The Last Week

There was a bittersweet feeling at my last staff meeting on Monday. I was there with the staff that I had become so accustomed too over the past weeks. I saw them all as mentors, but more importantly as my friends. I had worked with almost all of them throughout my time at the Creek, so they were near and dear to my heart. I was going to end my time here and when I said it was my last staff meeting, I could see some of them have a small look of sadness. I didn’t dwell on it too much, but it was still saddening in the back of my mind.

This week I was going to finish up with some traveling bird shows that would take me to teach some different audiences in different places. I was excited to do this, and help further my education on Birds of Prey and non-formal education. On Tuesday, there were three of us who would be going to the Sheetz Distribution Center for an Earth Day celebration. This was sort of a festival, but we were just showing the birds to the employees and helping to promote the different parts of the environment that Shaver’s Creek provides to the public. It was a rainy day, and we probably did shows for at least 200-300 people cycling throughout the day. I really enjoyed the opportunity and we even received some freebies from the corporation for coming to the celebration.

As I was doing a program, I saw someone taking a picture of me. I like to think that I am a photogenic person, but I didn’t know what it was going to be for. I realized the guy was a reporter and he asked me for my name. I was really excited to see where the picture would end up, and it was actually put into the Altoona Mirror newspaper. It was some good publicity for Shaver’s Creek. The picture was pretty awesome, and I don’t mind being in the paper as well.

On Wednesday, I got up early to take a trip to Gettysburg to see Mr. Cremeans in action and check out their Ag program. I was blown away at the facilities that Gettysburg had. They were very well off with equipment and other items that really further learning to the students. There were many projects the teachers did on their own with help from the students. I was really impressed by the variety that was taught and how the CTC department was run. I had never seen such a vast and well put together section of career and tech classrooms. Needless to say, if all classrooms were like that students would have no technological disadvantages. I left that day with a whole new perspective on what an Ag classroom could look like, and it was very eye opening.

Thursday was another traveling show. We would be going to Shawnee State Park in Bedford to teach 6^th graders. They were doing these field days that broadened their knowledge going along with the environment and ecology standards. I got to use some new birds in the presentation, like the Red-Shouldered Hawk and the Great Horned Owl, and just talking about them was a great new change of pace. We had some beautiful scenery for this show overlooking a lake and even a beach! It was a gorgeous day and even more fun teaching about birds.

My last days at Shaver’s Creek have been amazing and I could not have had a better experience student teaching. On my last day of student teaching, one of my program directors asked me what I was doing for the summer. I said nothing and she offered me to help out with the summer camp at Shaver’s Creek. I was very excited for this opportunity and I think maybe it could lead to some other opportunities that I might enjoy.

You never really know where life will take you. People keep asking me what I plan on doing after graduation, but honestly I have no idea. The only thing I am doing is keeping an open mind. If there’s anything I learned from this experience it's flexibility and open-mindedness. You can’t always have a plan for something, and it’s not always in your control. Sometimes going with the flow can create the best opportunity or end product for you or the audience taught. I can’t believe I am done with student teaching, buy it was something I will never forget.

It was a pleasure to write for you.

The Environment IS the Classroom

This week was an amazing week for me as an educator. I was given the opportunity to teach in another non-formal setting at a camp that Shaver's Creek holds for schools called Outdoor School. This is one of the coolest things I have been able to do so far in student teaching. For a whole week, I was out in the wilderness, totally disconnected from the outside world, teaching students about the environment. It was something I was nervous about, but I knew I was going to love. The week had finally come and on Monday I headed out to Camp Blue Diamond. This camp is out past Petersburg, PA in Huntingdon County. I was literally in the middle of nowhere, but it was nice to not have to worry about the 50+ emails I receive throughout the day or the other assignments that were on my plate to finish in the coming weeks.

The first day, Monday, was a logistical day for the counselors and Learning Group Leaders. I was acting as a Learning Group Leader, and I had 3 counselors under my supervision and part of my teaching team. At Outdoor School, we don't go by our real names, but instead go by nature names. My nature name is Orion, as in the constellation in the sky. There's a story behind the name, but that will probably have to wait until later. In my teaching team I had Bear, Lightning, and Daffodil who were counselors there to help me. I got acquainted with them and we set our goals for the week and I tried to convey to them how much I wanted to be here and show enthusiasm for the learning that was going to happen. Towards the end of the day, the students chose an activity to teach throughout the week, and I was there to guide them and help to create a meaningful lesson. It was great to see other perspectives from students who were not education majors, but still saw the value of educating students. Overall, I was happy with my teaching team and was looking forward too all that was ahead of me.

