A burgeoning partnership between Friends Academy and the neighborhood not-for-profit Planting Fields Foundation has created some exciting opportunities beyond typical field trips for Lower School students – and was recently noticed and covered by News12.
"We are in the midst of creating a new Forest Program partnership with Planting Fields Foundation that involves our students supporting the development of their education center," said FA Forest Program educator Alana Kessler, who added that Director Sarah Crowley has visited the Kindergarten classroom, as well as this fall's Forest Program Welcome Event for Early Childhood students.
An initial fall visit to the Planting Fields Foundation certified Kindergarten and First Grade students as junior rangers and introduced concepts of hands-on conservation. This led the way for a more involved initiative in early December with Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Third Grade students.
"Sarah asked if Friends Academy students might help them prepare for their upcoming 'Home for the Holidays' annual event at the historic Coe House," said Ms. Alana. Using natural found materials, such as native pine cones, sweet gum balls, and acorns, students constructed festive decorations in their classrooms and at Planting Fields, and in the process learned about some of the wildlife that is native to Long Island. "Third graders studied the adaptations that were necessary for owls to survive and some of their different characteristics."
A News12 team assigned to cover the annual event decided to invite and highlight the efforts of Friends Academy students and a segment will air an interview with third grader Kayla about her classmates' support of the program and organization.
"Looking ahead, we are thinking about ways in which this partnership can be more of an ambassadorship," said Ms. Alana, which will start with students extending the outdoor learning space with the creation of sensory squares. "We are excited to be partnering with Planting Fields in this way!"
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