Check out our most recent presentation to the Board of Education here! 

Current Activities

NEXT STEPS
F2S COORDINATOR: We have hired a new Farm to School Coordinator for the 23-24 school year! The Coordinator will focus on connecting students and teachers throughout the school district with Farm to School activities and integrating Farm to School into the wider school district culture.

GARDEN COORDINATORS: 10 USD116 schools now have a Garden Coordinator position! The Garden Coordinator supports and organizes the school garden. You can find names and contact information for your schools' Garden Coordinator on the School Gardens page.

CURRICULUM KITS: The garden- and classroom-based curriculum kits that we created for preK-5th grade teachers over the last school year will be available for checkout starting in September! These teaching resources aim to provide support for teachers wanting to engage their students in food and agriculture related education. You can read more about these on the Curriculum Kits page.

DEVELOPING PROGRAMMING: We are in the process of creating and promoting further resources and connections for USD116 students, staff, and teachers to use to deepen their connection with Farm to School! These resources include:
  • a directory of local food system advocates and participants (such as farmers, processors, and scientists) that could provide field trip or guest speaking opportunities
  • taste test opportunities for fresh local produce

GREAT APPLE CRUNCH: We will once again be providing Crunch Kits to teachers to participate in the Great Apple Crunch on October 12! This opportunity to celebrate local food and learn about apples is one of our favorite Farm to School programs. Be on the lookout for registration information early in the school year!

FUNDING: Currently, the Farm to School Leadership Team is operating with support from the following grants and programs:
  • USDA Farm to School Agriculture Education , received by Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
  • City of Urbana Youth Services Grant, received by Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
  • AmeriCorps VISTA, received by Sola Gratia Farm
We continue to seek further funding to support our initiatives.
  • Meet students, teachers, and parents at Back to School events!
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  • Roll out preK-5th grade curriculum kits for use by teachers.

  • Support Garden Coordinators in preparing for class programming in their gardens in the fall.

  • Develop a Farm to School internship program to engage high school students in deeper experiential learning on Farm to School topics and support the Farm to School program.

  • Redevelop our Steering Committee into an Advisory Board to inform our continued program development and ensure our efforts are grounded.