Waynesboro Public Schools recently hosted a successful Farm to Fork Teaching and Learning professional development event at the Waynesboro Education Farm in partnership with James Madison University (JMU) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Held September 16-17, the two-day, hands-on professional learning experience engaged middle and high school teachers from across the region in a project-based learning (PBL) through outdoor settings workshop. Participating educators walked away with ready to use strategies to bring authentic, outdoor learning opportunities back to their classrooms.
Unlike traditional workshops, Farm to Fork immersed participants in experiences that mirrored what students might encounter in PBL settings. Teachers harvested produce, collaborated to prepare farm-to-table meals, and took part in real farm work that emphasized character-building and teamwork. They also designed student-led learning projects, learned practical techniques for learning outside of the traditional classroom, and explored cross-curricular connections that align naturally with state standards.
Feedback from participants underscored the impact of the program:
"The Waynesboro Education Farm workshop was truly transformative for me as an educator. Learning how to apply project-based learning in such a hands-on, real-world setting showed me how powerful it can be when students see science come alive beyond the classroom walls,” said McKinley Armstrong, Kate Collins Middle School teacher.
“The farm environment gave me fresh ideas for connecting lessons to everyday life, and I left inspired to create learning experiences that are not only engaging but also meaningful and lasting for my students.”
In addition to new tools for classroom practice, participants left with PBL frameworks, outdoor classroom management strategies, and project ideas designed to strengthen engagement and achievement Farm-fresh meals capped off each evening, emphasizing the community-building spirit of the event.
"At the farm we are trying to make education concepts like Placed Based Learning, Project Based Learning, and Regenerative learning very practical, " said Ryan Blosser, Farm Educator.
“The teachers flowed through the farm these two days exactly how students do - always moving, working in groups, on an authentic project that resulted in a delicious meal to cap the evenings off. School can be fun and we can learn a ton - this is why we do what we do. "
The Waynesboro Education Farm, located adjacent to Berkeley Glenn Elementary School, continues to serve as a model for hands-on learning that connects classrooms to the land, community, and real-world problem solving.
For more information about the Waynesboro Education Farm and Upcoming initiatives, please contact Ryan Blosser at rblosser@waynesboro.k12.va.us
A participating teacher shows off a batch of freshly harvested radishes during the Farm to Fork professional development at the Waynesboro Education Farm.
Teachers harvest produce at the Waynesboro Education Farm as part of the hands-on Farm to Fork professional development.
A teacher receives guidance during a Farm to Fork session, designed to model project-based learning in outdoor settings.