The day was here. The students would be at camp so soon that we were all filled with anticipation. I was excited myself, and actually nervous as well because the weather was not cooperating like we thought it was going too. It was rainy and cold, making going outside that much tougher. But, with true Outdoor School enthusiasm, the counselors and LGLs ran to the bus and greeted the students. We got so fired up because they were finally here and we could make a difference in their lives. That day, I led 10 students on a discovery walk along one of the trails that made me realize how many other factors non-formal education brings into play. I not only had to worry about time and content, but I had to worry about the weather and being outside for an extended period of time. I did a good job of mixing up my activities, and the students were able to have a good lesson.

Wednesday and Thursday were just a blur. Honestly, we were going from 7:30am until 11pm at night. The days were so crazy and hectic, I just can't believe the students were able to handle. Most of the time the counselors were more tired than the students, but we always kept our enthusiasm up for the campers. It wasn't for us, but for these students to have the best experience possible. On Wednesday, I had a moment that I will never forget. I was taking my campers on a trail that I did not scout out beforehand. It was the hidden pond trail and I really wanted to make their experience magical by finding this hidden pond. We started trekking through the brush, and I started to lose my bearing. I kept pushing through and just had to stay positive that I would find that pond. Finally, one of my counselors spotted the pond. I had the sigh of relief when he said that. All in all, I don't think the students knew we were lost, even if it was just for a brief part of the trail. The pond was magical and they bragged all about it to their other friends and I felt like I truly made them happy. I asked if they liked doing all that hiking, and one boy said, "I love this hike, we really don't get to do much back in Lancaster, so this is awesome!" I was able to reach out to some of them and not so much teach them, because they already knew most of the subjects, but just provide a positive outdoor experience for them to remember.

We said goodbye to the students on Thursday and it felt like a blink of an eye. I couldn't believe it was all over. I met with my counselors and we reflected on the whole week. I was so proud of all of them, and what we did as a learning group with the students. We had an amazing time and I definitely felt the magic that Outdoor School brings to students and the college students who participate in it. I had all day Friday to reflect on what happened this week, and I truly believe in what Outdoor School stands for. I loved the atmosphere and how every person was there to further develop students and the interrelationships that we have with the environment. I couldn't imagine my student teaching experience without doing this week of Outdoor School, because it truly did help me to understand more about teaching and the numerous obstacles that occur when teaching in both formal and non-formal settings.

It was a pleasure to write for you.

Non-Formal Education at its Finest

This week I was ready to jump into all of the school programs and help further my actual teaching skills. We had programs all throughout the week, and it was going to be another hectic schedule for me. I have learned so much since I started at Shaver's Creek, and I feel each week I get asked to handle more items and show more responsibility. I do numerous items throughout a week, and some aren't always directly related to teaching, but they do have an impact on my experience and ideas about non-formal education.

I started off Monday with another staff meeting. The facilitator for the week usually asks a fun or interesting question to the group to help create an fun atmosphere. This helps to break up the meeting so it is not just regular, boring work/logistical talk. Going around the room, you get to hear each person answer, and in a sense get to know them. This weeks question was "If you could do any other profession in the world, what would it be?"

I sat there, pondering. I had no clue. 

There are millions of different jobs out there, but what struck me, about this question, was actually another question.

Why did I choose my career path? What was the reason? 

Was it money, friends, family, values, or any of the millions of other reasons? I feel like that would have been a little too deep for a group discussion, especially on a Monday morning, but if you stop and think how and why you are in your position today, you might just be surprised at what you find. So I thought about being an educator, and why I was doing this. I thought about the students, the subjects, the ideas of creating a well rounded program in all aspects of student learning. I guess teaching and being busy during my student teaching internship made me forget sometimes why we choose a career and pursue it for life. I was the last one to share my thoughts, so I thought about this a lot. Probably for a good 30 minutes, but if you find something you love to do, then you won't even have to think about another profession for the rest of your life. This question was good for my morning contemplation, and let me recapture my values about being an educator and why I wanted to do it.

