*make sure to click "View entire message" to get access to the full newsletter!* | | | |
2024 Local Foods Culinary Competition Challenge | | |
The griddles and ovens are now turned off at the UMaine Food Pilot Plant and Commercial Kitchen but the scents linger from the 2024 Local Food Competition for CTE Culinary Arts Programs. On April 25, teams from ten Maine Career & Technical Education High School Culinary Arts Programs competed to demonstrate their skills in preparing local, seasonal Maine foods. The emphasis on Maine grown and processed food helps students better understand agricultural literacy and gain knowledge about the role that the food industry can play in supporting Maine agriculture. This is the final year of a 4-year USDA Professional Development in Agricultural Literacy Grant which concludes in September. Check out the video and article above to learn more and find out who the winners were on our website. | | |
|
Pollinator Week 2024 will take place June 17 through 23. This annual celebration, managed by Pollinator Partnership, raises awareness for pollinators and educates on how the public can protect these essential creatures. Download the 2024 Pollinator Week Toolkit for activity ideas, education lessons, and social media content.
| | | |
|
|
THANK YOU to everyone who has participated in this year's Read ME Agriculture program!
If you participated, please fill out the evaluation form that pertains to you.
We value your response! Your feedback is crucial in helping us continue to improve our program and ensure it comes back next year!
Teacher Evaluation
Volunteer Reader Evaluation
All teachers who take the evaluation will be entered to win a bundle of books!
| | | |
MAITC Summer Teacher's Institute | | | |
|
Through tours, presentations from industry experts, and hands-on lesson exploration, you will be inspired and prepared to share the world of agriculture with your students. PreK-12 formal and informal educators in all disciplines from across the state and beyond are welcome. Participants will receive 38 contact hours or 3.8 CEU's from the University of Maine for re-certification credit. Scholarships are also available for Maine teachers – apply by email to maitc@maine.gov. Get a glimpse of one of our sessions: | | |
SESSION FEATURE: Wabanaki Studies with Brianne Lolar - Brianne Lolar is a citizen of the Panawahpskek Nation part of the Wabanaki Confederacy, and works to bring others together through the Wabanaki Studies learning journey. The intent of this professional development is to establish a vision and a plan that will set the future direction for a coordinated and consistent integration/weaving of Wabanaki Studies that will lead to Indigenous cultural awareness, sensitivity, and understanding all across Wabanaki homelands. This is meant to support learners in transforming the way we work with and support Indigenous and non-Indigenous children and families. | | | |
Wild Seed Project Teacher Trainings | | |
|
This summer the Wild Seed Project is offering two different two-day professional development intensives for educators, focusing on decolonizing the language of environmental education, building safety and belonging in the natural world, and fostering relationships with Maine’s flora and fauna. Educators will come away with expanded language for describing place-based relationships, ideas and resources for building outdoor education spaces at their schools, and new curriculum to try! This training also provides resources for integrating Wabanaki studies into environmental education in support of state requirement LD 291.
| | |
|
This program has been developed in partnership with Kathy Pollard and Ann Pollard-Ranco (Penobscot citizen) of Know yOUR Land Consulting, and will be co-hosted with two different amazing Maine environmental organizations.
Session 1 will be hosted with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association at the MOFGA Fairgrounds in Unity Maine.
August 8 – 9, 2024, 9am – 4pm. Apply to Session 1: Unity
Session 2 will be hosted with The Ecology School at River Bend Farm in Saco, Maine.
August 19 – 20, 2024, 9am – 4pm. Apply to Session 2: Saco
| | | |
Maine Farm and Sea to School Institute Teams Announced! | | |
|
Congratulations to the 2024-25 Maine Farm & Sea to School Institute Teams! The following school teams have been accepted into the 2024-25 Institute:
- Seedlings to Sunflowers Non-Profit Childcare & Family Center
- Westbrook School Department
- Ellsworth Public Schools
- Cherryfield Elementary School
The Institute brings school teams together to build relationships, skills, and a collaborative action plan for Farm & Sea to School (FSTS) programming. Team members leave ready to support one another and implement an FSTS action plan across their school or district—building shared leadership for the long haul. With the support of a Coach, teams spend the Institute year connecting Classroom, Cafeteria, and Community. We look forward to kicking off the Institute year with these school teams at the 3-day Academy Program in July at The Ecology School in Saco, Maine!
| | |
|
White Reinhardt Grants
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 White-Reinhardt School Year Project Grants.
