The Rhode Island Farm and Sea to School (RIFS2S) Institute is a year-long professional development opportunity that brings together K-12 and early care education administrators, child nutrition professionals, and teachers to build relationships, skills, and a collaborative action plan for their schools. The Institute is a supportive space for all RI school communities that is fun, practical, and celebrates what’s unique about their school!

The program begins with a two day in-person retreat at a Rhode Island location (TBD) for school-based teams in which they learn the core components of farm to school and begin to develop their unique farm to school action plan. Each selected team will be assigned a coach who will work alongside them throughout the year to help them continue to develop and implement their action plan.

The Institute will also provide opportunities for making helpful connections within their communities through a series of optional follow up events throughout the year that will be tailored to the most pressing needs of our Farm to School Network. These follow up workshops will provide additional technical assistance around the three “C’s” of Farm to School; Cafeteria (e.g. serving local foods in the school meals), Classroom (e.g. learning about food in class or having a school garden), and Community (e.g. connecting with local farmers). When farm to school activities are occurring in each of these three areas in a strategic and connected way . . . that’s when the real farm to school magic happens! 

After each team has completed their Institute Year, they will have developed an exciting Farm and Sea to School Action Plan, and will be connected to the statewide Farm to School Network for ongoing technical capacity building, training, and support.