Registration Open for Educational Programs, Funded by CDE Foundation



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With students now back in session for the 2015-16 school year, the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation has announced that registration is now open for Discover Dairy and the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow programs.

"We are excited and ready to see what this year brings for these education programs and to hear of the impact that they have made on the teachers and students," Emily Yeiser, dairy education programs manager for the Center for Dairy Excellence, said. "We are thankful for the individuals and organizations that donate to these programs, understanding and valuing the importance it plays for our future generations."

Discover Dairy is an interactive, cross-curricular lesson series that meets state educational and Common CORE standards in science, math and reading for upper elementary and middle school. It shows students where milk comes from while demonstrating how dairy farms contribute to local communities. The lesson series has been completely revamped for the 2015-16 academic year, adding a stronger writing focus and aligning more closely with Common CORE and STEM standards. A revamped website also offers enrichment opportunities for in the classroom and resources for farms that want to reach out to local schools. All of the resources are offered at no charge and can be found at www.discoverdairy.com.

The center's foundation is now encouraging educators to register soon, and incorporate the Discover Dairy Education Program into their curriculum this year. There are incentives being offered for early sign ups, including classroom posters and bookmarks for the students. Dairy farm families are encouraged to share the Discover Dairy Program with teachers and curriculum advisors within their local school district. They are also invited to check out the farmers' resource page. As of last May, more than 1,400 educators had registered to use the Discover Dairy Lesson Series.

Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow is a curriculum designed specifically to give high school students a foundation of education and soft skills to pursue future careers within and related to the dairy industry. This program was developed to provide high school educators and students with dairy business and herd management courses to enhance their existing dairy educational platforms. Students can receive industry recognized certifications in both dairy herd management and in dairy business management through Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow. Pennsylvania students also have the opportunity to attend live farm tours and other educational programs. Last year, close to 100 classrooms and 5,000 students were touched by the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow program.

New this year, teachers and students will have the ability to sign up for a monthly e-newsletter that will meet STEM standards for learning. Activities specifically for independent students have also been enhanced and are now more user friendly. Any new classroom that enrolls before November 1, 2015, will be eligible to receive free t-shirts for the students. Those who have previously enrolled do not need to register again but are encouraged to provide any updates regarding contact information, class size and how they plan to use the program by contacting the Center for Dairy Excellence. To register and see more about this program visit www.dairyleadersoftomorrow.com.

Students' and teachers' cost to participate has generously been covered by scholarships provided by Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania donors. Additional information and questions about either the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow or Discover Dairy Programs can be answered by calling the center at 717-346-0849 or visiting www.centerfordairyexcellence.org, click on the "Students and Educators" tab, then click on the specific program on the left column.

The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization created to support educational initiatives that grow and sustain the Pennsylvania dairy industry. The foundation provides the opportunity for individuals and organizations to make tax-deductible contributions to support educational initiatives within Pennsylvania's dairy industry. Since launched in 2010, the Center Foundation has delivered on its commitment to the future of Pennsylvania's dairy industry by offering scholarships, hosting dairy tours and creating Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow.

To learn more about how to contribute to the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow program or the Center Foundation in general, visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/our-foundation/. More information about the Center Foundation, its core objectives and how to contribute can also be requested by contacting the Center for Dairy Excellence at 717-346-0849 or by emailing info@centerfordairyexcellence.org.
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9.3.2015