Auten Road Intermediate School expanded
its science program
with outdoor environmental lessons
at Duke Farms.
By: Donna Lukiw
Over 600 Auten Road Intermediate School fifth-graders have studied trees, plants and wildlife in their science classes, but for the past two years they’ve been also earning this outside their classrooms.
After expanding the school’s science program with outdoor environmental lessons at Duke Farms, the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education chose Duke Farms and ARIS as recipients of this year’s Excellence in Environmental Education Award.
The award honors the collaboration between Duke Farms and ARIS to create an environmental science program.
"We’ve been working toward this for the past five years," Principal Hal Blackstone said during the Feb. 12 Board of Education meeting.
Mr. Blackstone, along with ARIS science supervisor Ann Harris and district science supervisor Kim Feltre, were all recognized by Superintendent Karen Lake and board members for receiving the award.
"This is the first award we’ve received since we put together the intermediate school program," Christine Eftoski, program coordinator at Duke Farms said. "We were very surprised."
Last spring, 120 teachers had an in-service day at Duke Farms to learn about the extensive variety of trees and plants at the farm. After the teachers completed the training, the students took part in several hands-on science activities at Duke Farms between March and May.
"Our children learned how to tell the age of a tree and how to recognize trees by the bark," Mr. Blackstone said. "All the children learned about the thousands of trees planted there."
The students also participated in writing activities and learned about the deer population.
"This has been a springboard," Mr. Blackstone said. "This year, we have been looking at testing water for water quality."
The students will be testing the water quality from sources directly on Duke Farms and the program will be conducted in cooperation with the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association.
"We are going to continue this program," Ms. Eftoski said. "We will probably change around the activities."
Ms. Eftoski said the students will also be learning about bird habitats, with a Duke Farms staff member teaching the students where the birds live and what they eat.

