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As the Shelburne Farms Early Childhood Teaching Fellow at the Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes in Burlington, I've had an incredible experience participating in the development of the new preschool this year. I feel extremely blessed to work in a place I’ve dreamed of working at ever since I moved to Burlington. Getting here was a natural step after my apprenticeship last year at Shelburne Farms. At the Farm, I taught in the preschool Adventures program, school field trips and summer camps. What an amazing experience. I was totally immersed in how the Farm engages and reaches kids, and now I'm bringing all that I learned to the preschoolers at the Sustainabiilty Academy. I am often asked what sustainability looks like in a preschool classroom. To me, it starts with saying, “Let's be outside as much as possible!” Whether it's exploring the school yard or bringing magnifying glasses out to the playground, outdoor time can lead to greater environmental literacy and understanding. As the colder season settles in, my bright-eyed, runny-nosed, children will don their tool aprons and forge through the school yard on a grand adventure! Peace. Anne Marie Santos New Preschool at The Sustainability Academy The Burlington School District, Shelburne Farms and Head Start have come together to create a unique opportunity for early learners. In September, the three-some opened their first preschool classroom at the Sustainability Academy in Burlington, with an enrollment of 20 children. The core teachers include a Head Start Early Care Advocate, a Burlington School District teacher, and a Shelburne Farms Early Childhood Teaching Fellow. The project extends the programming at the Sustainability Academy to the preschool level, with a focus on school-readiness, literacy, food, nutrition and the natural world. This project was made possible by a grant from the Vermont Community Preschool Collaborative. Farm-Based Educators Rock the Farm!
— Prairie Crossing Learning Farm This came at the best time for me! Gave me a clear vision and ideas on how to get there! —Kim Proctor, Happy Valley School PHOTO: Jill Keating (R) was 2011 Farm Educator of the Year. She and Rebecca Holcombe (L) work at Common Ground High School, Urban Farm, and Environmental Education Center, in New Haven, CT The 5th annual Farm-Based Education Conference welcomed a sold-out audience of more than 240 individuals from as far away as California and Italy. The energy around the conference was palpable. As practitioners of farm-based education for nearly 40 years, we are so inspired to see this movement gain momentum nationally and around the world. FBEA program coordinator Erica Curry chatted with WCAX-TV about the goals of the conference. Watch it here. The Farm-Based Education Association is a project of Shelburne Farms. Update on the fire at the Inn Many of you may know that a small, contained fire occurred on the evening of October 20 in a third floor staff bathroom at the Inn, likely due to a faulty bathroom fan. Quick responses by our staff and the Shelburne Fire Department kept damage to a minimum. We're now working with a mitigation company to assess and repair all water, fire, and smoke-related damages. Curator Julie Eldridge Edwards and Inn Director Karen Polihronakis are working with a team of consultants to ensure the historic structure is preserved, and to treat any damages to the collections.
Shelburne Farms' Sustainable Schools Project just released the revised Guide to Education for Sustainability. First issued in 2004, this new version reflects the changing field of EFS and shares new strategies that we've developed over time. Download Guide. SSP has also developed the Education for Sustainability Starter Kit, a series of self-guided learning opportunities for educators and schools. Download Starter Kit. Both downloads are FREE! Happy trail(s) By Thanksgiving, we'll finish the new gravel pedestrian path running along North Gate Road (ie. our main farm road) to the lake. You'll be able to use it throughout the year, conditions permitting. So go "off-roading" by "on-trailing!" Solar power update Green Mountain Power's 149 kilowatt solar orchard behind the Coach Barn generated 180,015 kilowatt-hours of electricity in its first year of production. That's enough to meet more than 25% of the Farm's total energy needs. When you add in our Farm Barn panels and our solar tracker that equals nearly one-third of the Farm's energy! More on GMP and solar power in Vermont in this recent article.
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Dear Friend of Shelburne Farms,
I’m coming away with many new ideas and renewed inspiration for the work that I do. That’s what professional conferences are all about! 
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