Sun Sep 15 11:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Rural Alberta School Thrives with Hands-On Agriculture Academy
**Rolling Hills, Alta.** – Faced with dwindling enrollment, Rolling Hills School, a small rural school in southern Alberta, took a unique approach to revitalize its community and secure its future: they launched an agriculture academy.
The academy, which opened its doors in 2023, has already seen a boost in enrollment, attracting new students from the nearby city of Brooks. The school’s focus on hands-on learning, rooted in the community’s agricultural heritage, has proven to be a winning formula.
“We wanted to be proactive,” said Mike Flieger, principal of Rolling Hills School. “We wanted it to be a school that was about something and attract people who were interested in learning based on our approach.”
The program integrates agriculture into the curriculum, incorporating real-world applications for math, science, and other subjects. Students get their hands dirty by tending to a school garden, raising livestock, and learning about animal care.
“The learning outcomes are prescribed by the government, but how you get students to that learning outcome, the examples you show, the hands-on work that they do, each school has flexibility,” said Valerie Carney, an associate professor at the University of Alberta.
The community has rallied behind the academy, with local farmers, businesses, and families contributing time, resources, and expertise. The school has even acquired its own livestock, including calves, goats, lambs, and horses.
“It reflects the community,” said Flieger. “I can’t speak enough to the amount of people that are interested in wanting to see this be a success.”
The initiative is attracting attention from educators across Canada, who are recognizing the value of place-based education, a philosophy that connects learning to the local environment and community.
“What you’re trying to do is connect learners with people and places and traditions in the community and in the local region that hold valuable knowledge and can be experienced as relevant and meaningful,” said Mark Fettes, associate professor at Simon Fraser University.
The Rolling Hills Agriculture Academy is not just a school; it’s a beacon of hope for the future of rural communities. It’s a testament to the power of community spirit, innovative thinking, and the enduring value of hands-on learning.
First Piper 