We would love to partner with you and your class this Spring! We worked with a number of classes to develop unique and engaging learning experiences this fall. Here are some ways to engage:
- Bring your class to the farm for a tour
- Offer extra credit to student volunteers
- Teach a class lesson on the farm
- Use the farm as a real-world setting for an applied project
Highlights from the semester:
The photo at the top of this blog post was taken during an AGECO class field trip to the farm. Students explored the farm’s pollinator garden to identify pests, and to discuss the ways to manage both beneficial and harmful insects on a farm.
The farm also worked with GEOG 430: Human Uses of the Environment this fall! We visited the geography class for an in-class presentation about the farm, and then the geography students joined us on the farm for a field trip. In class, had exciting discussions about alternative food system trends and discussed the social context surrounding sustainable agriculture. On the farm, geography students got their hands dirty while learning about sustainable agriculture production practices. Talk about a learning exchange for all involved!
Student Farm intern Michael Cahill talks with a group of students about how to operate the tiller that he worked with all summer long.
Students majoring in Electrical Engineering are working with the farm as part of their Learning Factory Senior Capstone. Continuing through the rest of the fall semester, these students will continue to build an on off-grid power source for season extension on the farm. We hope that this will be a great learning experience for students, and we can’t wait to have this valuable technology available to us!
There are many other ways that classes and students can get involved with the farm, and we think that it’s best to hear about their experiences as told by students, in their own words. To read more student stories, click here!
We welcome new and creative ideas every day. If you want to work with the farm at any capacity next semester, let us know! If you are interested in bringing your class to the farm (or in bringing the farm to your class), contact Leslie Pillen at lrp143@psu.edu.