Practical Life Skills
Goals
The Practical Life Skills curriculum is designed to empower fellows with a toolkit that spans a diverse range of competencies, including financial and digital literacy, regenerative agriculture techniques, design + build expertise, and more. This emphasis on practical skills aligns with our organization’s mission to equip the next generation with the knowledge and abilities necessary to thrive in dynamic and interconnected ecologies and economies.
The Practical Life Skills curriculum immerses fellows in hands-on, place-based coursework. Core fellowship curriculum goals include:
Developing the vocabulary and skills needed to design and build sustainable and context-appropriate architecture and landscapes. Through hands-on learning experiences, fellows gain proficiency in basic building techniques while minimizing environmental impact.
Learning to grow food, increase soil health, and gain valuable insights into sustainable food production practices, while exploring concepts such as biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and the impact of human activities on the environment. This knowledge empowers fellows to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable food system.
Exploring skills of traditional homesteading, fellows delve into the economics of living, sustainable household governance, and the art of self-reliance. They learn to preserve food, manage resources efficiently, and create harmonious living spaces. This emphasis on self-reliance empowers fellows to navigate life's challenges with resilience and resourcefulness.
Practical Life Skills Curriculum
Regenerative Agriculture with Sky High Farm + OIKOS Residency at Hawthorne Valley: Place Corps fellows will learn about sustainable food production in the Hudson Valley, exploring both rural farming techniques and urban gardening methods. Alongside these practical skills, they will explore the concept of food sovereignty, gaining a deeper understanding of food systems and the importance of local food production.
Design + Build with Hudson River Maritime Museum’s Wooden Boat School: In a fully equipped wood shop that looks over the Hudson River, fellows will receive instruction from master craftworkers, carpenters, and boatbuilders, as they construct a wooden boat from scratch. This immersive experience will not only instill woodworking skills but also cultivate a profound understanding of tool usage and the intricacies of transforming raw materials into functional objects, whether it's a sturdy boat or a practical plant stand.
Financial Literacy: while in the Place Corps classroom, fellows will focus on learning to plan, track and manage personal finances in order to create financial security and build resources. Financial literacy is put into practice as fellows learn to manage the monthly $500 learning stipend provided by Place Corps. Fellows also practice financial literacy as they plan and prepare meals with the chef in residence, and produce community events.
The Place Corps Food Program
Our hands-on food program is the core of Place Corps' practical life skills curriculum. Fellows explore food systems, nutrition, regenerative agriculture practices, culinary traditions, and more, gaining valuable insights into the complexities of food production, consumption, and sustainability.
This program works in dedicated collaboration with a local chef (and Place Corps Alumni!) who brings the experience in the kitchen full circle.
See the food program in action below!