And, since I know you all are dying to know, the other profession that I chose to answer the question was to be an Extreme Sports Enthusiast, doing rock climbing, big wave surfing, cliff diving, and other really cool stuff.

Tuesday was back to the real world and it was program time. I had 12, 2nd grade students who wanted to learn all about the environment. I was prepared for the walk, but not prepared for the students. It just happen to be my day to get a horrible group. These little students were ridiculous and would not listen to anything that was being said. They weren't listening to me, and even at times not listening to their own teacher. I did my best to change the day, with different techniques, but none seemed to work. It was an uphill fight the whole day, and by the end I wanted to pull my hair out in frustration. I guess we all have tough days like this, I was just happy it was over.

This baby turtle was found by the students
and their teacher at the Shaver's Creek frog pond. 

The next day, I was skeptical, to say the least. I was prepared for another crazy group. But, to my delight, I only taught 8 students throughout the whole day, and they were awesome! This group was very well behaved and they were engaged all day, enjoying everything I was teaching them. We were at the frog pond in the morning, and one of my students found a baby turtle! This was a great teachable moment and I could see the excitement everyone had. It was surreal in some senses, going from completely horrible to amazing students, but they were in a different mindset. I realized that students have their own agenda even before the teachers begin, so sometimes
just going along with that makes the most out of the day. I was relieved that today was better than yesterday, and hoped to keep the momentum going into Thursday.

Thursday, I was doing another guided nature center visit and taking my students out on a walk on the trails. I taught kindergarten students today, and was really glad to have such a diversity in the age range I teach. Going from the high school students to kindergarten and first grade is tough, but I feel like I have so much more to offer the students I teach. The teaching I do also creates good comparison to see what will work and what will not. Obviously, some items will work with high school students, but have no effect on the younger ones. I am learning how to judge and read student's knowledge through questioning techniques. 

This week was another good week, and I felt like I facilitated effective lessons that left the students with a lot of information. I didn't think these weeks would go so fast, but they are coming down to the wire and I will be done soon. I enjoy teaching to these students, and getting them engaged in the outdoors. I wish all students had the opportunity to get outdoors and have programs done for them. Hopefully, one day I can incorporate all of these non-formal items and a high school classroom into one to have an amazing education platform.

It was a pleasure to write for you.

Every Week is a New Adventure

Coming down the final stretch of my student teaching experience, I couldn't believe what has happened and all that I have been through. Everything I have experienced so far has been amazing, and has shaped me in many ways to obtain my own identity as a future educator in any setting. This week was no different and I was able to plan and implement my own educational program, do some outreach for Shaver's Creek, and get into action teaching school children for our Guided Nature Center Visits. The weeks keep going faster and faster, but I feel like I am hitting my stride as an educator in many ways.

Monday, I was able to start my week off with another great faculty meeting, growing professionally as an educator. This week was especially fun for me because I actually had something good to say. On Sunday evening, I found out that   I passed both my Agriculture and General Sciences Praxis Exams! I was ecstatic about this accomplishment, especially because I took both on the same day and was completely drained after the whole ordeal. I was so proud I could share this with everyone at the faculty meeting, and it truly felt like a  burden was lifted off my shoulders. After the meeting, I had another mission. On Tuesday, I would be running my own program to a school of students from John Browne High School. I was given the opportunity to create my own program for them, and I had to create all of the logistics and oversee two other staff members at Shaver's Creek to accomplish this. It was a bit hectic trying to get everything ready, but I had a good team and we got items figured out and ready for the next day.

Tuesday, boy was it a crazy day. All morning I had to help the other Shaver's Creek staff with their Guided Nature Center Visits as a logistics coordinator and observer. Once that part of my day was over, I jumped right into my other role, as program coordinator, to prepare my staff and our stations for the high school students coming from Flushing, New York. We met the students and provided a great program for about 60, 10th and 11th grade students rotating around wildlife conservation, reptiles and amphibians, and Birds of Prey. We worked this program around their needs, because it was the first time ever visiting Shaver's Creek. After the program, their teacher, an Ag teacher actually, told me how much  she enjoyed the program and would want to come back in the coming years. I was so nervous throughout the whole day, but once I started the program it went very smoothly and in a blink of an eye it was over. The day was an awesome mixture of teaching and coordinating, and I grew so much from combining both roles. I had a long day, but I had so many other things to look forward too the rest of the week.

