Pan American Academy Charter School

Pan American Academy Charter School (PAACS) is a bilingual, International Baccalaureate (IB) K-8 school balancing a rigorous curriculum with an attention to the physical and mental health of students; nutrition and wellness are integrated into the classroom. PAACS serves a highly impoverished community that is primarily Latino. The garden project, El Huerto del Pueblo, has a threefold goal for students; 1) to involve students in food production, 2) to provide positive opportunities for outdoor education and physical activity, and 3) to promote healthy living while addressing issues of food access in the neighborhood through student engagement and learning. The Whole Foods Foundation/FoodCorps-USA grant would enable garden project organizers to sustain the outdoor educational component of the garden while increasing capacity for the indoor component. Educators will integrate science and social studies elements into the current garden club structure.