School Enrichment and After School

School Enrichment and After School programs often revolve around science or healthy living and include things like Soccer, Cascade Wilds, Lego Robotic teams, and much more.

Ag Day at Lafayette Elementary a Big Hit

Llamas, Tractors, Bunnies, Oh My! The field at Lafayette Elementary was alive with the sounds of children squealing, chickens crowing, a donkey braying, and smiles from the Dairy Princess. 

This was all part of Agriculture/Natural Resource Day held at Lafayette Elementary on Friday May 31.  The event was the finale to the 4-H Community Outreach classes that Linn County 4-H faculty Andrea Leao and Maggie Livesay had been teaching every Wednesday at the school. 

Fourteen activities were spread out on the school grounds and included composting, pollinator health and identification, tractors, sheep, chickens, alpacas and many more. This all day event gave the 325 students an opportunity to explore and experience agriculture and natural resources first hand. 

Many of the students had never had the opportunity to pet farm animals, hold a chicken or dig through compost to see what living organisms might be in there.  When talking with the students both during and after the event they were so excited to share the things that they learned!  Did you know that you can use the fiber from alpacas to make a sweater? Did you know that you can use the milk from goats to make soap? Did you know that without native bees pollinating our plants we would only have bananas and corn?

Students also learned that their food does not just come from the store; it starts at a farm first. The Linn County Dairy Princess, Emily Henry, came and shared about the importance of the dairy industry with the students as well as talking about the difference between the beef calf that they were petting and the dairy cow that makes the milk they drink each day.  There were two mini horses and one mini donkey on hand for the students to pet and learn about, along with goats that loved to be petted and brushed. Kids also got to make a dirt baby to take home and grow out their grass hair.

This event would not have been successful without the 36 community volunteers that came together to teach at each station. These volunteers not only offered their time and knowledge, but also brought in the animals, tractors, insect identification and all the supplies to make the event a success. Thanks to all the amazing staff at the school that helped set up, provided tents for shade for each station, and the teachers and staff that helped navigate the students throughout the event. Article from Growing

4-H Enrichment at Lafayette Elementary 2018-2019

It is a crisp autumn morning at Lafayette Elementary in Albany. Try to picture 30 3rd grade students out in the schoolyard attempting to master the “Hula-Hoop Challenge.”  Working together, the students wriggle and step, trying to pass four hula-hoops around a large circle using only their bodies and not their hands.  After much laughter and excitement, the students were successful! This challenge is just one of many that students will be taking this year as they build skills in teamwork, leadership, and public speaking.  The Lafayette 4-H Program is currently running a six-week session, serving all students in 4th and 5th grades, as well as the kindergarten cohort (approximately 160 students total). The program provides a 30-minute lesson every Wednesday, including active hands-on learning opportunities on topics in natural resources and agricultural. Currently, students are learning to record data in field journals while studying trees in the schoolyard. The kindergartners collected leaves and made their own tree art to take home. As 4-H ascribes to learning by doing, the Lafayette students will be spending time learning outdoors as long as the sun is shining.  Article from Growing