Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project are students enrolled at the College of the Muscogee Nation. Specifically, students enrolled in the identified courses for this project (MVSK 2343, MVSK 2523, and MVSK 2513), who have been given the opportunity to participate in various health, activity, and gardeningactivities during the reporting period. In addition to these courses, the entire CMN student body wasinvited to participate in Fitness/Health challenges and garden work opportunities throughout the year. Through a combination of coursework and co-curricular activities, a large segment of the CMN student body was reached through the efforts of this grant. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training and professional development during this reporting period include presentations to students by staff and faculty on the cultural garden andteaching the cultural significance of red corn and its planting and harvest by staff to students and other staff. The Health Instructor on this grant project is provided bi-weekly professional development as a CMN faculty member. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The CMN student body and community interests have received information about public events held through this grant. Through the activities held during this funding period, students, staff, instructors, and the public have been informed about grant activities and initiatives. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This is the final period of funding for this particular grant. The activities from this grant will be continued through other programs. CMN recognizes the importance of incorporating food and human sciences knowledge, along with healthy iniatives, as a complement to academic programs.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During this reporting period, the faculty member on the project has continued to offer a variety of fitness and gardening activities designed to promote food and human sciences knowledge. In the past year, this project worked closely with our Health and Wellness department to spotlight many aspects of healthy living. By focusing on self-health, students were educated on the importance of physical and emotional health as the foundation to an overall healthy lifestyle, in addition to the importance that our food makes in that health. The project implemented "Wellness Wednesdays" through the spring and summer trimesters. The Wednesday events focused on educating students on prevention and how to cope with stress. Wellness Wednesday was a popular event on campus, with participation of over 150 students. In the fall 2018 trimester, physical challenges included ultimate frisbee, softball, volleyball, stickball, bow shooting, and a garden work day. These activities served more than 100participants. These activites were open to the entire student body, and were well attended with great participation from students and CMN staff. Although the health challenges are part of a formal program to promote healthy food and living, the collaboration among students and staff provides a way to actually demonstrate the practice of these principles. These activities are planned throughout the trimester, so there is a steady stream of fitness activities for student participation. Classes utilized the garden to enhance classroom objectives throughout this reporting period. The three classes identified in the grant objectives worked in the garden, planted seeds in the greenhouse, and harvested produce as the seasons allowed. In addition to gardening activities, a traditional Red Corn Planting was held on Earth Day, and garden committee members presented a garden workshop to provide information to students about traditional plants in the garden. Members of the garden committee also highlighted many aspects of garden activities and their cultural significance in an article published in the Tribal College Journal, community garden edition.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Tyner, M., Azbell, L., Coon, B., Moore, M., Pembrook, T., Randall, M. (2019). Este Mvskokvlke Em Vye Cvpofuce: The Mvskoke Cultural Community Garden. Tribal College Journal of American Indian Higher Education, 30(3), 30-34.
