In the News
Courtesy of the Elk Grove Citizen
Down and dirty at McFarland Ranch
Photo by George Geiger
Franklin High School students spent a day
at the McFarland History Ranch learning
service learning and agriculture.
Franklin High School students spent a day
at the McFarland History Ranch learning
service learning and agriculture.
By Diana Geiger
Staff Writer - The unusually warm days of October brought a hustle of activity to the McFarland Living History Ranch as school children experienced the unique richness of hands-on learning.
"I feel that children are hungry for the 'real thing.' Experiencing the visit is so much better than reading about it only," said Galt Independent Study Teacher Barbara Bell from the Galt district. "Seeing things on TV is next to nothing, in my opinion. I think our children have a great need to be outdoors in a natural environment."
Numerous classes of children from Galt and nearby communities visit McFarland Ranch each week, arriving in wide-eyed wonder.
Volunteer parents frequently comment that they had no idea McFarland Ranch even existed. Teachers and parents vow to return with their own children, impressed with not only the one-of-a-kind educational opportunities, but also the wide-open spaces and beauty of the ranch.
"This is beautiful, wide open spaces all around," said Jose Gomez from the Elk Grove Unified School District. "I hope in the near future to bring my own family to volunteer on the ranch."
Children experience what life was like in the late 1800s. Education, enhanced with the sense of touch, smell, sight, taste, and sound, engages children's already curious nature.
"Seeing how people before them solved problems and entertained themselves is important for so many reasons," said Bell. "I feel it not only gives a child practical knowledge but it actually opens their own creativity and even gives a sense of stability."
The joint collaboration of the Galt elementary school district and the Galt Area Historical Society and its living history program provides a multitude of opportunities for students of all ages.
Agriculture students from Franklin High School in Elk Grove were able to take classroom learning to practical application on a service-learning trip to McFarland Ranch, laying 2,000 feet of irrigation pipe.
"Agriculture students interested in irrigation were able to learn agriculture practice and irrigation," said Service Learning Coordinator John Durand of the Galt elementary school district. "They learned how to do everything, from laying out irrigation grid and trenching to gluing the pipe and putting it in the ground. They measured the pipe, cut the pipe, assembled and glued fittings."
What the students had been learning at school suddenly sparked as students and science teacher Robin Spalty and agriculture teacher Sheri Duncan from Franklin worked together.
"You learn things at school through books, but here you can learn actively," said Jasmine Morales, ninth grade student at Franklin. "It sticks with you more instead of reading and taking tests. It applies to real life."
The living history program at McFarland Ranch involves service learning, young people learning the importance of giving back to the community.
"It's a good feeling to know that we did this. We can come back to McFarland Ranch in 10-20 years and know that we did it," said Stephanie Zaccari, a sophomore at Franklin. "It is great to learn in the classroom and have a place to actually come out and do it."
According to Durand, a developmental grant from Cal Serve helped make this learning experience possible for the Franklin agriculture students.
Volunteer labor, such as the Franklin students, and donations provide the life behind McFarland Ranch.
"The ranch is wholly dependent on volunteers and community donations," said Durand.
If you can volunteer or help with donations of cash or materials, call 745-0951, or contact the Galt Area Historical Society Inc. at PO Box 782, Galt CA 95632. McFarland Ranch is open for group, family, or business reservations. For reservations, call 745-1477.
Wish list for McFarland Living History Ranch.
Working tractor with accessories
4-Wheeler
Hoses (50') and nossles
Lawn Sprinklers
Garden tools
Work gloves
Picnic Tables
Folding Tables
Tree pruning equipment
Nails, saws, and hammers
Heavy duty electric extension cords
Wheel barrows
Lawn rakes
Lawn seed
Native wild flower seeds
Staff Writer - The unusually warm days of October brought a hustle of activity to the McFarland Living History Ranch as school children experienced the unique richness of hands-on learning.
"I feel that children are hungry for the 'real thing.' Experiencing the visit is so much better than reading about it only," said Galt Independent Study Teacher Barbara Bell from the Galt district. "Seeing things on TV is next to nothing, in my opinion. I think our children have a great need to be outdoors in a natural environment."
Numerous classes of children from Galt and nearby communities visit McFarland Ranch each week, arriving in wide-eyed wonder.
Volunteer parents frequently comment that they had no idea McFarland Ranch even existed. Teachers and parents vow to return with their own children, impressed with not only the one-of-a-kind educational opportunities, but also the wide-open spaces and beauty of the ranch.
"This is beautiful, wide open spaces all around," said Jose Gomez from the Elk Grove Unified School District. "I hope in the near future to bring my own family to volunteer on the ranch."
Children experience what life was like in the late 1800s. Education, enhanced with the sense of touch, smell, sight, taste, and sound, engages children's already curious nature.
"Seeing how people before them solved problems and entertained themselves is important for so many reasons," said Bell. "I feel it not only gives a child practical knowledge but it actually opens their own creativity and even gives a sense of stability."
The joint collaboration of the Galt elementary school district and the Galt Area Historical Society and its living history program provides a multitude of opportunities for students of all ages.
Agriculture students from Franklin High School in Elk Grove were able to take classroom learning to practical application on a service-learning trip to McFarland Ranch, laying 2,000 feet of irrigation pipe.
"Agriculture students interested in irrigation were able to learn agriculture practice and irrigation," said Service Learning Coordinator John Durand of the Galt elementary school district. "They learned how to do everything, from laying out irrigation grid and trenching to gluing the pipe and putting it in the ground. They measured the pipe, cut the pipe, assembled and glued fittings."
What the students had been learning at school suddenly sparked as students and science teacher Robin Spalty and agriculture teacher Sheri Duncan from Franklin worked together.
"You learn things at school through books, but here you can learn actively," said Jasmine Morales, ninth grade student at Franklin. "It sticks with you more instead of reading and taking tests. It applies to real life."
The living history program at McFarland Ranch involves service learning, young people learning the importance of giving back to the community.
"It's a good feeling to know that we did this. We can come back to McFarland Ranch in 10-20 years and know that we did it," said Stephanie Zaccari, a sophomore at Franklin. "It is great to learn in the classroom and have a place to actually come out and do it."
According to Durand, a developmental grant from Cal Serve helped make this learning experience possible for the Franklin agriculture students.
Volunteer labor, such as the Franklin students, and donations provide the life behind McFarland Ranch.
"The ranch is wholly dependent on volunteers and community donations," said Durand.
If you can volunteer or help with donations of cash or materials, call 745-0951, or contact the Galt Area Historical Society Inc. at PO Box 782, Galt CA 95632. McFarland Ranch is open for group, family, or business reservations. For reservations, call 745-1477.
Wish list for McFarland Living History Ranch.
Working tractor with accessories
4-Wheeler
Hoses (50') and nossles
Lawn Sprinklers
Garden tools
Work gloves
Picnic Tables
Folding Tables
Tree pruning equipment
Nails, saws, and hammers
Heavy duty electric extension cords
Wheel barrows
Lawn rakes
Lawn seed
Native wild flower seeds