Cycling trip teaches students about local farms

By Gail Paquette

STIRLING, Ont. (02/05/12) It is the first time Centre Hastings Secondary student Kelsey Davidson has encountered a water buffalo. A week long cycling trip, part of the highschool's Eco Quest program brought the students to Martin Littkeman and Lori Smith's Water Buffalo dairy and meat operation in Stirling.Photo: Gail Paquette

They have pedaled their bikes through sunshine and rain, visited a sheep, buffalo and organic wheat farm, toured the Museum of Agriculture in Stirling, drove draft horses and saw a calf being born.

It is all part of Eco Quest, a four-credit high school course, attended by 14 students from Centre Hastings Secondary School.

Some of the students plan to further their education in environmental studies.

“After this experience I will definitely be going to Loyalist to take the environmental program.” said student Kelsey Davidson.

The program integrates geography, environmental science, and English combined with outdoor activities.

Grade 12 students are required to fill out an application package and complete an interview with the course instructors before being accepted into the course.

In February, the group of environmentally conscious students along with teachers Kirsten Neumann- Stephens and Erin Spry, went winter camping and learned survival techniques, emergency shelter building and winter cooking. In March they completed their Ontario Recreational Canoeing And Kayaking Association Level 1 training on Moira Lake.

The cycling has taught them road safety, bicycle repair and cycling skills but the best part has been exploring local farms and traveling along the Heritage Trails that are scattered throughout the Hastings area stated Neumann –Stephens.

“It has always been my dream to teach outdoor education,” she said, “We live in a beautiful area and it’s important for the kids to realize what a valuable place this is.”

At Harder Heritage Farm in Stirling, Owen and Jackie Harder thanked the students for being interested in farming but more importantly thanked them for working so hard to get there.

“That really hit a cord with the students. We arrived at the farm soggy from camping in the rain the night before and tired from the ride,” said Neumann-Stephens.

At the end of the trip they will have traveled close to 90 km along the trails south of Madoc and north of Stirling, visiting five farms along the way.

“It has been extremely easy to access all the farms from the trail,” said Neumann-Stephens, “We have had a great time. Our hosts have been amazing. We arrived at one farm with soaked gear.  They ran their dryer for hours to dry our sleeping bags.”

After they recover from the week-long adventure, the students will train to acquire Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association certification with search and rescue training from the Madoc OPP .