programs
2008 MAITC Summer Teachers Institute
Maine Agriculture in the Classroom's 2008 Summer Teachers Training Conference (Summer Institute)
Our 2008 Institute took place from July 29th - August 1st at the University of Southern Maine (Gorham campus)
The focal points of the 2008 conference included Aquaculture, Deer & Elk, Dairy, Fiber production, and Native American Culture. Programming included visits to an alternative school using both agriculture and aquaculture as learning tools, dairy, llama and shellfish farms, and a visit to an 18th-century schoolhouse. Presentations included soil painting and a distance learning system for aquaculture and hydroponics. Participants received 36 contact hours for teacher re-certification credits. Thanks to grants issued by the ME Potato Board, the ME Department of Agriculture, and USDA, the cost of the training was only $65 per person by June 30th (a $350+ value), and $90 after June 30th, which included logding, travel and meals for up to 25 educators.
All participants will receive the 55-lesson "Food, Land and People Resources for Learning", The Maine Teacher Resource Guide, "Growing Potatoes in Northern Maine", and "The Wild Blueberry Curriculum" as well as training in these hands-on materials and exposure to hundreds of online resources. All participants will receive a free copy of the USDA interactive CD "Growing a Nation - The Story of American Agriculture."
For information about future trainings, please contact:
Ms. Willie Sawyer GrenierMAITC Council, Maine Department of Agriculture
28 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
Phone: 207.287.5522
Email: maitca@maine.gov