Hosted by the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

This summer, Florida high school students have the opportunity to experience college life at the University of Florida while learning how the agricultural, natural resource and life sciences impact their families and communities around the world.

Rising high school juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply for the Florida Youth Institute (FYI), a week-long summer program sponsored by the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and The World Food Prize Foundation.

“To be considered for FYI, I wrote a short essay examining solutions to nutritional access in Alachua County. I learned the need for locally fine-tuned answers that empower children and families by bringing them closer to their food’s production,” said Kavina Peters, a 2019 FYI participant and a junior at Eastside High School. “Participating in FYI gave me hope in my generation’s ability to help end food insecurity in our world. Change starts with asking how we can help.”

FYI participants will:

• Engage in hands-on activities and demonstrations.
• Experience indoor and outdoor laboratories and campus facilities.
• Meet CALS Dean Elaine Turner, representatives from FDACS, faculty, staff and current CALS students.
• Examine issues in agriculture, life sciences and natural resources.
• Experience one week in a campus residence hall.
• Reflect on worldwide challenges such as food security.

Applications to FYI can be found online and are due Feb. 28. Cost of attendance to the program is $350 per participant. Applicants will have the opportunity to select one of the two camp weeks in July (week 1: 12-17 or week 2: 19-24).

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The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) administers the degree programs of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The mission of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences is to deliver unsurpassed educational programs that prepare students to address the world’s critical challenges related to agriculture, food systems, human wellbeing, natural resources and sustainable communities. The college has received more total (national and regional combined) USDA teaching awards than any other institution. Visit the CALS website at cals.ufl.edu, and follow CALS on social media platforms at @ufcals.

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