EASTERN ONTARIO – In 1991, AgScape was created as a charitable organization that seeks to provide “objective, evidence-based, curriculum-linked programs and resources about agriculture and food literacy to educators and students in Ontario.
In a release on the organization’s website dated May 23, it was noted the annual general meeting of the organization, that drew over 100 people either by Zoom or attending in-person, was held on April 26 of this year.
The theme of the event was Stories Worth Sharing, with three educational professionals “sharing their stories of providing unique experiential learning experiences to bring agriculture and food education into their classrooms.”
A virtual visit from the Honourable Minister Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in Ontario, congratulated the organization for their accomplishments in “stimulating conversations, encouraging food literacy, or inspiring youth to consider an amazing career in the agri-food industry.” She commented on the importance of people recognizing “their role in the business of food,” noting AgScape continues to increase awareness, confidence, and curiosity in the food sector of the province.
AgScape’s annual report provides a view into this organization and the work it accomplishes in providing opportunities for both educators and students to learn about the agricultural sector. It was noted in the report that 636 Teacher Ambassador Program lessons were provided to teachers for use in classrooms across Ontario. Additionally, 16 virtual field trips were held with 28,800 young people from 1,200 classes attending them.
The organization’s website is a treasure trove of information on agriculture for students in both elementary and secondary schools, providing curriculum-based resources. Virtual field trips provide the opportunity to visit experts in several agricultural fields and businesses. The Teacher Ambassador Program connects specially trained educators with teachers and students to provide the opportunity to learn about all aspects of the role of agriculture in nutrition. A relatively new program is Camp AgScape, which currently provides virtual camps on Honeycrisp, alpacas, Clydesdales, and evergreens, allowing the student to discover connections to agriculture through weekly themed activities.
More information on AgScape is available on their website, located at www.agscape.ca.
