Participants will explore the importance and benefits of Farm to Early Care and Education (Farm to ECE) and learn practical, engaging ways to incorporate its three core components into early learning environments: gardening, food and agriculture/nutrition education, and local food purchasing.

During this lunch keynote session, educators and trainers will explore creative strategies and practical ideas for connecting children to healthy foods, local agriculture, STEM learning, movement, and sensory exploration in meaningful and developmentally appropriate ways. Participants will leave with fun, realistic ideas that can be implemented in a variety of early care and education settings to support healthy habits, curiosity, and lifelong learning.

This session will be provided at the Gulf Coast Early Childhood Summer Symposium.