After Tuesday, I was really excited to do another program, but this one would be completely different than I was used to. I was working today on my first Traveling Bird Show. I was going with two other interns to the Ag Day in the HUB at Penn State, and I was going to be educating about Shaver's Creek and the opportunities it encompasses with agriculture education and the natural world. I experienced first hand the cooperation, planning, and skills necessary to make a good program to a large public crowd. I had a blast during the day and taught many people, of all ages, about the animals and opportunities at Shaver's Creek. I was even featured on one of the Penn State News websites holding a Black Rat Snake as one of the interesting photos of the day. I had so much fun, and it was a good way to understand audiences, vary teaching techniques, and reach multiple knowledge levels. I used numerous animals as education tools and was very passionate about the information I conveyed to the public.

The last part of the week was going to be spent working back at Shaver's Creek on educating through nature center visits. On Thursday, I did my final observation for the field walks because there are a few different types, so I finally had all of the knowledge necessary to provide a quality program for our audiences. On Friday, I was teaching kindergarten and first grade students about many different wildlife species. I had to know about eight different wildlife stations for the day, but once I started it was like riding a bike again. I had a blast with the small children in my group, and used many techniques throughout the day to manage and teach the group about everything. I definitely see growth in my tone and voice used when teaching, and also the connections, objectives, and themes that I try to create for my students as take home messages. All things considered, it was another hectic week, but very fun and interesting.

Through all of my teaching experiences so far, I am still unsure about where and what I want to do when I graduate. I see the merit in both formal and non-formall educational settings, but I can't limit myself to one choice right now. I have had many numerous "aha!" moments throughout student teaching at both sites so far, so I feel both are in play for me as a future educator. Most importantly, though, I feel like I'm building my professional portfolio to greater heights to be the best educator I can be.

It was a pleasure to write for you.

Preparation is Key for Success

This week I had some good experiences to prepare me for the hectic schedules and crazy days that would be coming my way in the month of April. This week I was able to cover numerous different tasks, broadening my knowledge of what a teacher has to accomplish in a non-formal setting.

This week, I was able to involve myself with some great observations, and being able to observe some of the interns who teach the different programs at Shaver's Creek. This Monday, as usual, we had our weekly staff meeting. I was a little more ready for this one, and knew what was going to happen. I didn't realize this during the first staff meeting, but this was the reflection time from the past week and how everyone is growing professionally in our respective fields. As we went around the table, I could see the intensity, but also the fun everyone was having with their words. I realized that Mondays are truly about reflection, and preparation for the upcoming week.

On Tuesday, I received some guidance on the different stages of programs and the other parts of Shaver's Creek Educational programs. I was able to look through the supplies and do a mini inventory of the items and specific teaching tools they use throughout the programs. It was interesting to compare how a regular classroom is set up, with supplies, and the nature center in general. It was a good learning experience and I realized these educators here at Shaver's Creek are VERY SIMILAR to agriculture educators with their resourcefulness and combination of  
multiple disciplines/skills.

Wednesday was a fun day, and I was even able to help out and throw in some of my teaching pedagogy. I was observing a Sensory Walk, which deals with a group of students going into the woods with an instructor and experiencing environmental education in the field. There ended up being a larger group than anticipated, so the groups had to be broken up on the spot during the morning. One of the group facilitators got stuck with the bulk of the students, and I was not sure why this was the case. As I walked around completing observations, I saw she was having the most trouble. So I made the decision to stay with her and help out wherever I could. I helped with group management, and even chimed in from time to time with some information. It was a good time throughout the day, and I showed great flexibility through the day.

Thursday was another day I would be working along side the teaching staff, but I was also logistically keeping everyone on track and coordinating the flow of the whole program. Sometimes, I think it is actually harder to complete the logistics of a lesson then actually teaching it. This was definitely one of those days. The morning was brisk and cold, and none of us wanted to be outside. There was an urgency to change the program so it could be indoors, and the brainstorming session occurred. Every one of us showed great poise and creativity to figure this situation out, and we made a great plan. I made sure everyone was on time and where they were supposed to be, while also keeping the learning environment warm and comfortable for learning. The coordination side of programs is very interesting to me, but it is very stressful compared to just teaching one single station the whole day.