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Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project was students enrolled at the College of the Muscogee Nation. Specifically, students enrolled in the identified courses for this project (MVSK 2343, MVSK 2523, and MVSK 2513), who were given the opportunity to participate in fitness and gardening activities during this final year of the project. In addition to the specified courses, the entire CMN student body was invited and encouraged to participate in Fitness and Health challenges and garden work days throughout the year. Through a combination of coursework and co-curricular activities, a large segment of the CMN student body was served through the efforts of this project. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As faculty on the CMN campus, the Health Instructor was provided bi-weekly professional development topics through the office of Academic Affairs. No additional training was provided during this reporting period. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The continued success of these co-curricular and garden activities relied on disseminating information regarding the event. Email and visual advertising was provided to all students through email and social media prior to each lunch and learn, fitness challenge, co-curricular week, and health and wellness activity. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Hired in the first year of the grant, our Health Instructor Bobbie Coon incorporated formal programs during this funding period for the promotion of food and human sciences knowledge throughout our campus. The fitness program developed to encourage physical activity exposed students to fitness challenges as co-curricular offerings. Some of these activities included volleyball, traditional Mvskoke stickball, ultimate Frisbee, softball, and bow shooting. Students were able to participate in these activities with CMN staff and faculty, which facilitated a closer relationship, and teaching of traditional games. Student participation in these fitness activities has led to the creation of a bow shooting team and other intramural sports on campus. Each of the activities offered during this funding period promoted healthy lifestyles, experiential learning, and critical thinking, while also focusing on Mvskoke culture and history.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project are students enrolled at the College of the Muscogee Nation. Specifically, students enrolled in the identified courses for this project (MVSK 2343, MVSK 2523, and MVSK 2513), who have been given the opportunity to participate in fitness and gardening activities during the reporting period. In addition to these courses, the entire CMN student body were invited to participate in Fitness/Health challenges and garden work opportunities throughout the year. Through a combination of coursework and co-curricular activities, a large segment of the CMN student body was reached through the efforts of this grant. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training for both students and the Health Instructor during this reporting period has been conducted in a number of ways. Prior to conducting a lunch and learn session on pollinators, a local group visited campus to present to demonstrate milkweed planting to the Field Lab in Mvskoke Culture course. This training not only resulted in the planting of milkweed on the CMN campus, but was a learning session for students to locate areas for planting milkweed in their own spaces, and how to ensure that the plants grow. This hands on training was a successful example of training by an advanced professional to attain greater proficiency by a mentor. Additionally, the Health Instructor is provided bi-weekly professional development as a faculty member. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The CMN student body and community interests have received information about public events held through this grant. Through the activities held during this funding period students, staff, instructors, and the public have been informed about grant activities and initiatives. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In order to continue increasing the educational benefit of students through formal programs promoting food and human sciences knowledge, the Health Instructor will continue to incorporate fitness and garden activities across campus. Specifically, the garden will continue to be monitored by the garden committee. Plans to continue with planting and harvesting cycles are in place, and students are encouraged to participate through classroom activities and co-curricular opportunities throughout the remainder of the funding period. Crops are planned in coordination with normal planting cycles, and this will continue even after the project period ends. Healthy movement activities (e.g., traditional bow shooting, basketball, walking initiatives) are planned for the upcoming year to maximize the exposure that students have to information and opportunities for a healthy lifestyle. As were are in our extension period, the project will focus on projects that will have a long lasting effect on students' knowledge of healthy food and activities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During this reporting period, the Health Instructorfunded by this grant continued to offer an array of fitness and gardening activities in order to promote food and health learning experiences thatcomplement the Muscogee (Creek) culture. Fitness challenges were scheduled during the Fall 2017 trimester, and included six opportunities for students across campus to engage in stickball, volleyball, hand games (traditional Mvskoke game), kickball, traditional bow shooting, and dodgeball.Additionally, Ms. Coon arranged for physical activities for students includinga volleyball tournament and stickball games during co-curricular week (November 27-30). The garden had a final harvest was cleaned and prepared for winter by enrolled in the Field Lab coursewith the help of the garden committee and other student