Image courtesy of Hatboro-Horsham SD
Learning in a classroom is the standard, day-to-day operation. After a global pandemic, students even adapted to learn remotely, tuning into classes and teachers via the internet.
But there is something about learning in a hands-on way, in an immersive environment, that really helps the lesson stick. That’s why field trips can be so important to a child’s education.
According to the National Education Association (NEA), students that take school trips, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, have better grades (59%), higher graduation rates from high school (95%) and college (63%), and a greater income (12% higher annually). That’s a big boost for a student’s future.
“When I was growing up, my parents said, ‘the 3 Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic) were important,’” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, to the NEA. “But for my kids, I made ‘roaming’ the fourth R. We live in a global society, and if you don’t see outside the neighborhood you grow up in, the world will pass you by. Traveling has opened my kids’ eyes. It’s made them more confident and inspired them to reach outside their normal environment to learn and obtain skills to bring them to the next level.”
Students at the Hatboro-Horsham School District’s Keith Valley Middle School got a chance at that future-life improvement rate with a recent field trip for its Family and Consumer Sciences Major program.
In a course that was, in recent history, referred to as “home economics,” has been far beyond the home. Keith Valley Middle School students found out first-hand how far the lessons now go.
“Students gained an immersive behind-the-scenes look at food production,” said a recent post to the district’s website on the field trip. “The Herr's Factory tour provided a comprehensive exploration of modern food manufacturing, allowing students to trace the journey of ingredients from raw materials to finished products.”
Students were able to learn how the company’s snack products go from the seed to the farm to the store shelf, and then into the home, all with one field trip to Herr’s.
“Highlights of the experience included walking through the production floor, discovering the rich history of the Herr’s company, sampling freshly made chips straight from the production line, and even contributing to product development by participating in market research for an innovative cheese puff recipe,” said the district site.
Students went well beyond their classroom to understand a lesson that will likely take them well beyond their textbooks.
“This hands-on opportunity offered students a fascinating glimpse into the intricate world of food science and industrial food production,” said the district site.
The Herr’s Snack Factory Tour and Gift Shop is located at 271 Old Baltimore Pike in Nottingham, Pa., for those that wish to replicate the learning experience on their own. The factory is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