The next couple days went by without any hiccups or trepidations. But, come Sunday, I was back at it bright and early. Part of my student teaching is completed by doing a week as a Learning Group Leader for the Shaver's Creek Program Outdoor School. We take students to a camp for a week, and teach them about experiential education and the environment. We were able to see the wonderful facilitation techniques that are used so effectively as LGLs, even with the horrible weather. Yet again, our plans had to change and we were inside most of the day keeping away from the cold. This teaching environment issue is something I didn't notice as much in the classroom, but outside in a non formal setting, it really can make a difference in how you approach a lesson. We had a full day of learning and activities, and by the end I was exhausted from the intake of information.

This week, I made some very interesting connections to teaching and the environment around us. I understood better how to be flexible with a program and how to, even when you have doubts, to trust the people who work with you. The team I worked with was amazing, and that cooperation reminded me of the   Pennsylvania Ag Ed Family..

It was a pleasure to write for you.

The Sweet Taste of Maple Syrup

This week at Shaver's Creek was a hectic and busy time for everyone at the center. The Maple Harvest Festival was upon us, and this was one of the largest festivals Shaver's Creek puts on for the public throughout the year. Just dropping into Shaver's Creek two weeks ago, I was able to participate in the tail end of the preparation, and its many aspects, to help produce a successful weekend.

My role throughout the week was varied, from handling orders to preparing many different items for the festival, and then helping out with the RPTM Maple Harvest Class. On Monday, I was able to attend my first staff meeting at the center. It was different from a school faculty meeting, but I did see some similarities. I could tell about all who were in charge, and the tasks that each one had to complete. I was formally introduced to all of the staff, and I recognized numerous faces from previous time spent at the center. I was ready to get the week going, and setting up the week's plan from our faculty meeting was a good starting point for me.

On Tuesday, I was able to put my teaching skills to use. This day was a practice day for the many students who were participating in the RPTM Maple Harvest Class. These students would be facilitating different stations along the trail and providing information to the public about the Maple Sugaring process. Their audience was interesting as well, being the local elementary school from Juniata Valley. Each station was going to have 20 minutes, and they had to produce an appropriate lesson with the proper components. I was going to be a supervisor of the facilitators, and provide feedback through my observations. I really liked this opportunity because I was able to see the other side of teacher, in the evaluation aspect. I incorporated iPads into my critique by taping the facilitators during one of their 6 times teaching throughout the day. I gave out feedback I learned in the classroom about student management to the college students. I was busy all day with those students, and the training went very well.

On Wednesday, I received another perspective of teaching that I usually do not complete. I was given the opportunity to grade the lesson plans of the college students who were facilitating the maple harvesting stations. As I graded, I could not help but chuckle when I thought about the difference between formal and non-formal lesson plans. The ones for my classroom were very detailed, to specific words and questions I was going to answer. But, the non formal ones I was grading had nothing when compared to the other ones. They did have similar essential components, but I could have definitely written a novel in the feedback section on each lesson if they were in a real classroom. It was nice to grade the lessons, and not have to worry myself on how someone else was grading them. I really liked doing this, and added some creative ideas to the lessons.

On Thursday, I did a great deal of preparation for the festival. I was all around the center helping to clean, prepare, and just help whatever needed to be done. I was able to sit down with the coordinator, Laurie McLaughlin, for a bit and pick her brain about the festival. I thought it would a good idea to understand the different aspects that could relate to me compiling a future FFA fundraiser or event. She gave me so much good information and provided me the behind the scenes look at truly what needs to happen to make the Maple Harvest Festival a success.

Friday was another amazing day along this experience. I participated in our cohort professional development. We were able to work through some lesson tuning, and then focus on the DELTA experience. I had no idea what this was, and let me tell you, it was a handful to complete. We ran around to different stations throughout the afternoon, completing mock discussions, interviews, and scenarios that a classroom teacher would have to deal with on an everyday basis. I was flustered throughout the whole thing, but managed to keep myself calm enough to bring up valid points and produce good answers to what was being asked of me. When I was finished, I was so much more confident about the knowledge I obtained in my classes and other experiences. But, after Friday's workshop I wasn't done, I had the whole weekend of Maple Sugaring ahead of me.