volunteers.Students started lettuce andothercold weather plants from seedin the greenhouse to betransplanted in the garden as they grew. With the combination of classroom and volunteer opportunities in the garden, the CMN community (students and staff) were given opportunities to learn how to plant and harvest their own foods grown in the garden. The garden work committee continued to meet and plan gardening space and activities to increase participation in the area. During this funding period, the garden committee continued Friday "work days" in the garden, attracting more than forty volunteers totaling nearly 200 volunteer hours. Another activity implemented to provide more opportunities for students' educational benefit were the lunch and learn series of speakers. The first lunch and learn program included a local speaker who heads an organization dedicated to increasing the monarch population and planting pollinator friendly plants to help these insects. This particular event was attended by 35 students. The presentation combined information about pollinators and monarch butterflies specifically, with information on how to create a pollinator garden. Since this program received such positive feedback from attendees, another lunch and learn was planned to share knowledge of traditional safke corn and the importance of corn to Native Americans. This corn presentation drew a crowd of 32 students, and again was very well received with many questions from the audience. These lunch and learn opportunities are an activity that the college intends to continue with throughout the remaining grant period and beyond. Other educational opportunities provided through this project include: Fall Pollinator Planting, which included students planting milkweed plants near our ponds for monarch egg laying; Full Moon Ceremony, which featured a cedar blessing ceremony in combination with CMN's first planting of traditional heirloom safke corn seed; and a Blue Corn demonstration upon harvesting blue corn planted in the CMN beds. All of these events listed have created a new avenue for increasing the educational benefit of CMN students in relation to food and human sciences.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Students enrolled at the College of the Muscogee Nation, and specifically in the identified courses for this reporting period (MVSK 2343, MVSK 2523, and MVSK 2513), were given the opportunity to participate in fitness and gardening activities during the reported period. In addition to these courses, the entire student body was invited to participate in Fitness/Health challenges during throughout the year. Through a combination of coursework and co-curricular activities, a large segment of the CMN student body was reached through the efforts of this grant. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In the last reporting period students provided feedback on activities and challenges, and ongoing fitness initatives they would like to see offered on campus. Ms. Coon has begun a training course to obtain a personal training certificate, which will allow for a larger array of activities available to students. Increasing her knowledge of fitness activities will benefit students as they utilize the on site workout equipment and during their other fitness activities. Additionally, as a faculty member at CMN, Ms. Coon participates in bi-weekly professional development. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The success of co-curricular and gardening activities outside the classroom has been contingent upon disseminating information prior to events. Through email and visual advertising, the CMN student body and community interests have received information about public events held through this grant. Ms. Coon has researched and held informational discussions with local parties regarding gardening best practices and ways to involve students in the various steps of the planting cycle. Through the various activities held as a part of this grant, students, instructors, and other CMN staff members have successfully informed the public and specific communities of interest about grant initiatives and results. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The Health Instructor will continue to incorporate co-curricular fitness activities in her courses with with the entire college population. Garden and fitness activities will increase in the fall trimester with continuing success, serving a greater number of students in achieving grant objectives. A dedicated asphalt walking trail is currently being established, and outdoor fitness equipment purchased through this grant will be installed and available for use. These outdoor stations will provide variety for students and others who utilize the walking trail rather than the indoor fitness capabilities. Incorporating education from the classroom with skills learned in the garden, and fitness initiatives gained through various offerings will continue to provide opportunities for students to bridge education and Native culture in an effort to lead healthier lives.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In working toward fulfilling the educational and cultural bridging goals of this project, the Health Instructor for this grant (Ms. Bobbie Coon)continued to incorporate in-class activities associated with health promotion and healthy living. During the fall 2016 trimester, Ms. Coon coordinated a one mile fun run/walk and stickball activities during co-curricular assessment week, serving 35 participants. Additionally, five challenges between students and faculty/staff teams occurred during the fall term and consisted of volleyball, softball, dodgeball, basketball, and stickball. Inspring 2017, a step-a-thon, volleyball, and archery challenges between faculty/staff and studentsserved67 participants during co-curricular week. The fitness and health challenges included dodgeball, basketball, Jedi-Knight, ultimate frisbee, and flag football, which served an average of 14 individuals per challenge. During the summer trimester challenges between faculty and students promoted fitness initiatives to achieve the objectives of this grant. These challenges included ultimate frisbee and softball. Although there were fewer organized challenges over the summer term, there were many more work times with students in the CMN garden. Students maintained the garden and participated in newly established Garden Work Days as recommended by the Garden Advisory Committee. Utilizing the garden as an outdoor classroom, these classes have enjoyed the opportunity to act on knowledge gained in the classroom about healthy living and knowing their food sources.