Adolescent Field Trips

Sculpture Collection:

Wednesday, Oct 4th, the Adolescent class was invited to walk the grounds of St. Bride’s Farm to view their sculpture collection.  The collection is vast and each piece is both artistically and physically impressive.  

Students learned about individual sculptures and their artists.  Living artists are invited to the property to pick the location of their sculpture.  We learned there is way more to art, and specifically sculptures, than any of us realized as each piece has additional care once installed.  Each student was pulled to a variety of styles and artists.  Art is to be viewed and appreciated in its setting and this was so true for this unique collection.  Being able to personally see the sculptures, physically touching them, and having a sense of their true scale, was wonderful for the students.  One student commented on how she liked how the sculptures were laid out around the property versus a museum where they are often too close together.  Each sculpture has its own place and space to be appreciated without the distraction of other pieces.  We feel fortunate to have the opportunity to experience this unique collection in person and in such a beautiful setting.  

 

Bainum Foundation:

Students spent half the day on Friday, Oct 6, digging in the soil, searching for sweet potatoes.  They traveled to the Bainum Foundation farm in Middleburg, VA and were able to dig nearly 500 pounds of sweet potatoes that will go to feed underprivileged families in the Arlington and DC area.  Any additional produce is delivered to the Loudoun County Hunger Relief in Leesburg, VA.  The Hunger Relief feeds fifty families a day with families being able to collect food two times a month.  Students calculated that means over five hundred families are fed each month.  Most food banks get the majority of their donations in the form of boxed and canned food.  Receiving fresh produce is unusual but it provides healthy, nutritious food to families, and especially children.  We all take for granted the vast choices we have in our extensive grocery stores that have aisles of thousands of food items.  However, in our own communities there are many who do not have that same access to food.  Many of these are children are nutritiously depleted during important times of both physical and mental growth.  As we think of others in Puerto Rico and throughout the world, especially those who currently struggle for access to water, remember those close to home who face their own struggles which may surprise us when we are deciding which brand of ice cream to buy.