Over the weekend, I was able to complete many items during the Maple Harvest Festival. I was there helping out wherever I was needed, and I was even able to teach and interact with children of all ages. Throughout the festival, I managed the trail and the students who were teaching the stations, provided support to the presenters throughout the day and even helped them to teach. I branched out by teaching very young children about some really old, yet fun, games from different cultures that the one presenter brought. It was a really fun to do, and it was  nice to not worry so much on content and focus on the experience/activity itself. I would be lying if I said I didn't have any pancakes with maple syrup on them, but hey that's the best part of the festival! The festival was overall a great experience that allowed me to use my teaching skills and pedagogy in different ways this week, and I really enjoyed it.

Educators do all sorts of teaching, and it can be on any subject. I was excited to see that what I had learned in my agriculture teaching classes could also connect very easily to a non formal setting and akso an evaluator setting. This week was hectic, but fun, and totally worth it all in the end.

It was a pleasure to write for you.

Change can be a Good Thing

This week was going to be something that had been in the making for almost a year now. Before I even thought about lesson plans, I decided to complete a split semester of student teaching. I was changing teaching sites, and I was not sure how I was going to handle the switch. But, there were other items on my agenda before I could think about that.

I was traveling to the State Legislative Leadership Conference (SLLC) with four of my students. I had very little idea of what the conference was about, and how it related to FFA, but I was excited and very happy to have this opportunity. So we traveled down to Harrisburg, and I had a nice change of pace dealing with students who were juniors, very different from my regular freshman and sophomores. This group was very interesting because the guys were outgoing to say the least, and active members of the FFA holding leadership positions. I was ready to see them grow throughout the conference, and maybe even surprise me in some ways.

We finally made it to Harrisburg, and everyone was all ready for the new and exciting experiences ahead. The students had discussions and group meetings all day Sunday on house and senate bills, and I knew they were exhausted by bedtime. They had a long day ahead of them, and I had a productive day myself working with my teacher on the AET system. On Monday, we were in for some interesting projects to help out the community. Each group of students went out into the community to perform service in various locations. The students and I went to a church in Mechanicsburg, PA, where we fixed up the church, cleaning it up and down for important, upcoming events. I was so proud of my students from Cowanesque because they jumped right in, took the tasks presented to them without hesitation, and had a great experience. I could tell how proud my students were after it was all over, and they gained more than just a few community service hours.

On Tuesday morning, coming up at the end of the conference, I experienced something I had never done before. The students and I were going to have breakfast with our Legislative Representative. I was pumped for the students especially because Rep. Matt Baker was a former graduate of the Cowanesque Valley High School. We did the whole photo op and even got to meet the Secretary of Ag! My students look good, standing tall, with unmistakable pride. I was amazed to see the passion, poise, and growth that happened in the past few days. SLLC was a great experience for me and my students, and a fitting way to end my teaching at Cowanesque Valley.

On Wednesday, I entered a whole new teaching atmosphere. I entered my second half of the internship at Shaver's Creek. I got there and got my bearings to my expectations, routine, and future tasks that I was going to complete. It felt weird to be outside of the classroom, and I was not sure how I was going to handle this. The first day was good, and I was ready for this weekend and the PAEE conference.

Heather Pray, former AEE graduate, conducts her workshop.

   The weekend conference held many new experiences that any educator would benefit from attending. I was there for the full conference, and by the end of it all I was mentally exhausted. I had so much information at the end that I could not believe it. I tried to step out of the box with some of the workshops, and tried to find items that could relate to an Ag Ed classroom. Some of the best workshops focused on building community gardens and utilizing the food produced, and the other ones that were important had Envirothon curriculum and also talked about the Next Generation Science Standards. The Envirothon workshop was taught by former AEE graduate Heather Pray, and it was nice to have someone else there to relate agriculture to the many environmental educators.    

New Generation Science Standards….Good or Bad?

The other workshop that really got me fired up was the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). As I sat and listened, this was just an amazing system of standards. I was able to view all of them with ease and the website had all of the connections to English, Math, and even Social Studies. I just shook my head because this would have my life so much easier when I was writing all the lesson plans. I was so happy I got to see the standards because they will be surfacing in the future. Pennsylvania's education system will change at some point, but I want to have as much information so I can obtain a teaching job. 

This conference was a great learning experience and I was able to get to know many of the Shaver's Creek staff much more. I was excited for this weekend, and I wish more educators would go outside of their comfort zones and attend more conferences. We strive to be lifelong learners, but that doesn't mean we only have to learn about one specific area, like agriculture or science in general. We need to see other perspectives and connect with all teachers to create a well-rounded experience for students in every subject.