On Their Own & OK builds skills in youth, and incorporates ways for adults in the home to support this step towards independence. Youth can develop their self-care skills to make good decisions while staying home alone. With adequate education from parents, teachers, and community partners, young people can develop confidence in the skills they need for staying home alone safely.

On Their Own & OK reinforces how to act in an emergency, helps young people handle boredom without technology, recommends age-appropriate chores, and includes plans for a family celebration to continue to strengthen family relationships.

Growing in the Garden: Local Foods and Healthy Living is designed for youth gardening programs, community neighborhood gardens, farm to school programs, Ag in the Classroom and Master Gardening projects for grades 4-12. The curriculum is very adaptable to other ages as well.

The seven units address questions such as:

• Why do people garden?
• How do you plan, plant, maintain and harvest a garden?
• How do you store and prepare garden produce?

Youth-serving organizations in Iowa are encouraged to contact their local Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county office to explore partnership opportunities in administering this program. Additional information on this program is available on the Connecting Learning and Living webpage.

Growing in the Garden: Elementary Curriculum includes more than forty classroom and after-school program lessons and more than one hundred hands-on activities intended to enhance and increase knowledge of agriculture, natural resources, food and people.

These lessons and activities are designed for children in grades K-3, but can be modified for any age. Each unit of lessons is organized to progress from easier to more advanced.

Youth-serving organizations in Iowa are encouraged to contact their local Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county office to explore partnership opportunities in administering this program. Additional information on this program is available on the Connecting Learning and Living webpage.