Bee Fruitful Farm Welcomes Brook Knoll Students

from Scotts Valley Times: January 2023

Vaccine Boosts Pfizer Revenue, By Jondi Gumz

COMMUNITY NEWS

Bee Fruitful Farm Welcomes Brook Knoll Students

In November, the air was electric with enthusiasm and gratitude when the pandemic eased and the Draper family hosted 250+ students from Brook Knoll Elementary School over five days at Bee Fruitful, their small organic farm in rural Scotts Valley.

On previous field trips the focus was on teaching the connection between healthy foods and a healthy environment.

Then field trips were canceled for two years to avoid spreading the Covid-19 coronavirus.

This year’s focus was different.

“Our goal for this particular field trip, coming out of Covid, was to help build community through connection,” said Sue Draper, a local real estate agent passionate about instilling a love of nature in children.

Her daughter-in-law Mandy Draper, a parent herself, designed five stations of activities, with that purpose in mind. They were:

Yoga: Being mindful, empowering from within

Planting: Discovering the earth is alive

Cooking With Fresh Apples: Learning to work together — many hands make light work

Turkey Art: Kids scavenged in the woods for twigs, ferns and feathers to adorn their construction-paper turkey body

Campfire Reading: Storytelling at its best with hot chocolate

Plus playing on the slide and jumping on mulch mountains to build relationships

“The benefits were so visible I termed it a Wellness Camp,” Sue Draper said.

Third graders arrived first, followed by second grade, first grade, then kindergarten.

Students were joined by many enthusiastic teachers, dedicated parents, and committed Scotts Valley volunteers. The Brook Knoll PTO financed students’ transportation and activity supplies.

The teachers who participated: 3rd Grade: Mike Igoe, Sharon Keane, Kari

Thornley, Jennifer Lane. 2nd Grade: Robyn Bariteau, Tira Schindler. 1st Grade: Kristen Lesniak, Meghann

Gelter, Lelia Golder. Kindergarten: Carly Rice, Paula Pasquini,

Bonny Fulton.

“We discovered the benefits were not limited to the students,” Sue Draper said. “Teachers, parents, and volunteers alike shared an experience that brought us all closer together — It truly was a magical experience for everyone.” n