As the sun stays out longer and our gardens begin to offer an abundance of gifts, Farm to School also continues to thrive. With school soon coming to a close, summer offers unique opportunities to connect students and communities to fresh, local food. It’s a season full of hands-on learning, networking, and growth. From garden camps and farm visits to farmers markets and summer meal programs, there’s no shortage of ways to keep the spirit of Farm to School alive during the coming sunny months.
Summer Farm Camps are a great way to connect kids to local agriculture and provide hands on learning. Thanks to Pennsylvania’s vast and plentiful farmland, there are ample opportunities to get involved. Check out this article from PA Eats to learn more.
There will be plenty of educational opportunities this summer as well. In June, PA Friends of Agriculture will be hosting its annual Educators Agriculture Institute at State College. The Institute provides a unique learning experience for PreK-12th formal educators, pre-service teachers, and informal community educators to learn how to bring agriculture into their classrooms. Check out this blog post for a deep dive into this wonderful event.
Also in June is our Virtual Open House, which is all about Farm to School in the summer. During this Open House, you will hear from a variety of farm to school practitioners to learn about what farm to school can look like during the summer. From summer farm camps, to urban garden internships, to the educator’s agriculture institute, to summer feeding programs, there will be plenty of great resources for everyone. Register here to join us on June 4th to learn, connect, and celebrate farm to school across Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Penn State (Project PA), and the Bureau of Food and Nutrition will once again collaborate on the Pennsylvania Farm to Child Nutrition Summit, to be held on June 17th at Bartram’s Garden in Philadelphia. This year’s theme is Rooted in Resilience—Sustaining and Celebrating Collaborations. Project PA and PDE will also be offering hands-on Culinary Training Sessions for School Food Service Personnel. There are three sessions open for registration this summer. Check them out here!
And of course, going to your local farmers market is a great way to support local agriculture and get connected to the people growing our food. Many markets collaborate with various partners to offer a wide variety of programming and resources. Be sure to check out any markets near you!
Summer is a bountiful season with no shortage of Farm to School activity. We hope you enjoy all that it has to offer and are excited to see you there!