AITC News

(Headingly, MB) - Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C), a Canadian charitable organization with a vision to bring agriculture to every classroom, and Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), the voice of Canadian dairy farmers, are proud to announce the winners of the DFC Here for Tomorrow Scholarship, powered by thinkAG.

Over 110 submissions were received this year from across the country, an increase by over 50% from year 1. The 2023 scholarship recipients are:

- Lena Park: Grade 11 student from British Columbia (Visual Arts piece on The Three Sisters)

- Victoria Pitsiaeli: Grade 12 student from British Columbia (Video- Setting her sights on being an Agronomist)

- Olivia Szerepi: Grade 11 student from Ontario (Written Essay on caring for those who care for us)

- Calvin Cao: Grade 12 student from Ontario (Video on the AI future of Pest-Busting)

- Edward Sy: Grade 12 student from Ontario (Written essay on Biotechnologists being the Guardians of Sustainability)

Read more.

June 8, 2023 (Headingley, MB) – Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) and its member organizations provided almost 600,000 student learning experiences from March to May through programs and initiatives across the country. With a vision to create meaningful connections to agriculture and food, AITC-C is the national advocate for agriculture education, representing a collective of 10 provincial member organizations who deliver agriculture education on the ground across Canada.   

During Canadian Agriculture Literary Month (CALM) in March, 1,040 volunteers helped 3,200 teachers in 2,100 schools provide 185,000 student experiences across Canada, expanding their understanding of agriculture through classroom presentations, activities and resources. In April and May, the Great Canadian Farm Tour, a series of virtual farm tours highlighting agriculture in each of the 10 provinces, created more than 399,000 student experiences with over 1,600 teachers registered to participate.

“It’s more important than ever to inspire the next generation to care about the food they eat and where it comes from,” says Rebecca Sooksom, Chair of AITC-C and member of AITC-Nova Scotia. “Thanks to our amazing volunteers, supportive partners and staff, we are reaching more students each year and bringing agriculture into classrooms across Canada.”

Read more here.

Calling all Grade 5, 6, 7, and 8 teachers!

We're developing an exciting new program and are looking for a limited numbers of teachers to help! This could be you!

“What's it about?”

Mission Explorium is equal parts fun for students and easy for teachers. When your class suddenly finds themselves on an uninhabited island, you meet two feathered travelers, Ricardo and Raj, who impart their worldly knowledge upon their new friends (your students!). With the help of famed anthropologist Professor Flora, you’ll create your own society from the ground up while exploring sustainability topics ranging from ecosystems to food production. Plunk your students in the driver’s seat of this choose-your-own adventure competition, as they encounter complicated real-word topics in a fun, experiential way. 

Sound exciting? We agree! But we need your help to make this program as valuable for YOU as possible.

There are two options to choose from on how to provide feedback: an online survey, and/or a teacher focus group. Each option requires a 1-hour time commitment

“What do I get in return?”

Aside from getting a sneak peek at this exciting new program, AITC-C is also offering$50 compensation for each option of feedback.

“What is the timeline?”

The survey will be sent out on May 30^th, with a deadline of June 5^th to be completed.

The focus groups will take place June 7th at 3:30pm EDT and June 8th at 6:30pm EDT. 

If this sounds interesting to you, click here to apply to be considered. Only selected teachers will be contacted.

PLEASE NOTE: If you already have an account with the AITC Dashboard, enter your email address and password under the Log In heading. If you do not have an AITC Dashboard account, click "Sign up now!" to create an account. Please check your Junk folder for a confirmation email.

Ottawa, Ontario – March 23, 2023 – Technology and youth go hand in hand. Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) helps students discover their passion for agriculture and empowers them to explore career paths in our industry. The use of technology and digital platforms is critical for this outreach, which is why AITC-C is pleased to announce the roll-out of its new digital agriculture awareness campaign, with funding support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).

Today, AITC-C welcomed Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum in Ottawa. Minister Bibeau announced funding of up to $953,260 over two years under the AgriCommunication Program for AITC’s new campaign that will inform and excite the next generation of Canada’s big thinkers, decision-makers and leaders in agriculture.

“Young people are key to ensuring future success of the agricultural sector. We must help them discover vast career possibilities from a young age. I applaud the incredible work that Agriculture in the Classroom is doing to connect tomorrow’s leaders to the agriculture and agri-food sector and spark interest in this important work.” – The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Read more here.

Headingley, MB - Most people eat multiple times every single day. Each bite is connected to agriculture, whether they realize it or not.

This March will mark the 12^th year of Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month (CALM). The Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) National Collective is passionate about offering hands-on activities and programs for students so they can realize, understand, and  engage with their own connections to agriculture.

