Connecting Learning and Living Trainings
Training includes hands-on experiences using youth development and educational models included in Growing in the Garden, Where We Live, and Food, Land & People curricula. Participants will receive sample lessons from each of the curricula and have the opportunity to purchase the one that meets their needs. Connecting Learning and Living is an Iowa State University Extension 4-H Youth Development program. State of Iowa tax dollars, ISU Extension, Iowa Agriculture Awareness Coalition, REAP Conservation Education Program and several other nutrition, gardening, educational groups, institutions, and businesses provide support for the program. These partners keep training costs and purchase prices at an affordable level for all educators.

The lessons correlate highly with national and local standards and benchmarks, multiple intelligences (learning styles), 5 E learners as inquirers model (engage, explore, explain, expand, evaluate), Experiential Education model (do, reflect, apply), life skills and character counts models, and over half the questions on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills in multiple subject areas. Go to http://www.extension.iastate.edu/learningandliving for more information.

We can schedule trainings near where you live. We need a minimum of 12 educators for an Iowa training, more for out-of-state. Training time ranges from 4 ½ to 16 hours depending on the curricula and participant needs. The cost of training depends on local expenses, teacher licensure and graduate credits, location, and partners and grants sponsoring the training.  Training is the key to successful program delivery, so we reduce the cost of the curricula and add supplies for participants. Some of the curricula are not available except through training. Please contact Janet Toering (aka Anderson), ISU Extension 4-H Youth Development, janeta@iastate.edu or 515-294-1018 for more information. 

2008 South Dakota Master Gardener Conference
The South Dakota Master Gardeners are hosting a Growing in the Garden (GITG) training during their 2008 conference on Saturday, February 23, in Sioux Falls.

Anyone interested in connecting young people with where they live will have a fun day experiencing several of the GITG lessons and networking with other adults. Participants will have the opportunity to purchase the curriculum and supplies at very reduced prices. If you are a school teacher, home school parent, Master Gardener, Extension staff or 4-H volunteer, naturalist, nutrition educator, ag-in-the-classroom representative, after-school program coordinator or any other in-school or after-school youth educator and can travel to Sioux Falls, you’ll want to check out this conference. 

Please contact:
Marilyn F. Rasmussen, Ph.D.
Box 2275A, SNF 413
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD 57007
605-688-4167
RASMUSSEN.MARILYN@CES.SDSTATE.EDU

2008 Iowa Teachers Agriculture Academies
AEA teacher licensure credit and graduate credit will be available.
Connecting Learning and Living training on Growing in the Garden, Where We Live and Food, Land & People is scheduled for the second day of the academies.
Go to Iowa Farm Bureau Federation at www.ifbf.org or contact Melissa Brooks, 515-225-5425, mbrooks@ifbf.org for more information.

June 10 – 12, Denison, Iowa
June 17 – 19, Independence, Iowa