SEEAG To Create Farm Lab Hub at Santa Barbara's La Colina Junior High School
The Californer/10352685

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Californer -- Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) and the Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD) entered into an agreement in which SEEAG will educate elementary and junior high school students about the origins of food, sustainable farming practices, and potential careers in agriculture at La Colina Junior High School in Santa Barbara.

The programs will begin at the start of the 2026-27 school year.

La Colina will host a regional SEEAG Farm Lab Hub, bringing together students of multiple age groups for hands-on agricultural and environmental education. Third graders from nearby schools in the district will explore water, plant, and soil science through SEEAG's Farm Lab field trips in the existing garden space, while seventh- and eighth-grade students will engage in advanced STEM investigations within two new learning environments: an Agricultural Innovation & STEM Discovery Lab and a California Climate Resilience & Conservation Learning Lab.

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La Colina students will also be able to participate in SEEAG's "STEM Career Pathways in Agriculture" program. The cost-free, three-part program provides in-class and on-farm learning experiences in agronomy, technology, and engineering, connecting students with industry professionals and providing information on agricultural education pathways.

The programs are funded through SEEAG's community of partners and local grantmakers, meaning there is no cost to the Santa Barbara Unified School District.

"The La Colina Farm Lab Hub creates opportunities for students to engage with agriculture at every stage of learning," says Caitlin Paulus Case, SEEAG's executive director. "Elementary students will discover where food comes from through hands-on Farm Lab experiences, while

La Colina students will explore agricultural innovations, sustainable farming methods, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and local career pathways. With college interns and SEEAG staff helping develop curriculum, teach, and maintain the outdoor learning spaces, the La Colina Farm Lab Hub will become a collaborative campus where curiosity takes root and agriculture comes to  life."

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"La Colina is excited to partner with SEEAG to create meaningful learning opportunities for students and support SB Unified's vision to prepare students to be college and career ready and support belonging and community," says Jennifer Foster, Principal at La Colina Junior High School.

SEEAG's Santa Barbara County Farm Day (https://sbcfarmday.org/) is on September 19, taking place at over 15 locations across the county. Our annual Summer Celebration (https://www.seeag.org/summer-celebration) is August 16 at Vega Vineyard and Farm in Buellton, where it will share updates on projects like the La Colina Farm Lab Hub.

For more information about SEEAG and its upcoming events and initiatives, go to
www.seeag.org.