“For more than a decade, Canadian Agricultural Literacy Month has given us an opportunity to celebrate our connections - as Canadians - to agriculture,” said Rebecca Sooksom, chair, AITC-C. “Linking students with food producers helps keep that connection strong so the next generation of Canadians knows not only where their food comes from, but also the importance of the sector to our communities from coast to coast.” 

Each AITC member organization offers its own learning opportunities to students in their respective province, including reading challenges, contests, videos, classroom presentations, and ag resource kits. Some of these include: seed kits, launching new resources, and in class visits from agriculture industry professionals.

“Canada’s Agriculture Literacy Month is an excellent opportunity to show young people where our food comes from, as well as the essential and fascinating work of those who produce it. Thanks to partners like Agriculture in the Classroom Canada, we can provide teachers with tools, programs and teaching materials to help entice the next generation to choose one of many career options available within the agriculture and agri-food sector,” said Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. 

Although AITC offers resources and programs year-round, it takes extra pride during the month of CALM, as hundreds of ag-proud volunteers sign up to give of their time to meet with students from coast to coast. In 2022, CALM provided more than 137,000 student experiences with agriculture and food in all ten Canadian provinces. Together with its supporting partners Cargill and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Canadian Agricultural Partnership, AITC will expand its reach and get closer to its vision of having agriculture in every classroom, inspiring every student.

“We are honoured to continue our support for CALM and its mission of educating communities on how their food is produced, connecting farmers to the families they feed,” said Jeff Vassart, President, Cargill Canada. “This work is vital in introducing a whole new generation to the vast world of agriculture and the many roles that Canadians play in feeding the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.”

For more information about CALM , please visit aitc-canada.ca/calm. Follow along on social media:  #CALM23   #OurFoodOurStory 

(Headingley, MB) With a successful inaugural scholarship launch under their belts, Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) and Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) are thrilled to offer the DFC Here for Tomorrow Scholarship, powered by thinkAG, again in 2023. 

In its pilot year, the scholarship received 42 applications from coast to coast, and had multiple teachers participate in the classroom project. Drawing on the excellent submissions from year one, DFC and AITC-C have increased the number of award recipients from two to five, and raised winnings from $2,500 to $3,000 per student. By expanding the scholarship offering, DFC and AITC-C hope to support more students as they continue their education journeys. 

Open to Canadian students in Grades 10-12 (Secondary 4-5 in Quebec), this scholarship aims to invigorate and equip the next generation with the understanding and belief that they have the power to make informed, sustainable food choices and career decisions.

Read more here.

(Headingley, MB)  Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C), along with its collective of 10 provincial members, is inspiring students to explore careers in agriculture and food this November for Canada Career Month, a national campaign initiated by the Canadian Career Development Foundation (CCDF). By putting agri-food careers into the spotlight through its thinkAG initiative, AITC-C hopes to get Canadian teens curious about the diversity of careers available in the sector and help close the labour shortage gap.

This year’s Career Month celebrations include the launch of AITC-C’s new Kareero app, the release of an online instructional support guide for teachers for the career exploration game Career Case, and a 30-Day thinkAG Challenge for teachers and students.

AITC-C is also launching a new campaign during Canada Career Month called ‘I Am Agriculture’. Encouraging those in the agriculture and food industry to share the important role they play in this vital sector with #IAmAgriculture. Young people deserve to know that whatever their passions or interests are, agriculture will welcome them and has workplaces they can thrive in.

Read more here.

(Headingly, MB) Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) elected four new Board Executive Officers during its 8^th Annual General Meeting. AITC-C represents ten provincial members dedicated to delivering agriculture education to students and teachers across the nation. These organizations also appoint a representative to sit on AITC-C’s Board of Directors.

The new Executive includes Mathieu Rouleau of École-O-Champ as Vice Chair, Charlotte Flores of Agriculture in the Classroom New Brunswick as Secretary, and Luree Williamson of Agriculture for Life as Treasurer. Rebecca Sooksom of Agriculture in the Classroom Nova Scotia takes on the role of Chair, with Pat Tonn of BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation stepping aside after two successful years in the position.

Sooksom brings valuable experience to the role of AITC-C Chair as a champion for agriculture education. She has been working for the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture for the past 13 years, and has served as the Manager of Regional Programming overseeing Agriculture in the Classroom Nova Scotia since 2018. She will bring that same passion and leadership nationally.

Read the full release here.

(Headingly, MB) - Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C), a Canadian charitable organization with a vision to bring agriculture to every classroom, has launched an expanded version of its innovative resource library for educators.

Now with over 500 curriculum-connected resources available, the online platform is easy to navigate and access.

“We are incredibly proud of the growth we’ve witnessed over the last couple of months for the resource library,” said AITC-C Executive Director Johanne Ross. “New learning materials are being added every week and we’ve received very positive feedback from educators across the country, which means we’re growing in the right direction!”

Learn more!