BEN Resumes Field Trips For Students
After being restricted due to the pandemic, Bermuda Education Network [BEN] have resumed expeditions for public primary schools throughout April and May.
A spokesperson said, “Over eighty trips were organized by BEN as part of their Horizons Program for public primary schools with partners Bermuda Zoological Society, Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, Bermuda National Trust, The AgraLiving Institute, The St. George’s Historical Society and Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation. The network of educators have pulled out all the stops to try to make up for the months missed due to Covid and together offered a wide range of experiential learning.
“P2 students have visited Vesey Reserve to learn about quarrying and life for early settlors while P3s learnt about plant parts and how to change the food poverty problem in Bermuda with AgraLiving at the their Education and Research Garden at Botanical Gardens.
“P4s were offered a biology expedition at Spittal Pond with Bermuda Zoological Society and lessons at Verdmont and KAF about navigation and maps. P5s visted BUEI for a science lab about light, Mitchell House to learn about the history of Bermudians helping American rebels during the revolutionary war and learnt about Bermuda architecture at KAF.”
According to BEN’s Founder, Becky Ausenda there has been a highly enthusiastic response from teachers with all the spots on the various expeditions booked up within days. A few more field trips are planned at the end of this month and in June.
“We are racing to try to make up for lost time and are very grateful to our partners who in many cases are doing two groups per day so that we can squeeze in as many field trips as possible during the summer term,” she said.
BZS Education Officer, Dr. Jamie Bacon said she was delighted to get back to in-person experiential learning: “One of the things we’ve learnt from the pandemic restrictions is how much students need and benefit from this type of hands-on experiential learning.
“It’s so important for both academic and social growth. Children have a natural thirst for knowledge gained through exploration and it’s our job to help them learn while experiencing the wonders of nature.”
