Terra Summer 2009! Ages 11-14

Time is closing in quickly on the beginning of summer and the inaugural session of Terra Summer 2009, a cool experiential program for students ages 11-14 that uses the study, growing, and cooking of food to teach children about science, history, and geography while exploring local and global environmental, economic, and ethical issues related to food.

This year Terra runs from July 20 through August 14 -- one four-week session (shortened from the original dates because we are building a brand new beautiful kitchen lab/classroom and it is a taking a little longer than expected!). In that time we will take field trips, learn about bugs and worms, make pizza in our own bread oven, plant gardens, make art, and run a special mobile produce stand called the Veggie Van. We will also discuss a variety of concepts that are central to the Terra School mission: where our food comes from; who grows it and under what circumstances; the empowerment of the individual to make choices; our responsibility towards the earth, communal resources, and other beings; awareness of other lands and peoples; respect for our bodies through nutrition and exercise; and how food connects us all, in strife and joy. There is a story—and an impact—behind everything we eat, and we should know what it is. The idea is to empower children as human brings, help keep them from falling behind in summer, and affect their character development by connecting them to themselves, others, and the world at large. Everything we do and teach at Terra should foster care, compassion, respect, and a sense of global awareness and responsibility.

If you are a child in grades 6 through 8 who likes to spend time outdoors and in the kitchen, who likes to question things, learn about new things, grow things, and taste new things, check us out at www.terraschool.org, send in an application, and join us this summer. Come make new friends, taste new foods, and look at the world through a new lens!

Terra Summer takes place on a 16-acre working organic farm on Kimzey Road in Mills River, 20 minutes south of Asheville. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday (early drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m.). The cost for the program is $600. SCHOLARSHIPS AND TRANSPORTATION ARE AVAILABLE. Contact Sybil@terraschool.org or call 828-782-7842.