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Students enrolled at the College of the Muscogee Nation, and specifically in the identified courses for this reporting period (MVSK 2523 and MVSK 2513), were given the opportunity to participate in fitness and gardening activities during the reported period. In addition to these courses, the entire student body was invited to participate in Fitness/Health challenges during the spring trimester. Through a combination of coursework and co-curricular activities, a large segment of the CMN student body was reached through the efforts of this grant. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As fitness initiatives have been developed and implemented in conjunction with the Personal and Family Living (MVSK 2343) course, the Health Instructor has received feedback from students on future activities they would like to see on campus in order to promote physical activities. Students have requested fitness type classes be held as co-curricular activities,as such,Ms. Coon will be receiving training and professional development in these areas. For example, students would like to see a Zumba type group fitness activity, which necessitates a certification. Additionally, as a faculty member at CMN, Ms. Coon attends bi-weekly professional development. In these sessions, all faculty members come together to discuss instructional and professional development topics. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The success of co-curricular and gardening activities outside the classroom has been contingent upon disseminating information prior to events. Through email and visual advertising, the CMN student body and community interests have received information about public events held through this grant (e.g., Garden Grand Opening, co-curricular fitness activities, etc.) Ms. Coon has researched and held informational discussions with local parties regarding gardening best practices and ways to involve students in the various steps of the planting cycle. Crops harvested from the garden that are in excess of cafe needs have been shared with the local elderly community center, along with information about activities that students are doing on-campus with respect to grant objectives. CMNalso hosted representatives from the state USDA Rural Development department to visit the garden and observe student activity and planting seeds in the greenhouse. Through the various activities held as a part of this grant students, instructors, and other CMN staff members have successfully informed the public and specific communities of interest about grant iniatives and results. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The Health Instructor will continue to incorporate co-curricular fitness activities both in her courses and with the student population as a whole. Garden and fitness activities will increase during the fall trimester, and we anticipate they will continue to be successful. Enrollment for the fall trimester is up, and with a greater number of grant activities ongoing throughout the trimester, we will see a greater number of students served through this grant in order to meet our objectives. Incorporating educationfrom the classroom with skills learned in the garden and fitness initiatives will provide more opportunities for student to bridge education and culture in an effort to lead healthier lives.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In working toward fulfilling the educational and cultural bridging goals of this project, the Health Instructor for this grant (Ms. Bobbie Coon) began to incorporate in-class activities associated with health promotion and healthy living. During the spring 2016 trimester, Ms. Coon coordinated five weekly Fitness/Health challenges between students and faculty/staff teams. With more than 25 student participants, spring activities were flag football, dodgeball, volleyball, basketball tournament, and a team relay. During the summer trimester, these challengesincluded ultimate frisbee and softball. Another fitness demonstration was held for stickball, which is a traditional Mvskoke game played with sticks and a small ball. In order to facilitate more stickball games, Ms. Coon purchased several sets of stickball sticks for students to utilize during these community games. During the summer 2016 trimester, Ms. Coon organized and hosted two fitness/health challenges between CMN employees and students: ultimate frisbee and softball. Although there were fewer organized challenges over the summer term, there were many more work times with students in the CMN garden. Students maintained the garden and harvested onions, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, cantaloupe, watermelon, and a variety of herbs and edible flowers, most of which was utilized in the Core Values Cafe, our on-campus food service. Utilizing the garden as an outdoor classroom, these classes have enjoyed the opportunity to act on knowledge gained in the classroom about healthy living and knowing their food sources. During the grand opening ceremony held for the garden facilities, students planted broccoli, spinach, and edemame seeds in the greenhouse in order to start fall crops. Students experiencing the entire life cycle of traditional Mvskokeplants from seedlings to harvest will continue to increase participation, as has been experienced with more student volunteers watering and weeding the garden during the trimester.
Publications
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