The Science Engagement Center at The Compass School Farm serves as an outdoor laboratory for hands-on learning of STEAM concepts for students all over Rhode Island. Utilizing our expansive outdoor classroom space and a dedicated group of agricultural science educators, The Compass School is proud to serve as Rhode Island’s school garden hub.
We are dedicated to providing innovative opportunities for our students while promoting best practices for environmental education. We will disseminate knowledge and insights with local sending districts, the charter school network and the larger educational community. Charter schools have the potential to drive change and improvement in the larger public school system, serving as models or laboratories of reform. The creation of the Science Engagement Center allows The Compass School to do just that.
Supported By:
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Stronger Together: RI School Garden Resources
Located right up the road from URI in the heart of South County, The Compass School could not be geographically positioned any better for collaboration. We are literally surrounded by top-notch resources and potential community partners who share our passion for environmental education.
When we first voiced interest in creating a hub and outreach program for Rhode Island schools, we were contacted by a member of the URI Cooperative Extension who offered the support of the URI School Garden Initiative and the URI Master Gardeners. A year later, The Compass School was thrilled to welcome attendees of the 2017 URI School Garden Conference to our campus for a tour. Moving forward, the Science Engagement Center at the Compass School Farm hopes to partner with these organizations in reciprocal support initiatives.
Get Your School Involved!
HERE AT COMPASS | COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS | ||
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Testimonial:
John Wolf, Director, The San Miguel School, Providence, RI
As the director of a small school for at-risk boys in Providence, RI, I can attest to the value of the Compass School program as it relates to informing a wider population about sustainable practice in farm and gardening.Our 8th grade class had an opportunity to visit with students from The Compass School earlier this fall and they found the trip to be informational and inspirational. The focus of our trip was an introduction to best practices in school gardening and sustainable practice. The boys had chance be part of student-led tours, a healthy eating “smoothie workshop”, work with caretakers for small farm animals and to perform basic garden “end of year” service. In addition to the farm and garden connections, the boys found value in sharing lunch and recess from students who live in rural and suburban areas.
We are planning to host students from Compass on a second leg of the program early in 2018 and we’ll focus on engaging them in service connected to our garden and to learning more about our neighborhoods and school.
The personnel from Compass connected to the planning and execution of the visit were great to work with. They were professional, courteous and thoughtful in ensuring our “city” students felt respected and at home at their school farm. We very much look forward to continuing to build the bridge between our school communities with the farm and garden program as a hub. The program has my strongest possible recommendation.