SHIP stories
Eating a balanced diet is one of the most important
things we can do to maintain and improve our
health. Encouraging fruits and vegetables in schools
helps kids grow up strong and healthy, with good
habits that last a lifetime.
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In the first three years of SHIP, 440 schools
worked on Farm to School programs, giving
access to locally grown fresh fruits and
vegetables to 235,000 students.
Engaging students through
agriculture at Golden Hill in
Rochester
Seed money from SHIP is “Growing Graduates” at
Golden Hill Alternative Learning Center’s garden in
Rochester. Students at high risk for academic failure
and risky behaviors are using their work study time to
tend plants in the school greenhouse and garden.
School gardens are a new, old way to teach children
about agriculture, nutrition, and taking responsibility.
Not to mention, the kids get to enjoy and benefit from
eating fresh fruits and vegetables at their school.
The Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) works to
improve health through better nutrition, increased physical activity
and decreased commercial tobacco use and exposure.
Find out more at www.health.state.mn.us/ship
At Golden Hill the outdoor experiences in the garden
are integrated with the school’s science curriculum. Their
efforts not only provide a science lesson and food for
themselves and their peers, but have also provided a
lesson in accountability, hard work and punctuality. As
a result, some students’ attendance rates rose from 5060 percent to nearly perfect attendance. The principal
credits the garden for engaging these students. “It
acknowledges that what we’re doing is worthwhile and
good for kids.”
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Updated 6/2013