Catawba River District: Schoolyard Gardens: Entrepreunrism, Environmental Education and Social and STEM Learning

       The Charlotte North Carolina Catawba River District  (www.catawbariverdistrict.org) is engaged in environmental, marketing education and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education that could and serve as a model for international sustainable development programs.
       The Catawba River District  is one of the leaders in the  transition out of the "fast food" model for education and seeks to connect education to entrepreneurism. Farm to School (also called schoolyard gardens) is rapidly becoming a national phenomenon. Extensive research details how schoolyard gardens enhance curriculum while improving the physical activity, health and nutrition of students, teachers and parents. These benefits take place regardless of the economic level of the school community.
      The River District has worked with a team of experts to create a transformational gardening and farming project involving six public schools in the Charlotte Area. Whitewater Academy, Whitewater Middle School, River Oaks Academy and Mountain Island Elementary in Mecklenburg County are working in coordination with Rivendell Farms. Catawba Heights Elementary and Ida Rankin Elementary in Gaston County are working with the Gaston County Cooperative Extension.

       The River District has also have formed the Farm To School Team of volunteer experts to guide in the program to grow to include a working farm, a food hub to process produce from school gardens and small farms, and school meals that include nutritious food that students helped grow.

        The Catawba River District has formed the K-20 Learning World, a collaboration of educators to help us nurture the learning of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through activities focused on environmental themes. Their experts include STEM leadership from Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Gaston County Schools, Discovery Place Science Museum and UNC

        Each school is developing a master campus plan that includes components such as schoolyard gardens, composting, wildlife habitats, outdoor classrooms and other STEM-focused projects. At the middle school level, connections to job/career awareness are integrated into the curriculum. They plan to expand schoolyard gardens and incorporate construction-related projects appealing to middle and high school students. However, economically disadvantaged areas such as those served by some River District schools need additional financial help to effectively implement farm to school principles.

        These are great concepts. As an educator a trained historian and having just taught a high school Marketing class as a substitute I believe that middle schools and high schools could integrate such activities into their social studies (historic methods of agriculture etc.) and marketing curriculums - and biology too! 

         The small non profit Catawba River District is seeking funding to invite 65 area schools already participating in schoolyard gardens to develop a product for sale at the 2014 Southern Spring Show.

          Check out their website at www.catawbariverdistrict.org for more information and volunteer and donating opportunities.   - Posted by Mark Carolla