Auerfarm is currently offering Virtual Field Trips designed to bring farm-based education into statewide classrooms or homes through age-appropriate virtual hands-on science investigations. Each seasonal pre-recorded field trip has a unit developed for Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten-Second Grade, and Third-Fifth Grade.
The Virtual Field Trips will run through late fall 2020 and pricing is set to meet all audiences including teachers, parents, and guardians to assist children on a hybrid class schedule or children that are home-schooled.
The six Field Trip topics sessions include Apples and Apple Trees to learn the lifecycle of an apple tree and how it changes with the seasons, Fall Harvest to watch how farm’s harvest fruit and vegetable with cooking recipes to be duplicated at home, Bees and Pollinators to learn how these insects help pollinate flowers alongside butterflies, hummingbirds, and more, Wheels at Work to learn about how and why wheels and axels work, Fall Forests to identify the trees around your home and why trees are important to life on Earth, and Farm Animals to meet all the Auerfarm animals and learn how we take care of them, and why they are kept on farms.
The Virtual Field Trips also offer the option to integrate the Field Trips with a LIVE 45-minute interactive experience from Auerfarm educators via Zoom or Google Meet. A unique experience to visit the farm with behind-the-scenes tours, animal meet and greets, garden explorations. Any LIVE experiences can be customized to your group’s interests and questions are encouraged.
The Virtual Field Trips are designed to be turn-key solutions for the classroom or home with minimal supplies and adult assistance. Educators and parents can optimize the field trips as a jumping-off point for project-based work as well as easy set-up and presentation in Google Classroom or SeeSaw portals.
Kim Read, Farm Educator with over 10 years at Auerfarm, has designed and created the new virtual educational projects for school groups and families as a way to safely bring farm-based education to students during this time. “The year 2020 has been challenging and Auerfarm has tried to find a way to engage and connect with our community during this time. Our virtual field trips are designed to connect students to agriculture and the natural world through hands-on, place-based experiences. Our hope is that this learning will jump start deeper explorations and conversations within families, classes, and the community as a whole,” said Read. ” As an educator and parent, I wholeheartedly understand the needs of families, teachers, and children during this unparalleled time. Our educational offerings are designed to invigorate a love for learning and prompt scientific thinking in all of us. It is important to our Auerfarm team that the experiences we create plant the seeds of wonder and encourage learners to grow.”
The central mission of Auerfarm was set down by the Auerbach family in 1976, to create authentic, hands-on, farm-based learning experience for students. Students learn that the farmer is a scientist and that agricultural science affects everyday life. Auerfarm programs weave S.T.R.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) concepts into Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and Common Core aligned experiences. Students from pre-K through high school learn through the inquiry method, which encourages critical thinking and curiosity, while providing concrete hands-on discovery experiences essential to motivate and inspire scientific literacy.
Erica Fearn, Executive Director, has been managing day to day operations at Auerfarm along with the Board of Trustees members. Fearn stated, “As we know, this year has been unprecedented on many levels and to face these changes, one must adjust and take stock in making the best better and we worked tirelessly to ensure the access to education and safety for all of our students, visitors, and staff were paramount. Our virtual programs provide a safe way to stay in touch with nature, their families, and their community,” Fearn said.
The Virtual Field Trip experience prices packages range from Virtual Classroom Package up to 30 users: $125.00 and $5.00 per student over 30 users; includes video, choice board with links to activities; and Classroom Family Rate Package: $30.00; the Series Virtual Classroom Package: a series up to 30 users for three field trips and includes one LIVE Virtual Auerfarm Experience $375.00, and the Virtual On Auerfarm Experience Package add-on: $75.00, a LIVE session with an Auerfarm educator is a great addition to the Virtual Classroom package.
For more information on pricing, registration, and Auerfarm, visit www.auerfarm.org or 860. 242.7144, and our Facebook and Instagram pages.