PINE GROVE, Pa. — Elementary and middle school students in Pottsville's after-school Achieve program started their school day on Friday, learning about the importance of kestrel falcons at Potter's Farm in Pine Grove.
This is the last field trip of several that were funded by the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29's Pennsylvania Department of Agricultural Farm-to-school Grant.
"So they've gone to Jersey Acre Farms where they got to learn where the strawberries and the apples come from. They got to go to Holden Family Farm down the road where they got to learn about Goats and Sheep. They learned about forage and Future Farmers of America Programs there," said Leah Zerbe with Pottsville Area School District.
On this trip, students learned about the ecosystem that keeps their local farms going. According to J.F. Therrien, who is the senior wildlife biologist at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. The Kestrel falcon chicks are also known as the farmer's best friend.
"Oh yes! We are calling them the farmer's best friend because they eat insects, they eat rodents that would actually affect crops, so having them is a very nice biological way, alternative to contaminants and whatever else to get the kids involved and connected with nature is just a prime importance so this is an amazing thing to do today," said Therrien.
"I get to like enjoy nature, see things I haven't seen yet," said Zaid Mcshaw, a student at Pottsville Area School District.
"I only like, see birds like from a distance, you know, like when there's birds flying by or like, birds sitting on a ledge; yeah, that's all I see, but I've never seen a bird this close to me," said Bently Colon Rios, a student at Pottsville Area High School.
"And I like really learning about different species of animals a lot," said Makila Terreforte.
"I like to be on the farm because I like to see the plants, and I like to hear the birds chirping," said Kayla Murphy.
Mrs. Zerbe said John S. Clarke Elementary School is the first school in Schuylkill County to get a grant of this kind.
"It has been nothing short of magical, so we've been able to do tastings of foods from local farms. Fruits, hot dogs, bacon, all sorts of different things; Strawberries today. When you just get to come out here and learn hands-on and just have the time and space to explore and investigate and look at things and wonder because if we're not wondering, we're not learning. I think this helps them do that."
Mrs. Zerbe hopes trips like this allow students to learn about and appreciate their local farms and food a lot more.