CENTER FOR LAND-BASED LEARNING
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Mission Statement
Our Mission is to inspire, educate, and cultivate future generations of farmers, agricultural leaders and natural resource stewards.
About This Cause
The Center for Land-Based Learning is dedicated to creating the next generation of leaders and teaching California’s youth about the importance of agriculture and watershed conservation. Combining innovative hands-on experience with classroom learning, participants in CLBL’s many programs develop leadership skills, learn how sustainable agriculture practices contribute to a healthier ecosystem, and create connections to agricultural, environmental, and food system careers. Youth Programs The Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship (SLEWS) Program serves over 600 high school students in nine counties. In partnerships with local Conservation Resource Districts, the SLEWS Program engages high school students in real habitat restoration projects that enhance science learning, develop leadership skills, and make a true environmental difference. Participating high school science classes adopt SLEWS restoration projects on private working lands (farms, ranches and other natural areas throughout the Central Valley) for the length of the school year. Over the course of multiple visits, students plant native trees, shrubs and grasses; build and install bird boxes, bat houses or bee hotels; remove invasive plants and install irrigation systems, all designed to increase the biological diversity and improve the health of the land. Because we partner with restoration professionals, SLEWS projects have a real and lasting environmental impact. SLEWS field days also offer young people the opportunity to practice scientific techniques and build leadership and communication skills as they work together to improve the health of their own communities. The FARMS (Farming, Agriculture, and Resource Management for Sustainability) Leadership Program is growing the next generation of leaders in agriculture and natural resource conservation. FARMS Leadership serves over 500 high school youth in 16 California counties each year. Program participants are organized into cohorts of approximately 30 students each. Cohorts are comprised of a culturally and socially diverse group of students from multiple high schools in urban, suburban and rural communities. It is designed to be a transformational experience for students that literally takes them out of the classroom and provides hands-on experiences at working farms, ag-related businesses (processing, scientific research, technology), and colleges and universities. Students develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of California agriculture, food systems and natural resources. Caring for our Watersheds is an environmental proposal writing contest that involves more than 1,000 participating high school students each year. The program encourages youth to design and implement a project with a direct environmental impact on their own community. Finalists present their projects to a panel of environmental experts, and the winners receive cash prizes enabling them to complete their proposed project. All our youth programs are designed to foster and develop leadership skills, critical to their ultimate success. The Center also works with industry partners to provide paid internship and job shadowing opportunities as well as college scholarships. And we continue to foster mentorship opportunities long after students graduate to support their career goals. Adult Programs The California Farm Academy trains and supports beginning farmers ages 18 and older, helping them establish sustainable, viable and locally-based farm business enterprises. The program trains skilled farm managers and employees for the farm sector in California. Additionally, it fills a critical industry need to recruit, train and support new and replacement farmers. The Beginning Farmer Training Program provides aspiring farmers a strong foundation from which to launch and grow their farm businesses. In this immersive educational program, curriculum combines lectures by farmers and agricultural professionals, hands-on field experience, and farm visits to expose students to topics critical for a future in farming. During the seven-month program, lessons focus on crop production, business planning and marketing, and culminate in a personal business plan or farm career plan. The certified Beginning Farm and Ranch Management Apprenticeship Program, the first of its kind in the state, trains individuals for farm management jobs by providing practical experience, valuable skills, connections to farmer mentors and an industry-recognized credential. The program was developed to address California’s shortage of highly skilled workers to fill important farm manager positions. Apprentices complete 3,000 hours of paid, on-the-job training and a total of 250 hours of coursework over the 2 years of the program. The Farm Business Incubator Program provides access to low-cost land, shared infrastructure, equipment and mentorship for beginning farmers who are ready to start their small farm enterprises. Farmers have the opportunity to launch their new businesses, experiment with production techniques and develop markets, all while refining their business plans with personalized support and mentorship. Land leases are available at urban farm sites in West Sacramento as well as at our headquarters in Winters. Farmers also have access to greenhouse, wash and pack, and cooler space.