SAHC Community Farm as an Outdoor Classroom
On a sunny afternoon in May, Community Engagement and Education Manager LaKyla Hodges and Community Engagement Associate Alex Russell welcomed a group of students from North Buncombe High School to the SAHC Community Farm for a special field trip.
The day began inside the Education Center, where LaKyla introduced students to the day’s activities while Alex handed out binoculars and bird bingo sheets.
“Sometimes our outings align with events in the natural world,” shared LaKyla. “A birding activity during migration season was the perfect way to engage this group.”
Binoculars in hand, the students headed out to the field, an ideal spot for catching glimpses of birds like the American Goldfinch, Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, and Great Crested Flycatcher. The group’s energy was high and full of excitement. One student exclaimed that it
felt like a safari. Some students preferred to bird solo, while others gathered around LaKyla and Alex, asking questions about the farm and its wildlife.
“Bringing people of all ages and backgrounds into safe and beautiful natural spaces is one of the ways we instill a connection to the outdoors and sustainable farming in the next generation, ensuring they see the value in continuing this work,” LaKyla explained.
Next, the group explored a tour of the farm, learning how contour farming helps prevent erosion. The students remained curious and engaged, raising hands to ask questions.
“There was a beautiful sense of presence and wonder throughout the day,” reflected Alex. “Watching students light up while spotting birds or asking questions about the trees and animals really shows the power of hands-on learning in nature.”
“Our educational field trip with SAHC gave students an unforgettable opportunity to connect classroom learning with the natural world,” said Ashley Maney, an Exceptional Children Teacher at North Buncombe High School. “Exploring the SAHC Community Farm brought their science curriculum to life – deepening their understanding of ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity while inspiring curiosity and stewardship through hands-on experiences in the outdoors.”
Story Walk Instillation
Thank you to the 2024-25 AmeriCorps Project Conserve service members who installed the new Storywalk on the SAHC Community Farm Discovery Trail.
These dedicated young conservationists installed 16 Storywalk sign posts and panels for the new trail feature. The replaceable story inserts in these sign panels will be updated seasonally, to keep education programs and field trips on the farm fresh and engaging.
We also thank and recognize Buncombe County Government and the Buncombe County Recreation Services Grants Program for providing grant funding to purchase the Storywalk signs. The grant was awarded and disbursed to SAHC last year, before Hurricane Helene. This installation completes our grant-supported project, which also provided funding for seating and shade structures to improve youth education experiences at the SAHC Community Farm.