The White-Reinhardt Grant Program funds projects that will increase agricultural literacy. County and State Farm Bureaus may apply for $1,000 grants for education programs for grades K-12 in order to initiate new ag literacy programs or expand existing programs. Grants are available on a competitive basis.
Please note that grant funds cannot be used for consumable items like food or paper, transportation, wages or safety programs.
The grant applications are open and are due June 14, 2024.
To learn more about the White-Reinhardt Fund and apply for the 2024-2025 school year grant follow this link.
If you have any questions, please contact: foundation@fb.org.
| |  |
 | |
MAITC Grants
In 2024 $70K is earmarked for grants in multiple categories! This support of Maine agriculture education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12 is a direct result of the Maine Agricultural Specialty License Plate. Submit your application to support your endeavor using agriculture as a context for learning! More information about our grants program and links to applications can be found on our website.
DEADLINES:
-
Category 1 - Agricultural Awareness Grant - Up to $1,000: 4pm on August 30, 2024.
-
Category 2 - Agricultural Awareness Grant - Up to $2,000: 4pm on August 30, 2024.
-
Category 3 - School Garden & Greenhouse Grant - Up to $2,000: 4pm on August 30, 2024.
-
Category 4 - Agriculture Leadership Grant - Up to $1,000: The revolving deadline is 4pm on: June 28, August 30, and December 13, 2024.
-
Category 5 - Statewide Agriculture Education Organization Grant - Up to $2,000: The revolving deadline is 4pm on: June 28, August 30, and December 13, 2024.
For more information about our grants program, contact: maitc@maine.gov
For questions regarding the application process, contact: kelsey.maitc@gmail.com
| | |
|
Lots of Compassion Grants
Together, Mrs. Meyers Clean Day and KidsGardening designed the Lots of Compassion Grant to support local leaders looking to transform vacant lots into gardens to help grow compassion in their community.
In 2024, 10 grantees will receive $20,000 each to transform a vacant lot into a garden. A total of $200,000 will be awarded.
Deadline: June 30th!
More info and application here.
| | |
|
Christina Sue Lilja Resource Grants
From American Farm Bureau Foundation forAgriculture. The purpose of these grants is to provide funds to educators to enable them to purchase accurate agricultural literacy materials from the AFBFA store for use in their classrooms. By providing this grant, AFBFA hopes to help students gain access to more accurate information about agriculture. Applications for this years grants are due July 19, 2024.
More info and application here.
| | |
|
School Garden Caretakers Grants
The Maine School Garden Network (MSGN) is proud to continue their grant program to provide five $2000 mini grants to pay School Garden Caretakers in Maine, thanks to the generous support of the Sewall Foundation. The funds will be issued to school programs and must be used within 1 year of the award.
Visit www.msgn.org or contact us at info@msgn.org for more information.
The application may be found at www.MaineAgintheClassroom.org/grants
APPLICATION DEADLINE – 4pm on AUGUST 30th, 2024.
| | |
|
Seed Money Challenge Grants
Calling all Food Garden Enthusiasts: The 10th Annual SeedMoney Challenge is Here! SeedMoney is thrilled to begin accepting applications for the 10th annual SeedMoney Challenge, a 30-day crowdgranting competition open to any public food garden project anywhere in the world.
Whether you're associated with a community garden, youth garden, food bank garden or community farm, the SeedMoney Challenge can help your project raise the funds it needs to flourish. Participating projects receive 100% (i.e. 0% fees) of what they raise whether they reach their funding goal or not. On top of the funds they raise, projects compete for 432 grants ranging from $100 to $1000. The more a project raises, the larger the grant it qualifies to receive.
Applications close on November 12th.
More information here.
| | | |
Maine Nutrition Council Summer VIRTUAL Event | | | |
Virtual Professional Development from Nutrients for Life | | | |
|
|
Nutrients for Life will be hosting Virtual Professional Development July 22-26, 2024.
This virtual professional development will be held daily from 10:00 – 11:30 am Central Time via Zoom, followed by 1.5 hours of independent study each day.
