The Science Behind Our Food

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SCHEDULE YOUR NEXT S.T.E.M. FIELD TRIP NOW!

NEXT Steps offers The Science Behind Our Food field trips to schools and youth organizations.  The Atwood S.T.E.M. Cafe serves as our outdoor “lab” to help kids make the connection between food grown at Atwood (and other local gardens and farms) to the food they eat at home or in restaurants.

Science Behind Our Food Lesson Plans
The Science Behind Our Food program aims to improve achievement, comprehension and mastery of scientific concepts by middle and
high school students. The thematic focus of the lessons and kits are tied to food-related research. The program will  provide inquiry-based education in biology and chemistry by focusing on the application of these disciplines to solve real-world problems.

The program was created by a community that included graduate teaching fellows, science teachers, and University of Georgia faculty.  They collaborated to identify science concepts that students found difficult to grasp and/or that were inaccessible given the current resources.

 

 

R&D T.R.E.N.D.S. Science Fair (May 18th)

As most entrepreneurs and strategic planners know, research and development (affectionately known as R&D) — is key to developing any successful business idea.  Some call it a pilot program, others call it a market test study, while many of us just call it the school of hard knocks.  Regardless, at some point in the life of your venture, you will experience a period of time where you have to test your ideas to see if they work.

Well, for all of our future S.T.E.M. career-professionals, NEXT Steps is creating the first R&D T.R.E.N.D.S. Science Fair at Atwood Community Gardens & Urban Farm.

You’re Invited To See
Mahdi Uwizeye’s
Sustainable Community & Eco-San Village Model
Saturday, January 12, @ 11:30am
Atwood Community Gardens & Urban Farm

Using the 12 Permaculture Principles and Mahdi Ueizeye’s eco-san village model, students are being asked to invent, explore and discover new and/or interesting applications of permaculture design that can be integrated into the ideal sustainable community.

 REGISTER TODAY

Youth Culinary Tour (Farmer’s Market Cooking Demos)

Thanks to our partnerships with the Hands On Atlanta Civic Leadership Program,  Sodexo, United Way Gifts In Kind and the SWOOM Atlanta Market Project, NEXT Steps was able to host an extremely successful 2012 Youth Culinary Tour.  Now we’re ready to do it again!

In 2013, NEXT Steps will be showcasing the skills and creativity of kid chefs as they introduce their peers to their local farmer’s market, growers and culinary specialists.  Our young culinary artists (18 & under ) will utilize S.T.E.M. applications and cool science tools to show their peers how to cook fresh,  naturally grown produce that come from local urban gardens and farms.

The 2013 Youth Culinary Tour cooking demonstrations will take place in the Atwood Cafe’ at Atwood Community Gardens every Thursday from 4-7pm (after school hours) during the SWOOM Pure Foods Boutique Farmer’s Market.  Atwood Community Gardens is located at 779 Atwood Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30310. Chef Mentors are welcomed to conduct joint cooking demos with our young culinary artists.

2013 Youth Culinary Tour Registration

• To register your young culinary artist, please complete the registration form to the right side of the screen.
• To serve as a Chef Mentor, please contact NEXT Steps via email at events@nextstepsyep.org.

2012 Youth Culinary Tour Photo Gallery