Meals Program at Thaden School

Program Type: 
Farm Based, Garden Classrooms, Kitchen Classrooms, School Cafeterias, Academic Classrooms
Grade Level/Age Group: 
Middle School, High School
Number of Individuals Program Serves: 
275
Year Founded: 
2017
About the Program: 

Thaden School is a middle and high school located in the middle of the United States in Northwest Arkansas. Our goal is to offer an educational experience in which students discover the joy of learning and cultivate their potential under the guidance of masterful educators. Our facilities include a 1/2 acre teaching garden, greenhouse, teaching kitchens, and a chicken coop with a flock of laying hens. 

At the core of our mission is a deep commitment to balance that will take many forms: a challenging and innovative curriculum that integrates the sciences and the humanities through our three signature programs Meals, Reels, and Wheels. Food is at the heart of our school and community. We are hopeful for the future of farming and food in this country and are excited to be a part of the larger movement working to transform food in schools and in our country. Our school food program is from scratch and serves food from our own small farm as well as many small farms in this region. Further, our teaching kitchens, teaching gardens, and curriculum work in tandem to support our students learning and development more broadly.