A kindergarten class from Isabella Dicken Elementary School enjoyed a day playing in the dirt at the Fernie Community EcoGarden on Friday, May 8.
Parent Helen McAllister, who has a daughter in Jane Fraser’s class, organized the outing.
“The kids had a great time and I think they were so happy to be outside and playing,” said McAllister. “All the kids got to participate in planting their own seeds and taking part in all the activities.”
The children were given a tour of the garden and informed about seeds and where food comes from before being divided into groups to rotate between four fun garden-related activities.
“The kids learned about planting seeds, adding soil to garden pots, a nature scavenger hunt and a sandbox station,” McAllister said.
She added, “I’m very passionate about growing food and I think kids are at a wonderful age now to be able to learn where their food comes from. Nowadays, families just go to the local grocery store [for food] but that hasn’t always been the case and I think that concept of planting your own food has been lost.”
The advisory committee from the Ecogarden has also ensured that the seeds the kindergarteners planted will be used in their annual market garden stall this summer.
Mrs. Fraser also donated bags of sand to the sandbox at the EcoGarden.