Farmington Land Trust, 2nd-Graders Team Up For Memorable Program

Farmington Land Trust

FARMINGTON, CT — With school out for summer, many local children will enter those lazy, hazy, crazy days armed with knowledge that should help them appreciate and enjoy the environment they live in.

Recently, The Farmington Land Trust welcomed more than 350 second-graders from the
Farmington School System for an immersive, educational program on the
critical role of pollinators in the environment.

The experience — provided free of charge to every student — was held at the newly opened Farmington Land Trust headquarters and Wilcox-Bushley Homestead Environmental Education Center on Coppermine Road in Unionville.

"Education stands as one of the four pillars of the Farmington Land Trust's mission. Hosting all second graders from the Farmington Public Schools for this pollinator field trip epitomizes our vision," wrote the land trust in a release.

Cate Grady-Benson, executive director of the Farmington Land Trust, said a partnership between local schoolchildren and the major land preservation agency in town is a perfect match.

"One of the tenets of the Farmington Land Trust's mission is to provide education to our community," Grady-Benson said.

"We have been working with the Farmington Public Schools for several years to provide outdoor classrooms on our preserved properties.

"This year we were able to offer a field trip on the Wilcox-Bushley Homestead property to all the second-graders of Farmington about the importance of pollinators and the role of stewarding the land to ensure their survival."

Farmington educators agreed.

Tara Vazquez, the Farmington School System elementary science curriculum specialist, said the hands-on program turned elementary school children into scientists for, at least, eight days.

"This event was a brilliant blend of education and hands-on activities, allowing our students to step into the roles of botanists and entomologists, engage in a creative art project, practice yoga while observing nature, and participate in a pollinator relay race," she said.

"One highlight was the nature hike, featuring a pollinator scavenger hunt conducted in Spanish. The Farmington Land Trust volunteers were exceptionally generous with their time and expertise, making the day both educational and enjoyable.

"Our students gained a deeper understanding of the pollination process and the vital role pollinators play in our ecosystem.

"They also learned valuable lessons about stewardship and how they can contribute to protecting our natural world. We are immensely grateful for this enriching experience and look forward to continuing the fantastic collaboration between the Farmington Land Trust and the Farmington Public Schools.”

The Farmington Land Trust is a nonprofit organization established in 1971 by Farmington residents seeking to preserve and protect open space in their community.

For more information on the Farmington Land Trust, click on this link.

For more information on Farmington Public Schools, click on this link.