Climate Farm School for Farm-Based Educators

Are you a farm-based educator looking to make climate change education come alive in your programming? Join Shelburne Farms, the Farm-Based Education Network, and Climate Farm School for a professional learning experience on climate change! This is a unique, hybrid learning experience with an online component and a residential learning stay at Shelburne Farms.

Program outcomes: 

• Build your knowledge base about food systems and climate change
• Reflect on your teaching practices in a supportive, peer-focused environment
• Connect with peers through shared farm-to-table meals, land-based work experiences, and thoughtfully facilitated programming 
• Receive access to 8 online classes outlining the impacts of climate change on food systems and solutions already happening in practice 
• Develop an action plan for bringing climate education to the students you work with
• Reinvigorate your commitment as an actor for change in food and ag systems

Dates:

• Week 1, Sept. 2–6: online learning with one-hour live Zoom session (1–3 hours)
• Week 2, Sept. 9–13: online learning with one-hour live Zoom session (1–3 hours)
• Week 3, Sept. 15–20: week in residence at Shelburne Farms
• Week 4, Sept. 23–27: online action planning and one-hour live Zoom presentations (1–3 hours)

Designed for:

• Farm-based educators, farm to school professionals, farmers, and non-formal educators who work with agriculture on any scale 
• Participants with any level of teaching experience who are building or looking to re-inspire farm-based programming
• Educators working with students in farm or garden settings 
• Farm to school team members who are linking schools, cafeterias, gardens, and farms
• Those responsible for visitor engagement (events, tours, etc.) on farms that offer education

Apply by July 5, 2024. Accepted applicants will be notified by July 15, 2024.

Application details: We are including questions in the application form to help us identify and prioritize participants who are particularly passionate and committed to bringing more climate change learning and action to those they teach. Program facilitators are looking to create a group that is balanced between types of farms represented, people with a variety of experiences in farm-based education, audiences served, and urban/rural locations. We encourage you to come with others from your farm/site, and ask that you bring no more than three team members. We are happy to answer questions from applicants or those considering applying, and will be hosting a virtual open house the week before the application deadline to connect the program team directly with applicants. Reach out to Laney Siegner (laney@terra.do) with any questions. 

Accepted applicants will be notified by July 15, 2024, and will receive a registration form from Shelburne Farms to collect information about lodging preferences, dietary requirements, and preferred contact information. Payment for food and lodging will also be collected with the registration form.  

Online modules cover: 

• The food-climate nexus
• History of industrial agriculture and opportunities for more climate friendly food policy
• Soil health principles and application to climate policy
• The role of animals in sustainable agriculture 
• Sustainable water management 
• Models of transformation: examples of food systems change at various scales 

During the week at Shelburne Farms, you will: 

• Visit key projects exemplifying regenerative agriculture in practice 
• Spend time with Shelburne Farms professional learning facilitators exploring frameworks for teaching about climate change with your students 
• Participate in a soil health workshop led by a local soil science expert and practice hands-on activities to use with your students 
• Visit the Market Garden and work with the farm team on seasonally-appropriate farming tasks 
• Visit a nearby site demonstrating innovative regenerative farming techniques and educational offerings for youth
• Engage in lively discussions with peer farm-based educators, farmers, and course facilitators around deconstructing dominant narratives in food systems and supporting climate resilient food system solutions 
• Adapt existing and create new lesson plans and activities that will support your climate change education offerings
• Enjoy farm to table group meals, and work alongside chef-educators to prepare sustainable meals as a group in your housing on the farm