Sowing the SEEDsWhen Curriculum Coordinator and Director of the Samson Environmental Center Craig Westcott was tasked with finding innovative ways to bring outside schools into the Darrow community, he brainstormed an interactive field trip focused on sustainability, one of Darrow’s flagship programs. Soon, the SEEDs, Sustainability Experience and Education Days, were born. | 
Director of the SEC Craig Westcott gives an overview of Darrow’s sustainability program. |
On February 2, Darrow hosted its first SEED, for a group of middle school students and teachers from the Bethlehem Children's School of Slingerlands, NY. Westcott, along with faculty members Erin Milin, Liz Fougere, and Dennis Fougere, led the group through a series of exciting, hands-on learning opportunities.
In the morning, the Bethlehem Children's School students were introduced to the Samson Environmental Center (SEC), and heard a brief lecture on Shaker history and Darrow School culture. They participated in a mini Hands-to-Work (HTW), helping to collect and sort recyclables from center campus. After exploring the Living Machine and the SEC, the group sat down to lunch with Darrow students and faculty members.
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Darrow faculty Erin Milin teaches visiting students about environmental journaling. |
Using materials gathered during their HTW experience, the students created their own recycled journals. They then practiced journal writing on sustainability, and shared their reflections in a special afternoon session.
The visit was a great success, and a fitting kick-off for this new, original program, which integrates science, art, and writing. Head of School Nancy Wolf remarks, "SEEDs provides a forum for us to share our facilities, program, and expertise in the area of sustainability education, something for which Darrow is well-known. And it allows us to expose younger students to a topic embedded in our curriculum and culture, in order to heighten their awareness of both sustainability and Darrow School. We’re looking forward to many more collaborations with middle schools, in and out of the region. "
