Connecting Teachers to Agriculture
Every July, teachers hungry to expand their knowledge of agriculture become the students at BC Agriculture in the Classroom (BCAITC) and the UBC Faculty of Education's Summer Institute course in Abbotsford, BC. Together, we provide teachers with professional development tools and resources to help them integrate important concepts related to food, the agriculture industry, and environmental sustainability into their classrooms.
Through active participation, field trips, guest speakers, and video presentations, participants in this five-day course explore practical ways to integrate concepts related to food production and consumption, food safety, agricultural issues, and sustainability across the curriculum at all grade levels. The result? Curriculum projects and lesson units that can be shared with students, as well as other educators around the province, that are rich in agricultural literacy.
The Summer Institute is a three-credit course, or it can be taken as non-credit participation (in both cases, the sign-up for the course is through the UBC Faculty of Education’s Vancouver office).
For more details on Summer Institute, and to register, visit UBC Faculty of Education Summer Institute.
Sign Us Up!
Summer Institute is a three-credit course, or it can be taken as non-credit participation. In both cases, the sign-up for the course is through the UBC Faculty of Education’s Vancouver office.
This hands-on program is held annually in July at the Heritage Alliance Church in Abbotsford, BC. An hour's drive east of Vancouver, in the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford is home to one of the most productive farming areas in the world and is the ideal setting for this experiential learning experience.
The 2025 Summer Institute will take place from July 21 to 25, 2025 in Abbotsford. For more information on Summer Institute, including fees and location, and to register, please visit the UBC Faculty of Education. (The full course name is EDCP 329 – Agriculture In the Curriculum.) The application deadline is typically the first week of June annually. The course is subject to minimum enrollment. We recommend that participants do not finalize any travel arrangements until notified that this course is confirmed.
The reading list for Summer Institute is supplied by UBC (participants download or access the articles and multimedia online). BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation (BCAITC) supplies refreshments and lunch each day, along with chef preparation demonstrations. Please contact UBC Faculty of Education for a complete course description and how you can prepare. There are several pathways for participation in Summer Institute. Fees will depend on your registration type.
Once your registration is confirmed and you’re ready to plan your visit to Abbotsford, we suggest you visit this community website.
Partners Make It Possible — Thank You!
Thank you to last year’s amazing speakers, chefs, & donors!
Course Instructor
Joe Massie
2024 Speakers
Agricultural Land Commission - Claire Buchanan & Jennifer Watson
BCAITC - Pat Tonn, Balreet Mandair, Mia Soetart & Tina Evans
BC Egg - Amanda Brittan, Leanne Witherly, Jeremy Vaandrager, Dan Hiebert
Metro Vancouver - Bruce Ford
Randhawa Farms - Vijay Randhawa
Farmers Fresh Mushrooms - Tony Ma
Fossen Bar 7 Ranch - Erika & Doug Fossen
Sardis Secondary - Tania Toth
W&A Farms - Bill Zylmans
Chefs
Chef Trevor Randle & Chef Katrina
2024 Donors
BC Greenhouse Growers Association
Join Us!
To find out how you or your business can support this exciting program in 2024, contact BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, or check out our Partnership Opportunities.
Registration for the course is through the UBC Faculty of Education’s Vancouver office. Contact them directly for fees and to register:
University of BC Professional Development & Community Engagement
Faculty of Education, Vancouver Campus
2125 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4
Tel 604.822.2013 | N.A. toll-free 1.888.492.1122
Email: pdce.educ@ubc.ca
UBC holds the course annually in Abbotsford, BC, at the Heritage Alliance Church, 3440 Mt. Lehman Road. | Map
The course runs every July, subject to enrollment. Find more information here.
Summer Institute is a three-credit course, or it can be taken as non-credit participation. The course has four components:
Assignment 1: (10%) Pre-Institute Assignment.
Assignment 2: (20%) Participation.
Assignment 3: (30%) Reading Reflection.
Assignment 4: (40%) Post-Institute Assignment.
