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Course Objectives

After reviewing training content and answering interactive and reflective questions, you will be able to do each of the following, as assessd by online discussions and quizzes:

  1. Explain the benefits and 3 basic components of farm to ECE
  2. Summarize how farm to ECE aligns with CACFP
  3. Identify first steps towards implementing a farm to ECE program in your own setting
  4. Describe at least one way to engage families and communities in your farm to ECE activities


STARS Credit: 2

Training provides two (2) STARS continuing education hours in Health, Safety & Nutrition. See FAQ page for more information on STARS credits. 

The training should take about 2 hours to complete. 

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Overview and Introduction

    • Course Overview and Objectives

    • Training Outline

    • Check In

  • 2

    Farm to ECE Basics

    • Farm to ECE Basics

    • What Do You Think?

    • What is Farm to ECE?

    • What Do You Think?

    • Farm to ECE Components

    • Check In

    • Benefits of Farm to ECE

    • Importance of Farm to ECE

    • The Influence of Farm to ECE

    • Farm to ECE and Families

    • Pause and Reflect

    • Benefits Beyond the Family

    • Local Foods and CACFP

    • What Do You Think?

    • CACFP Best Practices

    • Local Produce and CACFP

    • What Do You Think?

    • CACFP Seasonal Menu

    • Resources for Getting Started

    • Farm to ECE Basics Review

  • 3

    Farm to ECE Experiential Education

    • Farm to ECE Experiential Education

    • What Do You Think?

    • Experiential Education Activities

    • Experiential Education Spotlight: Taste Tests

    • In the Classroom

    • Adapting Curriculum

    • Farm to ECE and the Creative Curriculum

    • The Creative Curriculum: Encouraging Engaged Thinking

    • Farm to ECE with Infants and Toddlers

    • Out of the Classroom

    • What Do You Think?

    • Farm to ECE Fieldtrips

    • Farmer Visits

    • In the Garden

    • Farm to ECE by Subject

    • Experiential Education Review
  • 4

    Gardening & Local Food Procurement

    • Gardening and Local Food Sourcing- How

    • Farm to ECE in the Garden

    • What Do You Think?

    • An Introduction to Gardening

    • Steps to Starting a Garden

    • Types of Gardens

    • Working in the Garden with Children

    • Getting Started with Local Procurement

    • Local Food Procurement Options

    • Gardening and Local Food Procurement Review
  • 5

    Family, Staff, and Community Engagement

    • Family, Staff, and Community Engagement

    • Benefits of Family Engagement

    • What Do You Think?

    • Family Engagement Best Practices

    • Family Engagement Activities

    • Family Engagement: Take Home Activities

    • Family Engagement: On-Site Events

    • Family Engagement: Community Supported Agriculture

    • Communicating with Parents

    • Engaging Communities

    • Engaging Staff

    • Funding Your Program

    • Family, Staff, and Community Engagement Review
  • 6

    Final Quiz and Wrap-Up

    • Final Quiz

    • Check In

    • Action Plan

    • Summary and Wrap-Up
  • 7

    Evaluation

    • Training Evaluation

Instructor

WA State Approved STARS Trainer

Emilee Quinn

Emilee Quinn has worked as researcher, evaluator, and technical assistance provider for the University of Washington Center for Public Health Nutrition since 2011. She currently manages online STARS trainings for early learning providers in Washington State and leads and supports projects relating to public health nutrition and access to healthy food in partnership with community-based and governmental partners. Her prior experience also includes supporting systems-building efforts for early learning and child wellbeing initiatives in Washington State. She received her Masters in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Health Behavior and Health Education.