Tag Archives: STEM

2023 Georgia Excellence in Ag Educator Winner Creating Unique Learning Environment for Students

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Carrollton, GA |

Just a short drive from Carrollton, across the state line, lies a forty-acre farm in Heflin, Alabama that’s become the hub of hands-on learning for Sam Camp and her family. However, Sam’s journey into the world of farming and teaching began long before she took over the STEM position at Mt. Zion Elementary.

“Grew up on a small farm. My grandfather raised pigeons and we had chickens, and at one point my dad even raised a raccoon. We just had all kind of birds and anything that we could get our hands on, even horses. So, while we didn’t actually farm necessarily, we did just have a love of animals and we grew up with that all around our house,” says Camp.

As the pandemic gripped the world, the Camp family found solace in the open spaces of their farm, providing an invaluable education for their daughter Laney. Learning the ins and outs of animal care, agriculture, and nurturing a passion for veterinary sciences, Sam realized the profound impact that farming and animal husbandry had on education.

“I have never even had the intention on ever leaving a general education classroom setting, and when this kind of came open, when I tell you I jumped on it without even thinking about it, I just ran literally to the office and was like, ‘I heard that this is open. Can I please have it?'”, says Camp.

“It was really the passion, because we knew we’re such a STEM-based school and county that I knew I needed somebody in that position that had a passion for it. Not just an interest, but a passion; Sam did. So, I knew if I put her in it, she was going to be as strong with the STEM as she was with the phonics. I knew ultimately our kids were going to benefit from that, but it did take me a while. It took me a little bit of time to convince myself to let her do it. I don’t regret it at all though. I have not ever regretted. It was probably one of the best decisions I’ve made since sitting in a principal position of letting her take that position,” says Melissa Dearman.

The fusion of STEM and agriculture became Sam’s passion. With the help of the local High School, and the Carroll County Farm Bureau, she dove headfirst into creating a unique learning environment. The connection between ‘Big Eagles’ and ‘Little Eagles’ in her class; bridging that gap between high school and elementary students became a cherished aspect of her teaching.

“Just hearing their conversations about things, seeing them handle the animals has been probably the thing I that has changed most for those kids. Just making them comfortable around animals. Seeing them properly hold a chicken and learning how to plant stuff and learning about composting. So, just seeing them live it, not just read about it on a text, has been a big change here for me,” says Camp.

Sam’s impact however didn’t stop at her classroom door. She also spearheaded safety initiatives, coordinated STEM programs across the school, and became an active representative in the agricultural community. From planning AG Days for hundreds of students, to earning grants for outdoor classrooms and gardens, Sam embodies the spirit of an educator dedicated to fostering a love for agriculture and learning.

“I just felt like there was an absence in elementary school and even somewhat into middle school. For me, when I decided to become a teacher, that was a decision I made in like first or second grade. That’s when I decided that. Sometimes you’ll ask kids to draw a picture of a farmer and you’re immediately going to get overalls and that kind of thing. So, I felt like if we didn’t do something early on and show these kids what farming actually is, then with our growing population, how are we going to survive, in the future?,” says Camp.

“I never envisioned it the way Sam had it in her head. I’m happy that she had that in her head of how she saw this being built. I just stepped back and said, ‘do it with how you want to’,” says Dearman.

By: Ray D’Alessio

School Gardens Look to Engage Students

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HIRAM, GA – It’s not a sight that you see every day – kids – outside, and actually enjoying being there, but at McGarity Elementary School, and also in schools all around the state, it’s becoming a common occurrence; all thanks to school gardens just like this one that have been popping up the past couple of years.

“Almost 2 years ago, McGarity went through a remodel,” says Stephanie Degenaar, school garden coordinator at McGarity Elementary. “First remodel we’ve had in 25 years, and this space here was industrial, it was large air conditioning units behind this awful looking fence in the middle of the playground, and I knew that the air conditioning units were going to be taken down, so I thought, well, let’s turn this industrial space into something that is good for the environment. I said, ‘let’s build a garden.’”

They have managed to transform that old industrial space into a beautiful school garden. Of course, this wouldn’t be possible without a lot of help and dedication from other teachers, parents, and even the community.

“With a large project, something like this, it takes a lot of people. It takes a lot of dedication, it takes a group of people that you know are willing to put in the work,” says Degenaar.

Another big help in the success of school gardens comes from UGA extension. They send master gardeners to the schools to help get the gardens established.

“We focus on sustainable gardening right now, and our school programs offer programs that show children what they can grow in their own backyards, what they can take home and eat, how to grow that, and how to bring it into the community,” says Kristine Huffman, Master Gardner with UGA Extension.

Other than teaching the kids where their food comes from, they can also serve another purpose. School gardens can be a great way for the school to meet education requirements called STEM once the school has been certified by the state.

Sarah Graham, Science and Health Curriculum Coordinator for Paulding County says, “STEM is science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and it’s all of those core contents combined. Kids will not just do science, they’ll not just use technology, they’re not just learning math, they’re learning everything in an integrated way in a project-based learning type environment.”

The projects are very popular. So popular, the garden has gotten to be so big, they have started to work in the garden all year long and have started two different programs to allow as many kids to be a part of the garden as possible. One of them even lets the parents to be a part of it.

“The children come out and work with the garden club teachers once a month with their designs and they come out and work on those days. We also have an earth parent program and they come out on other work days. We have four of those a year. They come out, they help us paint, they help us build,” says Degenaar.

As you can tell by the excitement in their faces, it’s an enjoyable time for the kids and for the parents. Degenaar says the work days are a big hit as it creates a calm environment for the families to be together.

“There’s a lot of excitement about it and a lot of enjoyment when they come out and work in the garden because they get to come out and be with their kids and they get to do something that’s very stress free,” says Degenaar. “Not just homework, not just going to a ballgame, coming and actually working together to create something beautiful and to also learn where food comes from.”

By: John Holcomb