Since our inception of Sunshine 411, our goal has been to develop high level educational opportunities for our participants, using both STEAM components and Program Based Learning. Upon acquiring the Hendry property, we began area collaborating with educators, agriculture, environmental, and horticulture professionals, consultants, and community leaders.
WHAT IS STEAM?
STEAM Education is an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. Using STEAM education results in students who take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning, persist in problem-solving, embrace collaboration, and work through the creative process. These are the innovators, educators, leaders, and learners of the 21st century! READ MORE
Our STEAM components will include:
SCIENCE
- Hands-on work with crops being grown, sheep shearing, cow milking, the collection of chicken eggs, and interactive animal care with horses, goats, and sheep.
- Instruction about where our food comes from, the agricultural cycle.
- Nutritional programs to teach about the importance of vegetables, fruits, and dairy products in a healthy diet.
- Outdoor activities and healthy eating programs designed to educate about childhood obesity.
- Natural resource and environmental education. Such topics may include sustainable and organic farming, native plant species present at the park, and the wildlife that utilize the site and its adjacent wildlife corridors.
- Learning about sustainable and humane animal husbandry and slaughter.
TECHNOLOGY
- SREC will emphasis “green” technology and these applications will be incorporated in the daily operations of the property and included in our educational programming. Examples include:
- Composting
- Bio-digester
- Solar Power
- Windmill
- Fuel cell technology
- Organic Farming
ENGINEERING
- Agricultural Engineering is the area of engineering concerned with the design, construction and improvement of farming equipment and machinery. Examples of topics may include:
- Farm Tractors and Power Units.
- Systems Analysis in Agriculture.
- Operations Research and Systems Theory.
- Agricultural Machinery Management.
- Food Process Engineering Technology.
- Agri-Industrial Applications of Electricity.
- Water and Soil Management.
ARTS
- The history of the region will be an important presented to the participants of all ages.
- The historical role agriculture played as the driving force in the settling and growth of Hendry County and South Florida
- A study of the Native Americans in the region starting with the Pre-Columbian Glades Culture that lived in the area 3000 years ago to the Seminoles that inspired the renaming of Hwy 833 to “Sam Jones Trail.”
- The role Clewiston and Hwy 27 played for tourism prior to the construction of today’s major highways.
- Utilizing the beautiful natural terrain, Visual arts will include Plein Art painting and Photography. Along with an introduction to the Highwaymen artists who sold art in the area.
- Florida Cracker and Cowboy Cracker storytelling will be highlighted around the campfire each evening.
MATH
- Participants will learn the importance of math and business in operating a farm or an agricultural business. Lessons will include understanding how:
- Farmers must purchase supplies and services and sell products.
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- They need a good understanding of agri-business and economics to make a profit. Farmers work with individuals and companies to supply the needs of their farm and sell their products.
- Farmers must know how to keep an organized budget, compare prices, and make wise financial decisions.
- Farmers use math in their day-to-day operations. For example, farmers use math to determine the amount of seed they need to plant their crop and how much it will cost. They use math to purchase equipment and make payments. Math is important in determining taxes and insurance.
- Math is important for farmers keep track of how much their livestock weighs, how much milk their cows produce and their crop yield per acre.
- More advanced participants and volunteers will be able to take part in creating a working budget for the retreat and will learn the operations of a non-profit organization and of a working business.