Food for Thought -the final event in the Reading, Riding & Retrofit Sustainable Schools series- this THURSDAY November 17th 5-7pm at the Arboretum

This Thursday's free event from 5 – 7 p.m.  features a variety of displays and short presentations around the topics of local food, gardens and healthy school environments and communities.    The focus of this event is on outdoor teaching environments – including school gardens – and building health and wellness topics into activities and the curriculum.



A few schools will be sharing gardening and outdoor projects (Jones Elementary, Hall Fletcher Elementary, SILSA and possibly others).  They will be joined by representatives from the Asheville Design Center, Smart Start, Healthy Buncombe, Safe Routes to School, Healthy Schools, NC Center for Health and Wellness, Reuters YMCA and Pioneering Healthy Communities. 

 I hope you will try to attend this informative and fun event!    It might be fun to explore shelter ideas on a cool fall evening!

The format for the program is as follows:      

• 5:00 to 5:30 – visit table top displays, talk to presenters, visit the Sustainable Shelter exhibit
• 5:30 to 6:15 – hear brief talks by school reps and partner organizations on school gardens and reforestation projects, teaching about local food cooking, using recycled materials in outdoor learning spaces, creating healthier schools, and creating safe ways for kids to walk/bike to school
• 6:15 to 7:00 – informal discussions and networking, visit the Sustainable Shelter exhibit.

Light refreshments available throughout the event.

Attendees are encouraged to visit the Arboretum’s newest exhibit, Sustainable Shelter. This exhibit provides a hands-on and engaging view of how humans can replicate designs, structures and materials utilized by animals in creating their own homes. Families can take part in programs including a short woodland hike to investigate animal homes as well as logs, tree bark and other natural materials to build shelters of their own.you just might get some great ideas for Claxton and have some fun.

Arboretum Educators will be on hand to answer questions and lead family activities.  All activities and exhibits take place in and around the Baker Exhibit Center at the Arboretum.  Organizers hope these events will provide some new ideas for teachers, students, parents and others and inspire attendees to do some new things in their homes, schools and businesses.

PLEASE NOTE:  Admission to the Arboretum and the exhibits are FREE to event attendees.  Light refreshments will be available.  For additional information on these events, check www.reading-riding-retrofit.org/arboretum-event  or www.ncarboretum.org/education/sustainable-schools-events/.


These events are sponsored by:  Asheville Buncombe Sustainable Communities Initiative, Global Institute for Sustainable Technologies at A-B Tech, Carolina Recycling Association, EPA Climate Showcase Communities Program, Land-of-Sky Regional Council, North Carolina Arboretum, NC Center for Health and Wellness at UNCA and Waste Reduction Partners