BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation

The BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation (BCAITC) is a Canadian nonprofit, charitable organization dedicated to agricultural literacy and education in British Columbia. Established in 1992 by a collective of farmers, teachers, and agriculture enthusiasts, BCAITC aims to connect K-12 students with knowledge about local agriculture, food production, and sustainability. The foundation's mission is to bring British Columbia’s agriculture to students through educational programs, resources, and partnerships with schools and communities across the province.[2][5]

Overview

BCAITC collaborates with educators to integrate agriculture into the curriculum of elementary and secondary schools in British Columbia. Students learn about the origins of their food, how to grow it, and the vital role farms and agriculture play in society. The foundation provides free, interactive programs and over 500 teacher resources that support agricultural and nutritional education. Their work touches over 500,000 students annually across public, First Nations, and independent schools.[2][3][5]

Programs and Initiatives

Education and Curriculum

BCAITC offers various programs including agricultural literacy contests, hands-on learning opportunities, and classroom resources designed to engage students in understanding plant and food wellness. One prominent initiative is the Summer Institute, a professional development course offered in partnership with the University of British Columbia. This course equips teachers with knowledge about food production, sustainability, and agricultural issues, while guiding them on how to ethically incorporate these topics into their teaching practice across multiple grade levels.[2][4]

BC School Fruit & Vegetable Nutritional Program

The foundation also collaborates with provincial ministries, such as the BC Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, and Education, to support the BC School Fruit & Vegetable Nutritional Program (BCSFVNP), promoting healthy eating habits among students.[5]

Community Engagement

BCAITC maintains strong ties with the agricultural community, including farmers, agri-food business leaders, nutritionists, and educators, ensuring that its programs remain relevant and grounded in current agricultural practices and issues. This collaboration helps sustain the foundation’s activities through financial support and expert involvement.[2][5]

Governance

The organization is governed by a board of directors representing diverse stakeholders from the agricultural and education sectors, including farmers, educators, nutritionists, and public officials. Although it receives partial government support, BCAITC primarily relies on financial contributions from the agricultural community and private donors to sustain its programs.[2][5]

BCAITC is also a provincial member of the national Agriculture in the Classroom Canada network, which promotes agricultural education across the country through provincial foundations with similar mandates.[2][5]

Mission

"Working to bring BC's agriculture to our students," BCAITC's mission emphasizes agricultural literacy to foster understanding of food sources, sustainable farming, and healthy living among British Columbia’s youth.[2]

See also:

• Agriculture in Canada

Categories:

• Agricultural education
• Agriculture in British Columbia
• Educational organizations based in British Columbia