Walk to the Hart

Walk to the Hart Day 1: Sustainable Suffield on the Green

The Suffield Sustainability Council made history this past Thursday, April 21st, by organizing a 350 student field trip to walk to the Suffield’s town green to celebrate and learn more about protecting our Earth. Students were bussed to the middle school, and once the road was closed, around 350 students and 40 teachers walked down mountain road led by National Geographic Explorer Dr. John Francis, and a large banner that read, “We are the Environment.”

Once at the green, students were seated by the gazebo and listened to speeches by Dr. John Francis, Hawaiian voyager Dan Kinzer, Youth Activist Sena Wazer, Conservationist Dennis Liu, as well as a performance by the SHS Choir. After this session, students were allowed to explore the town green, which was filled with various environmental related activities for students to enjoy. There were Food Trucks, games, and booths from across the state. See below for our list of distinguished guests. Overall, students had a fun day at the green together while also learning from and engaging with people making real change for our planet.

1. CT Science Center

2. Westfield State

3. SHS Agriscience Department

4. SHS Sustainable Ag Class

5. SHS AP Government and Politics Class

6. Energize CT’s Mobile Lab Trailer

7. Capital Clean Cities of CT Inc.

8. Chasing the Outdoors

9. Springfield College

10. Project Wild

11. Earth and Outing Club

12. CT Land Conservation Council

13. UConn

14. Center for EcoTechnology

15. CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

16. SHS Farm to Wisk Class

17. UnGardening Native Plants

18. Voices United

19. Sunrise CT

20. UMass

21. HillTop Farm

22. CT River Conservancy

23. SHS International Relations Class Art Display

24. CT Sierra Club

25. SHS English Department

26. Yellow Farmhouse Education Center

27. Mr. Cosma’s Mountain Biking Demo

28. SHS Fashion Class

29. SHS PE Department’s Games and Activities

30. PACE

31. Jenga with Mr. McCullough

32. The Wilderness School

33. Cinco De Mayo

34. Kona Ice

Walk to the Hart Day 2: Climate Action Plan Training

On Friday, April 22nd, members of the Suffield Sustainability Council joined National Geographic Explorer Dr. John Francis and Hawaiian Voyager Dan Kinzer for a walk to the Northwest Park. Upon arrival at the park, the SSC met with teams of students from Avon High School, Enfield High School, Loomis Chaffee, and Bloomfield High School and spent the day with them at the park. After hearing speeches from John and Dan, students went on nature walks, did various team building activities, and learned about the importance of communication. After lunch, the SSC members then trained the other students on how to create positive change in their schools, and helped them create Climate Action Plans which those students then took with them to implement in their communities. Finally, the SSC then traveled to the capitol building in Hartford where they attended Sunrise CT’s Day of Youth Action event. There, they connected with other groups who were seeking legislative change.

Walk to the Hart Day 3: Suffield Town Clean Up Day

On Saturday, April 23rd, residents of Suffield were encouraged to get outside and pick up some trash in their neighborhoods. Students who participated earned community service hours and all who participated helped make our town a cleaner, more environmentally friendly place!