AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF NEW STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ELEMENTARY SCIENCE EDUCATION, TEACHERS NEED TRAINING AND TOOLS PREPARE STUDENTS FOR STEM CAREERS IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE. INVOLVING YOUTH DIRECTLY IN AUTHENTIC SCIENCE IS ONE PROMISING APPROACH. RECENT RESEARCH SHOWS THAT YOUTH-FOCUSED, COMMUNITY AND CITIZEN SCIENCE (YCCS) CAN DEEPEN SCIENCE LEARNING, LEADING YOUTH TO CREATE CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES, LANDSCAPES, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH THEIR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. YCCS CREATES MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS FOR STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND AND ENGAGE WITH AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS.TO ADDRESS THIS OPPORTUNITY, THE UC DAVIS CENTER FOR COMMUNITY AND CITIZEN SCIENCE AND STUDENT FARM WILL DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, AND EVALUATE YEAR-LONG INSTITUTE FOCUSED ON AGRICULTURE-BASED YCCS. THE INSTITUTE WILL PREPARE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS TO: (1) UNDERSTAND BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES RELATED TO PLANT PRODUCTION, FARM SYSTEMS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT; (2) UNDERSTAND HOW YCCS AS A LEARNING TOOL CAN PREPARE STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES; AND (3) LEAD AN IN-CLASS YCCS ACTIVITY. PARTICIPATING TEACHERS WILL ATTEND AN IMMERSIVE, HANDS-ON SUMMER WORKSHOP ABOUT AGRICULTURE-BASED YCCS IMPLEMENTATION THAT INCLUDES ACCESS TO A SAMPLE CURRICULUM. THEY WILL RECEIVE FOLLOW-UP INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT AT THEIR SCHOOLS, PARTICIPATE IN CLASS FIELD TRIPS TO THE STUDENT FARM, AND ATTEND A FINAL MEETING ANSWERING REMAINING QUESTIONS. WE WILL COLLABORATE WITH EDUCATION AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS IN THE REGION TO MEET THESE OBJECTIVES AND WORK TOWARDS LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF A TRAINING MODEL THAT STRENGTHENS THE NETWORK OF LOCAL EDUCATIONAL COLLABORATIONS, AND IMPROVES THE IMPACT AND DIRECT RELEVANCE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.