Sun, fun and a new twist to my volunteer work. Playing with kids. I do choose a bit purposefully where and with whom I volunteer with, staying away from day-care, tutoring or any other kind of child play activity. I have short patience with children and children tend to have short patience with me. It’s not the best match.
It wasn’t until this weekend, on April 15th that the tables were turned and I realized how much fun I have with children, especially when it comes to embarking with them on Tom Sawyer outdoor adventure’s and education!
Land Paths sponsored a free community day at Bayer Farm, Tom Sawyer day. And could they have picked a more perfect day. Probably not. The sun was shining and the weather was just right. A calm breeze was sailing through the farm, picking up the children’s hair and carrying a mixed smell of spring flowers and animal droppings from the petting zoo. The show up of kids from neighboring elementary schools was fantastic! Between 50 and 100 little rambunctious kids running around the farm, very eager to see everything that we were offering to them. Tom Sawyer Day at Bayer Farm offered a petting zoo with chickens, rabbits and birds; an insect display brought by the SSU Biology department; art tables with pirate hat making and face painting; a scavenger hunt and sun flower seed planting. After setting up the farm and activity table, I ran the sun flower planting table where we rolled planters out of newspaper and planted soil and seeds in them. All the children were so well behaved and really wanted to learn about the sunflower seeds and how to plant them. They were shocked when one student asked how the sunflower was going to grow if they are planting the seed with its shell still on it. When I replied, “the seed bursts out of its shell naturally once it receives the sun and water it needs,” their eyes got so big! I forgot how easily children can get excited.
Overall, Tom Sawyer day was a success and working with the kids was so much fun! It got me thinking that I can maybe handle environmental education with children. Seeing how their heads just wrap around any new facts that you give them is very satisfying. It really is important that children learn the simple things like how to plant a seed and pick a ripe tomato. These children may have gone home that day and asked their families if they could grow a couple vegetables in their yards. That is what Land Paths is aiming for, educating and providing an opportunity for families in the Roseland area to partake is sustainable food practices. With high obesity rates, processed foods and job lay-offs, it is such as important time for people to know how to obtain what they need the natural way. Tom Sawyer day was an awesome way to put some of these ideas in the heads of young children.
Earth week is finally here! Get your hands dirty and be a part of this special time! If anyone would like to see Bayer Farm and be introduced to the land and see what is done there, this week is another volunteer opportunity. April 23rd, 2.00-5.30. Come check it out!
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