activities into the Common Core and Essential Standards curriculum.
Additionally, we can provide consulting services for farm to school programs and Growing Minds @ University for school districts, non-profit organizations, and colleges and universities. Contact us for more information.
Trainings from Growing Minds Farm to School
The Growing Minds Team offers free trainings for teachers, caregivers, parents, and anyone interested in providing farm to school activities with kids. We offer Farm to Preschool Trainings, School Garden Trainings, and Taste Test Trainings. See below for the descriptions and contact us for more information or to schedule your training.
Fun on the Farm
Fun on the Farm is a unique farm-based wellness experience for educators, ECE providers and staff. This experience provides opportunities for school staff to connect outside of the work environment at a relaxed pace on one of Western North Carolina’s diverse farms. Participants will build connections to local farms, engage in hands-on farm to school activities and experience a seasonally sourced meal from the surrounding farming community. So what are you waiting for? Come join us on the farm! Contact us for more information at growingminds@nullasapconnections.org
Farm to Preschool Training
In this workshop, early care and education professionals will get an introduction to the four core components of Farm to Preschool (edible gardening, farm field trips/farmer visits, local food classroom cooking/taste tests, and local food served in meals or snacks), as well as how to use the Growing Minds Farm to Preschool Toolkit in your school/center.
School Garden Training
Students will eat what they grow! School gardens are an excellent tool for experiential learning and nutrition education. In this workshop, early care and education professionals will be trained to establish farm to school gardens and to integrate gardening into state and national curriculum. We will share resources to create or expand your garden program as well as tips and strategies for gardening with young children. We emphasize how to sustain a garden program by involving community partners, such as parents, farmers, college students, and agricultural professionals.
Growing Minds Local Food Taste Test Workshop
Learn why local food taste tests are our favorite way to introduce preK-12 children to local fruits and vegetables. Taste tests are simple, inexpensive, and most importantly, fun! You will leave this workshop with ideas and skills to conduct local food taste tests with children and families in classrooms and cafeterias.
This workshop is for anyone wanting to conduct taste tests, including community members, school volunteers, school nutrition staff, classroom teachers, and garden coordinators. Participants will receive a certificate of completion for 2 contact hours to submit to your LEA for CEUs.
Virtual Trainings
We also have a few virtual trainings on ASAP’s YouTube channel! Join Debbi and Cameron (pictured) to learn how to offer a local foods cooking demo or get tips on starting an edible school garden. If virtual works better for your staff, let us know and we can set you up with a virtual training. Contact us for more information at growingminds@nullasapconnections.org