 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Article: Vineyard Gazette - Feature Story At Summer Camp in Winter, Kids Stay Busy During
School Break On the farm, the theme was preparing for spring. At the club, children boarded buses for field trips. Eight-year-old Dalila Bennett emerges from the Katama henhouse with the morning's fresh eggs. photo by Mark Lovewell. First up was an early morning feeding and care of the animals at Herring Creek Farm. Eight youngsters from seven to 13 years old followed Jen Bennett, education coordinator, as she made her way across the barnyard. The morning began with hay being hauled down from the loft. Children toted bales nearly as big as themselves to the dozen Navajo-Churro and Tunis sheep and the farm's 14 Belted Galloway cows. Chores were finished when they fed the chickens and gathered up the eggs in the hen house. John Curelli, director of FARM Institute, said the staff geared up for this vacation week with special farm programs for their young visitors. A class was held on how animals adapt to winter, with the furry Belted Galloways in the starring role. On Wednesday, students took part in a class on getting ready for spring. They assembled planters for seedlings from recycled plastic water bottles. On Thursday, a more specialized class was held for young farmers in training. Today they are holding a class on worms which teaches how the soil is enriched by these underground creatures and the compost they produce. This is FARM Institute's second year of educational programs held on its acreage at Katama. At the Martha's Vineyard Boys' and Girls' Club, more than 30 kids were taken on field trips. On Monday they went hiking through the woods at Cedar Tree Neck Wildlife Sanctuary in West Tisbury. On Tuesday, the children went skating at the Martha's Vineyard Ice Arena, and on Wednesday 50 children were taken off-Island and went to Roll On America, an indoor amusement park in Leominster. Yesterday, they went bowling in Falmouth and today they are going to the movies at Edgartown Cinema. "Every February and April vacation, the club is open every day," said Greg Rollins, executive director at the club. "I think of it as similar to the summer camp we run. But in the summer we take the kids to the beach in the afternoon. Programs offered by the club this week make a big difference for a lot of Island families. "Many of the kids' parents are working this week. This is not when they take their vacation. They need a place for their kids," Mr. Rollins said. "We all get psyched up for this." The FARM Institute - Post Office Box 1868 - Edgartown, MA 02539 - (508) 627-7007 |
All
through this vacation week with schools closed on the Island, there
was plenty to do for those who didn't sail off for warmer climes.
At FARM Institute and the Martha's Vineyard Boys' and Girls' Club
this week, there was a potpourri of programs for youngsters.