Norwalk students taught healthy food options at ‘Eco-Kids Summit’ - Thehour.com

Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling greets Stumpy the Goat from Silverman’s Farm in Easton. Norwalk Summer Academy students interacted with farmers and other healthy foodshed advocates from around Fairfield County during the inaugural Eco-Kids Summit, July 29, 2019, in Norwalk, Conn.
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Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling greets Stumpy the Goat from Silverman’s Farm in Easton. Norwalk Summer Academy students interacted with farmers and other healthy foodshed advocates from around Fairfield County
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Photo: Contributed

Photo: Contributed

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Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling greets Stumpy the Goat from Silverman’s Farm in Easton. Norwalk Summer Academy students interacted with farmers and other healthy foodshed advocates from around Fairfield County during the inaugural Eco-Kids Summit, July 29, 2019, in Norwalk, Conn.

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Photo: Contributed

NORWALK — More than 300 Norwalk fifth- and sixth-graders participated Monday in the inaugural Eco-Kids Summit, at Stepping Stones Museum, to learn about healthy food and advocate for greater accessibility.

The summit was the result of a four-year partnership between Stepping Stones and the Norwalk Summer Academy program, which serves roughly 1,200 students in grades kindergarten through 6.

“They’re learning enrichment and all about healthy foodsheds — the geographic location that produces the food for a particular population — what they are and why they’re important,” said Carolyn Knott, director of special projects at the museum. “Ultimately, we want students walking away feeling like they can make a difference.”

The event included a yoga session, a puzzle hunt and a question-and-answer session with local farmers and foodshed advocates, including Winthrop Baum, of Bee Baum Apiary, Sandy Williams, of Field Goods. Jeff Trombetta, of Norwalk Community College and Paulo Barros, of Urban Farm #1.

In the weeks leading up to the program, the students took trips to Copps Island Oysters, the Maritime Aquarium and Silverman’s Farm in Easton, where they learned how blueberries grown on the property are eventually brought to market.

According to Janine Goss, K-12 director of humanities at Norwalk Public Schools, the program is meant to engage and provide enrichment opportunities for children over the summer. The students participate in an immersive Authentic Performance Task experience, which teaches them how to get involved civically. On Monday, Norwalk students live-streamed with students in Guatemala and compared the foodsheds in the two places. Later this summer, the students will draft an Official Healthy Foodshed Report, which will be presented to local leaders.

“We’re trying to provide services to students to stop the summer slide,” Goss said.

justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586

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