Ground Works Midwest & South Dakota Ag in the Classroom 2018 Annual Report

2018 ANNUAL REPORT

BRIDGING THE GAP With an integrated program approach, Ground Works and S.D. Agriculture (Ag) in the Classroom incorporates interactive computer activities, youth summer camps, and teaching gardens to deliver hands-on lessons in STEAM education, agriculture literacy and student leadership.

3,073

Teacher garden participants

325

7,172

YES campers

4th graders taking online road trips

Ground Works and South Dakota Ag in the Classroom Continues to Grow

www.GroundWorks-Midwest.com

WE STARTED WITH A CARD TABLE AND “WHAT IF?” GWM Integrated Approach

We like to say that “Ground Works started with a card table, $25 in the bank, and an idea.” Eight years later, we have 15 teaching gardens either fully established or in process, our summer camp program, YES! (Youth Eating Smart), and S.D. Ag in the Classroom programming.

The three-legged milk stool analogy drives Ground Works & S.D. Ag in the Classroom. By using talented staff and volunteer leaders trained in specific areas, Ground Works & SD Ag in the Classroom grows its three programs in a forward and focused manner.

Through this integrated approach, Ground Works & S.D. Ag in the Classroom meets the needs of classroom teachers and students in the areas of STEAM education and health and wellness. We also serve agriculture industry leaders, businesses and producers who wish to impact the next generation of students in understanding agriculture.

STE(A)M - Science, Technology, Engineering (Arts), Math Education

SD Agriculture in the Classroom

YES! - GWM’s food awareness, healthy eating and healthy lifestyle program

GETTING DIRTY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE EDUCATIONAL The teaching garden program that gave us our footing is now impacting more than 3,000 children with a focus on STEAM: science, technology, engineering, arts and math. These living laboratories provide hands-on and hands-in-thesoil learning, demonstrating to children where their food comes from and the science behind it. Leadership teams established at each garden site become the genius that drives the teaching gardens’ success.

$22,226 $16,267 $73,670

$53,466

GROUND WORKS EXPENSES Wages

Teaching Gardens $1,246

$5,100

Fundraising

Overhead YES!

SDAITC

S.D. AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM TAKES FOURTH GRADERS ON AN S.D. ROAD TRIP More than 7,000 fourth grade students are exploring South Dakota’s agriculture and history by participating in S.D. Ag in the Classroom’s S.D. Road Trip. Through this interactive, online website program, students travel to 30 different cities and towns in South Dakota learning about the agriculture and historical connections. This program meets fourth grade standards in social studies, science, math and language arts.

Teachers speak about the ease of the program and how it is exciting their students.

“It has enhanced my instruction, but more importantly, my students’ learning.”

~ Fourth-grade teacher

Students are engaged in learning about the history, economics and culture of our state.

“I love learning about all the crops and things like that.

I never knew farmers did so much stuff for us!”

~ Baltic 4th grader

YES!

“They enjoyed the hands-on experiences, especially learning about how things grow. And of course, they enjoyed sampling all the food.”

~ Parent of a camper

CAMP MAKES HEALTH AND NUTRITION FUN Ground Works’ signature program, YES! (Youth Eating Smart) summer camps served more than 325 students in pre-kindergarten through seventh grade in 2018. Through four standalone units, students learned about where their food comes from, health and nutrition, how to make healthy food choices, the impact of agriculture on their daily life, and their community.

From building root viewers, solar ovens, and corn planters to tours of a local grocery store, students engaged in many activities tracing food from seed to soil and shelf.

650

# of children having a field day at Hefty Seeds/Ag PhD

500

# of children making “living necklaces” at Ag Day at the Washington Pavilion

102 N Krohns Pl, Suite 116 Sioux Falls, SD 57103

Visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y2F6MVH to make a donation!

WHAT A YEAR! GROUND WORKS CONTINUES TO EDUCATE, INSPIRE AND ADVOCATE We’re excited to share our annual report with you. Not just because we think Ground Works and S.D. Ag in the Classroom are doing a great job enhancing the education our children are receiving with STEAM-focused, hands-on programming, but because we’re doing some really cool things, too.

Our three programs reached more than 10,000 students across the state in 2018 and we look forward to reaching even more. Students are learning how dirt makes our bacon cheeseburger – one of our popular teaching garden units. South Dakota’s history is brought to life – and online -- as fourth graders across the state explore the important role agriculture has played in the history, culture and economics of our state through S.D. Road Trip. And more than 300 youth engaged in healthy living at the Youth Eating Smart (YES!) summer camps.

These programs are developed and managed by a dedicated and passionate staff, but it takes the enthusiastic support of volunteers like you who give of your time, experiences and money to help our programs thrive.

Author Robert Louis Stevenson wrote: “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”

Ground Works started eight years ago as a single seed planted in the soil. Through tender loving care, we’ve grown to three strong, independent programs impacting and inspiring thousands of students and volunteers. Our harvest is bountiful!

Thank you for all that you’ve done to help us grow!

Ground Works and S.D. Agriculture in the Classroom Board of Directors

605.275.9159 | www.GroundWorks-Midwest.com