The 30th Community Adventure Program (CAP) started off the 2011-2012 school year with an energetic bang! Students took an early interest in Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and that shaped the class as they delved into research and public action!
The pertinence of the topic of GMOs was amazing. The first week of class three students attended a rally at the court house on their own time against GMO’s being planted on public land. The class followed up by writing letters to the County Commissioners objecting to the planting of genetically modified sugar beets on Boulder County Open Space.
CAP also visited the Flatirons Neighborhood Farm to see a working organic garden which produces GMO-free produce for the surrounding neighborhood. Then the students took their knowledge to the streets, educating and asking for petition signatures. According to Katie Maxwell, “It was strange to hear myself teaching others about the things I had only recently learned about, but I loved knowing that now they knew about this huge problem in our country that is so overlooked. If just one of them went home that night and looked up what a GMO was then we succeeded because knowledge was spread.”
The class gathered 141 signatures for the Organic Consumers Association asking for the labeling of genetically modified foods in our grocery stores. Students also announced some of our findings at the Community Gathering at New Vista High School to help educate their peers. As national groups came together around this cause, the class invited the communications director from Alfalfa’s Market into the classroom to talk about their part in spreading the word about labeling GMOs in our food. It was an incredible learning experience for everyone. As Eric Falconer summed it up, “That’s why this class is so awesome, because if you’ve never really been involved in an issue then you get a chance to experience it, and if you have, then you’re just making a greater impact.”
Thank you to everyone involved in making this quarter a great learning experience for everyone!
Amy Pearson
If you see the ‘USDA Organic’ label you can be assured that 95% or more of the ingredients found in that product is certified organic. Is 95% good enough for you? I say a product is other organic or it isn’t.