Canola Learning Centre Report 2006

It has been ten years since the Canola Learning Centre first opened its doors in 1997.  Since then the program has experienced extreme growth and success seeing around 1191 participants this year.  This year the Canola Learning Centre celebrated its 10th Anniversary in a big way with a summer full of tours and two major events to mark the occasion.

The first of the two major events was with Marion school who was the Canola Learning Centre adopted school of 2006.  Based on our set of criteria Marion school was chosen and attended the Canola Learning Centre on June 21st for Part I of the celebrations.  They broke into grade groups and took part in several hands-on, interactive stations.  At one of those stations each grade was introduced to their adopted crop.  Each class adopted one acre of crop.  The crops included canola, barley, wheat, oats, alfalfa, soybeans, and flax.  Part II of this celebration saw us going back to Marion school in the fall to celebrate the harvest with a Made in Manitoba Breakfast.  Students enjoyed a hot breakfast and were presented a cheque to their Breakfast for Learning Program based on what their total adopted crops made on the market.  

Later in the summer the second major celebration event took place with children from Beaumont and Sunny Side daycares on July 28.  They took part in a unique Amazing Agriculture Race out at Kelburn Farm.  As a part of the race the youth and daycare staff toured the farm to learn how agriculture and food are connected.

Overall the 10th season of the Canola Learning Centre went over very well.  The fields were wet and flooded in some areas in the early part of the season but then became extremely dry towards the end.  This dry weather really bumped up harvest to mid August which gave participants the opportunity to see harvest first hand.  However, this left us with little to see on the farm.  Luckily the vegetable garden was able to be harvested as a wrap up for the last few groups of the year. Both the school and daycare groups were full of highly energetic, curious kids who were eager to learn about agriculture.  There was a good combination of first time groups and repeat groups from past years.  Every group was very impressed with the facilities upgrades.  The program is still going strong and remains a popular field trip amongst schools and daycare.  I look forward to another 10 years of success.