FAQs: Is Vvi a good fit for us?

Q: Who can participate?

Vvi is geared toward middle and high school-aged youth groups, although anyone can participate.

  • Student environmental organizations
  • Students seeking independent study options
  • Advanced placement science students
  • Youth/teens considering careers in science research, community development, or the horticultural industry
  • Special interest teen/youth groups
  • Faith-based teen/youth groups
  • Boys and Girls Clubs
  • Key Clubs
  • Community service groups
  • 4-H groups
  • Scouts
  • Any informal setting in which teen youth gather with the guidance of an adult leader.

Q: What is required to execute Vvi?

  • An adult leader to coordinate the project.
  • The on-line Vvi toolkit.
  • Several hours of advance planning and 4-6 hours in active program execution.
  • Youth participants and a meeting place with computers which have Internet access.
  • Home or community gardens close by the meeting place or transportation for youth to the garden site(s).

Q: What can I expect from the Vvi toolkit?

  • comprehensive instructions
  • templates and sample forms
  • all materials needed to carry out program
  • estimated time commitment
  • contact information for support
  • suggested resources and links

Q: My group likes to have fun. Vvi seems like a lot of work. Will this feel like school?

Definitely NOT !!! It's true that VVi is about science, data collection, and there is learning that takes place. But it's FUN HANDS-ON LEARNING! Science does not have to be boring, and you'll see that first hand with your Vvi experience.

Q: My 4-H group meets during the summer. Will Vvi work for us?

Absolutely. The Vvi program works very well during the summer. You will likely find that gardeners are most accessible during the summer months, especially through your local community gardens. Just be sure you begin planning as soon as possible, so you allow sufficient time for all the program stages (advance planning, orienting youth, field work, reporting data, follow up/evaluation.

Q: Our students meet during the school year. Can we still do Vvi?

Yes!

FALL
Early autumn through harvest is an ideal time to interview gardeners for three reasons. First, many gardens are overflowing with ripe produce, ready for harvest, and visiting the garden spurs students' own questions. Second, gardeners' opinions of what they have grown during the season are fresh on their minds. Third, some gardeners may be willing to arrange for students to taste test ripe varieties right from the garden. This allows students to deepen their understanding of the work they are doing.

SPRING
Spring is also a good time to do Vvi, as gardeners are planning their gardens for the coming season, and reflecting on what varieties have performed well in the past. A sample spring Vvi program may begin planning in January/February, orient youth in March, and interview gardeners in April or May. Interviews at this time of year could take place in a newly planted garden.

WINTER
If visiting a garden setting is not a priority for your group, Vvi can be executed any time of year, even in the middle of winter. The essential element of Vvi is interviewing gardeners. Gardeners are around year round, even when their gardens are dormant! If you choose to do a winter program, allow extra time to identify your gardeners, or make connections with local community gardeners the preceding autumn. You might also consider planning a field trip the following growing season, to visit your gardeners' gardens.

Q: Our youth group meets monthly. Will Vvi work with our schedule?

Yes. Vvi is especially designed to be flexible and easily modified to suit the needs of your group. When you are creating your time line and program agenda, be sure to make the appropriate adjustments, and build in extra time to review information learned in previous sessions.

Q: Our group meets weekly. Will Vvi work for us?

Yes. Vvi works very well with a weekly schedule. Just be sure to design your Vvi timeline accordingly.

Q: We meet regularly, but with different students each week. Can we do Vvi?

VVi works best when students follow through from start to finish. Proper orientation prepares students for effective interviewing, and sharing data they collected themselves is a source of pride and essential for accurate reporting.

Q: Will Vvi help students meet learning standards?

Download from Toolkit Resources page

See Vvi in the classroom to find out how VVi fits together with Research, Science learning, and Assessment Tools.