November Field Trip Theme: Healthy Growing & Giving Back
Each month, PA Distance teachers lead field trips for students across Pennsylvania based on a set theme for that month.
In the past, we have brought students to Philadelphia to enjoy learning about our nation’s history, the Lackawanna Coal Mine to learn about how coal was a large part of the American industrial evolution, Kennywood Amusement Park to enjoy some rides and fair food, and much more.
November has been deemed “Healthy Growing & Giving Back” month and to celebrate, we have organized a series of opportunities for students to visit grocery stores, food assistance program facilities and food banks.
Here at the PA Distance office, teachers and staff members have been collecting canned goods and non-perishable food items to benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Share Food Program, and the Chester County Food Bank. The donations are still pouring in!
Read about the planned Field Trips for November below:
Giant Eagle & Giant
Students will enjoy a fun filled trip to Giant Eagle and Giant to learn about healthy living and nutrition. The program ‘Be a Smart Shopper’ encourages children to become passionate about healthy diets and lifestyles. During the program, students will learn how to make health-smart choices while grocery shopping, how to plan well-balanced meals using the food groups, how to read nutrition labels and determine portion size, the important benefits of vitamins and minerals, basic food safety, and the benefits of exercise and staying active. Students will learn important life-skill nutrition lessons in a fun and real-life environment through the use of hands-on activities and discussion.
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
At the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, the students and and their chaperone will completing a volunteer shift where they will work in the warehouse to help pack boxes up that will be shipped out to senior citizens. Students will also learn about how the Food Bank works with the community and get the chance to tour the facility.
Share Food Program
At the Share Food Program, the student and their chaperone will be completing a volunteer shift where they will work on packing food that will be distributed, assembling cardboard boxes, bagging items, painting and other warehouse maintenance, tending to their farm, garden areas and grounds, helping prepare order forms, loading cars and unloading trucks, data entry, office work, and making calls, and organizing and sorting food. The students will also learn about how Share Food Program works with the community and the impact they have on helping to provide for the regional area.
Chester County Food Bank
At the Chester County Food Bank, students will tour the facility during regular business/working hours to see all of the ins and outs of what the volunteers do each day. Students will also learn more about the Food Bank and how hunger and food insecurity affects the community. After that, students will volunteer in the Coloring Kindness program where they will help to fill backpacks with healthy snacks and meals for other students in the area.