The Canadian Agriculture Producers (CAP) will be moving into its 26th year of teaching urban and rural Grade 4 students about farming and ranching.
Many Rocky View schools have participated in the program in the past including Nose Creek Elementary in Airdrie. Coordinator for CAP Karen Spelay called the program “informative” for students, regardless of their background.
“We talk about the opportunities and the value of agriculture and how it impacts them and impacts them in ways they might not be aware of,” she said.
Many kids are surprised to learn the different people connected to the agricultural industry, Spelay said.
“Vets, food safety inspectors and restaurants — we have people from all areas and different experiences,” she said.
The program, entirely free to schools, brings in special speakers and presenters to spend an hour educating students on a host of different facets of agricultural life.
Matthew Turner, a Grade 4 teacher at Nose Creek Elementary School, said his students were engaged when they had a CAP presentation last year.
“The ladies that came in, they set up a one hour presentation for the Grade 4 students to learn about agriculture in Alberta,” Turner said. “It was very, very good.”
Turner said educating today’s kids in this sector, especially in our province, is crucial.
“With industry as huge as it is in Alberta, it’s going to make them aware of what’s going on will make them better citizens for Airdrie and the province,” he said. The more these kids are exposed to these special presentations, the more well-rounded individuals and greater education they are going to receive.”
Doris Krause has been a CAP volunteer for 15 years and now is a volunteer coordinator for Calgary. She said the benefits to children are immeasurable. “We have to foster those connections to make sure there’s an appreciation for it.”
“Kids are surprised to know that scientists or bankers might have connections to agriculture,” said Krause.
“Both rural and urban children need to be schooled in food production,” she said. “The kids are interested in learning about agriculture.”
After presentations, teachers receive followup material to work with their students about agriculture.
The program is delivered between February and June of each year. Fall and winter are spent maintaining and recruiting volunteers.
Spelay said the program is particularly important for the current crop of fourth graders who are increasingly experiencing less of a connection to agriculture.
“Agriculture maybe isn’t as strong as it used to be in generations past,” she said. “It’s just creating that connection between students and agriculture.”
More than 14,000 Alberta students participated in CAP last year across 390 schools.
The CAP program is a collaborative initiative between more than 10 organizations including Olds College, Alberta Irrigation Projects Association, Alberta Veterinary Medical Association and the Alberta Barley Commission.
For more information, visit www.classroomagriculture.com
