Sauvie Island Center

IN 2023 THE SAUVIE ISLAND CENTER (SIC) HOSTED NO COST (INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION)FARM-FIELD TRIPS FOR MORE THAN 1,300 STUDENTS FROM 59 TITLE 1 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. DURING FIELD TRIPS STUDENTS ROTATE THROUGH THREE 45-MINUTE LESSONS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS (NGSS. THESE GUIDELINES SUPPORT SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF OREGON. STUDENTS ALSO TASTED, AND TOOK HOME, A VARIETY OF THE SAME FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT THEY SAW GROWING ON THE FARM.ALSO IN 2023 THE SIC VISITED 12 OF THE 59 (FIELD TRIP) CLASSES, PROVIDING A COMPLEMENTARY LESSON ABOUT THE JOURNEY FOOD TAKES FROM THE FARM TO TABLE.THE SAUVIE ISLAND CENTER CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITYS CAPSTONE PROGRAM. STARTING IN APRIL OF 2023 AND ENDING IN DECEMBER OF 2022, SIC CO-TAUGHT A SERVICE-LEARNING CAPSTONE WHICH COVERED FOOD SYSTEMS AND THEIR IMPACT ON BIPOC AND UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES. APPROXIMATELY 30 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN TRAINING ON, THEN TEACHING, SICS CURRICULUM TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. EDUCATION STAFF MEMBERS FROM SIC SHADOWED CAPSTONE STUDENTS, MET WITH THEM REGULARLY TO GO OVER PERFORMANCE AND CONDUCTED END OF SEASON EVALUATIONS.SIC HOSTED FOUR WEEKS OF FARM CAMP FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 STUDENTS. TWO WEEKS OF CAMP WERE OFFERED ON A SLIDING SCALE, WITH MORE THAN HALF OF ENROLLEES PAYING A NO/LOW FEE FOR 30 HOURS OF FARM-BASED INSTRUCTION AND RECREATION. DURING THEIR TIME ON THE FARM CAMPERS SPENT EACH OF THEIR FIVE DAYS FOCUSING ON SICS FIVE-PART NGSS ALIGNED CURRICULUM: POLLINATORS, SOIL HEALTH, PLANT PARTS, PLANT LIFE CYCLES AND THE FOOD WEB.IN 2023 SIC CONTINUED ITS EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE ORGANIZATIONS CULTURAL COMPETENCY WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING GREEN-SECTOR WORKFORCE TRAINING OPPORTUNITES FOR BIPOC YOUTH. WORKING WITH ANOTHER 501(C)3, CONNECTING CANOPIES, SIC PROVIDED FARM-BASED SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITES AT NO CHARGE TO TWO COHORTS OF APPROXIMATELY 15 STUDENTS EACH. TRAINING SESSIONS WERE LED BY BIPOC EDUCATORS AND INCLUDED LESSONS ABOUT REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE AND TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE.