The National Ag Science Center is partnering with the Boys and Girls Club in Manteca/Lathrop to create a dynamic, hands-on after school science club for elementary and middle school students. Beginning with exploring soil chemistry and planting techniques to actually growing their own food this club will connect science, soil and supper for 100 youth who are members of the Boys and Girls Club. This project will combine science with food through experiments and exploration.
San Joaquin County, where the club is located, has one of the highest unemployment rates (15%) and highest foreclosure rates. Youth are often left unsupervised for hours after school as their parents commute to the San Francisco Bay Area for work (over 3 hours one way). The majority of club members are low or very low income and foster youth who are in need of both a safe place to be, fun activities and a connection to the natural world which is not included in the current club activities.
The Ag In Motion After School Science Club will give the youth a chance to explore their natural world and connect to the agriculture which flourishes in our community. We plan to help the youth investigate how their health and well being can be enhanced by having a better understanding of their natural world. This program will add an educational component of the after school program the students are not currently getting. Our goal is to make learning fun and explore health through science.
The youth who participate will learn that science is hands-on fun. They will be connected to careers through guest speakers and see the future in pursuing science and math in school. Students will learn to grow their own food and understand the science behind healthy food and how that fits in their healthy lifestyle. We will tie science, gardening, environment and health to the student's daily life giving them skills for a healthy and productive future.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
