All kindergarten through third-grade students at Avon Grove Charter School will be able to participate in experiential learning field trips to the school’s micro-farm thanks to a $6,500 Farm to School Grant, according to a staff report from The Daily Local News. 

“The AGCS micro-farm provides hands-on learning opportunities for students and allows them to build connections to agriculture, food, fibers, and natural resources,” said Krista Lauterwald, agriculture teacher and micro-farm manager. “I always tell students that if you are interested in food, you should be interested in agriculture.” 

These field trips will allow students to take part in interactive lessons to increase their agriculture literacy and learn about and interact with the animals at the Micro-Farm. All activities are linked to the students’ grade-level curriculum and align with state standards. 

The school will also launch Harvest of the Month programming in its cafeteria to highlight seasonal local produce and feature taste testing during lunch service. 

This is the second time that the school has received this grant. Last year, it allowed 700 students and staff to visit the farm. 

Read more about Avon Grove Charter School in The Daily Local News.