Canola Learning Centre
Manitoba Canola Learning Centre 2000 Report
The Canola Learning Center (CLC) finished its 4th year at JRI's Kelburn Farm but numbers were down due the weather. The CLC can expect 800 kids and staff over the summer and from record attendance of the past years. The summer of 2000 was slightly disappointing but only due to the lower number of kids that came through. The CLC had over 200 students signed up to attend in June but had to cancel all but one tour due to the rain. The June tours are geared toward grade 3 and 5 students and teachers. It is the perfect fit into the science and social studies curriculum for the respective grades.
The CLC had approximately 600 children and staff at the center. The CLC experience was bigger and better that last year. With a permanent room at the Kelburn barn, more indoor activities were accessed like the biotechnology display and a soil display. The farm tour on the tractor pulled trailer is the hit every year into the canola and grain crops. The other big hit at the CLC is always the farm machinery. There is an opportunity to sit on the seeder and combine.
The CLC has extended its learning opportunities at Amazing Grains on September 21-22, 2000 at the Red River Exhibition. Amazing Grains is Agriculture in the Classroom project funded by various local agriculture sponsors in Manitoba. Amazing Grains is based on the popular Alberta City Slickers where students from urban areas come out to the farm for one day during the harvest.
Manitoba's version, Amazing Grains, was a 2-day event that attracted 800 students and teachers from Winnipeg. This was the first year and a trial event, but with some minor changes for next year, the 2-day event tied in with Food and Farm Days was successful.
The CLC hosted the Crop Identification station, which worked in partnership with Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI). Ellen Pruden, Education and Promotion Coordinator organized and arranged the activities for the station, which included crushing canola, pearling barley, grinding wheat, DNA testing and seed identification. The CLC satellite station had volunteers from the MCGA board and staff, Canola Council of Canada, and CIGI. In total, there were 8 stations encompassing everything about agriculture from soils, insects, weeds, equipment, animals, maze, and the importance of exporting by using the flags that fly at Canadian Wheat Board site at the Red River Exhibition grounds on Highway #1 west. An auction took place over the lunch hour for the students. This was well received and the students' particular enjoyed the event.
The event at Amazing Grains is very similar to the CLC at Kelburn farm. All the activities are hands on and interactive. It was an extremely successful event. The students were inquisitive and created a lasting impression on the importance of agriculture and how it surrounds them in their daily lives. |
