G.A.I.N- Growing Academics In Nature.

The G.A.I.N. Program at Allaire Community Farm partners with local high schools to provide a setting for their work-based learning experience. Work-based learning is an educational approach that uses the workplace or real work settings. This is to further provide students with the knowledge and skills that will help them connect school experience to real- work activities and future career opportunities. Each School, upon arrival receives daily tasks to complete, maximizing their exposure to a variety of components of farming. Allaire Community Farm provides 25 acres of space, animals, plants, gardening, and a farmer's market to align students with our mission, nurturing through nature.

Program Daily Farm Task:

  • planting
  • harvesting
  • weeding
  • animal care
  • cleaning and maintaining paddocks and stalls
  • egg collection
  • groundskeeping
  • seasonal farm tasks

Students participating in work-based learning on the farm must be able to...

  • Walk on uneven and soft surfaces without assistance.
  • Remain with the group with verbal prompts.
  • Demonstrate behavior appropriate for a family-friendly environment.
  • Able to learn how to use farm tools such as a shovel, rake, and wheelbarrow.
  • Comfortable working near farm animals
  • Remain safe on the farm around animals and machines
  • Tolerate the noises of tractor and farm animals

Clothing at the Farm

Be prepared to dress appropriately for the weather at the farm. You will be outside working for the majority of the day.

Daily apparel

● Sneakers, boots, or rain boats
● Socks
● Garden gloves

Warm Weather

● T-Shirt or Allaire T-Shirt
● Shorts, thin pants, or overalls
● Baseball cap or sunglasses are optional
● A light jacket, sweatshirt, or hoodie

Cold Weather

● Thermal long johns or extra layers
● Pants
● Long Sleeve Shirt
● Winter Coat
● Winter Hat
● Winter Gloves

Rainy Weather

● Bring a raincoat
● Waterproof traction shoes

G.A.I.N. Program Guidelines:

● Students can not be on farm property without school staff.
● Students must be within the school staff's line of sight.
● Staff and students must wear closed-toed shoes that provide traction and support. Sneakers, mucking boots, and hiking shoes/boots are acceptable. Crocs, sandals, dress shoes/ dress boots are not.
● Students and staff should bring garden gloves.
● Students and staff should dress in layers appropriate for the weather.
● School staff and students must wear name tags with their name and school. (First name and school for students)
● School staff must sign in and list their students by their first name.
● There is no running, yelling, or roughhousing on the farm property.
● Students may not enter an animal enclosure without permission.
● Students will not feed or handle the animals.
● Never leave equipment in an animal enclosure.
● All gates must be closed and secured when entering and exiting a paddock or enclosure.
● Complete an incident report and notify the G.A.I.N. Program Supervisor if a student or staff is hurt on the farm. (Incident reports are in the farm market)
● Return equipment to its storage location before leaving the farm.
● Report broken or damaged equipment to the G.A.I.N. Program Supervisor.