More info and registration here.
| | | |
Harvest of the Month - June is Maine Leafy Greens! | | | |
Teacher Resources Section | | |
|
All Kinds of Farms. NEW! Grades PreK-K. Students discover that there are many different types of farms.
Let's Design a Garden! Grades PreK-2. Maine DOE MOOSE Module. A garden can tell the story of a community! In this module, you will be introduced to and practice data science to design a garden for your community. You will learn real data scientist skills!
Freshest Fruits. Grades K-2. Students determine where fruits grow and their nutritional value by completing an activity to observe the size, shape, texture, and seeds of various fruits.
Color in the Garden. Grades 3-5. Students use the art of soil painting to explore science and the natural world while learning about the color wheel, the importance of soil to agriculture, and why soils have different colors.
Flower Power. Grades 6-8. Students observe the anatomical structures of flowers and explain a flower's role in plant growth and reproduction as well as their connection to our food supply.
DNA: Expressions in Agriculture. Grades 6-8. This lesson centers around the activity of extracting DNA from a strawberry while highlighting careers in biotechnology and agriculture.
Strawberry Breeding and Genetics. Grades 9-12. Students learn about DNA by extracting it from strawberries. Students also analyze the similarities and differences of their extraction process to those on Genetic Engineering: The Journey of a Gene. Students learn how genetic testing (including DNA extraction) is useful in breeding new varieties of strawberries.
Be sure to check out the School Garden Center on the NAITC website for more lessons and a collection of resources to help with your school garden!
Looking for more? Explore the Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix HERE
| | |
|
Origami Parts of a Flower. Explore the parts of a flower by creating origami flower models. This kit contains instructions and enough origami paper, chenille stems, and beads for a classroom of students to make a flower. Order this kit online from agclassroomstore.com.
Berries Flowchart. This three-page informational sheet describes the process of how berries are grown and harvested, how they get from the farm to the store, and nutrition facts. Words and graphics are used to portray this information for strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Print your own or order a set of 30" x 8" printed charts from agclassroomstore.com.
Strawberry Ag Mag. The Strawberry Ag Mag was written for elementary and middle school students. In this issue, students learn about the history of the strawberry, hybridization, the life cycle and anatomy of the strawberry plant, careers, and more. The reader can be viewed by students electronically on individual devices, as a class with a projector, or printed.
Strawberry DNA Necklace. This kit allows students to take home visible proof that plants have DNA. Each kit contains enough supplies for 100 students to make their own DNA necklace. The kit contains cheesecloth, funnels, pipettes, test tubes, flasks, microcentrifuge tubes, and yarn, all in a sturdy plastic storage container. Refill kits are also available. Order this kit online from agclassroomstore.com.
NAITC Themes for Learning. For Grades K-5. These selected resources use thematic standards-based content to provide for immersive multi-day experiences.
NAITC Course Topics. For Grades 6-12. Address curriculum standards with these selected instructional resources for subjects in grades 6-12. Subjects include: integrated science, biology, environmental science, American history, geography, family and consumer science. career exploration, agriculture, food, and natural resources.
| | |
Funding from this plate has impacted up to 200,000 students annually with lessons, materials, volunteers and teacher training. Annually up to $60K is distributed in grants to schools, FFA, 4-H and other Non-profit programs for Ag education initiatives by the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council.
| |
|
Donate today to The Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Association. The nonprofit, completely volunteer, portion of MAITC. These funds are used directly to support teacher scholarships and recognition, and support volunteer participation for Ag education programs. Your donation is completely tax deductible and you can make a one-time donation or a recurring monthly donation which will support the mission, "to promote the understanding of agriculture and natural resources among students, educators, and the general public." If you have any other questions or would like to join this group please contact the chairman, Laurie Bowen. Donate Here.
| | |
|
The MAITC Association is organizing a fundraiser for materials and teacher scholarships this year. Hats and T-shirts with the MAITC logo and a picture of the agriculture specialty license plate are available to order for a small donation.
For more information contact Nancy Wright at dnwright191@gmail.com
| |
|
Our Mission Statement
"To promote the understanding of agriculture and natural resources among students, educators, and the general public"
| | |
|
28 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
(207)287-5522
| |
| | | |
