Bringing the Classroom Outside with Camelbak

Bringing the Classroom Outside with Camelbak

by | Sep 14, 2020 | Harvest Home

It’s our final week of our Back to School Sweepstakes and we are so excited about this week’s school subject because honestly – it’s the most fun! (At least, we think the kiddos will agree).

Who says the school or work week should be all work and no play? Now more than ever for those of us cooped up working inside, teaching or parenting – there’s a need to pause, take a moment and get some fresh air, exercise and movement.

This week we’ve partnered up with our friends at Camelbak to bring the classroom outside this fall semester, while keeping wellness, hydration and healthy snacking in mind. Rather than setting up a homework station in the house, why not bring it to your local park, playground or even backyard? If it’s a pretty day and the sun is shining, we recommend bringing the books or tablet to your green belt to switch up the scenery, and for every 30 minutes of learning is 15 minutes of play time – whether that’s kicking around the soccer ball, playing catch, or swinging on the play set. 

Maintaining a healthy work-school-parent life balance is a tricky one these days and we can sympathize with all parents, teachers and kids. One thing we know for sure is prioritizing ourselves, our health and keeping things ‘light’ and fun is so important during these times of change and uncertainty. Not only will it feel so good for our mental, physical and emotional self – but it will bring back a sense of normalcy to new routines in the household! PLUS – this can incentivize the kids to focus on their learning if they know some fun is just around the corner too!

Our favorite go-to snacks for outside learning?

  1. Nothing beats fresh, healthy fruit like our sweet Starr Ranch Growers Honeycrisp apples. Bring ‘em sliced, paired with PB or whole in your lunch box!
  2. Summer means the sun is likely shining and it is hot! Lightweight, durable, spill-proof and leak-proof – we love the Camelbak Eddy Kids Bottle and know our fellow parents will second this. Hydration is key to keep the kids fueled up for the classroom or their extra-curricular activities and sports, and what’s better than a BPA, BPS and BPF free bottle that won’t spill?! Not to mention – they’re adorable and come in so many different colors and styles.
  3. Grab your greens! We love the idea of having produce on hand. Odds are, if it’s there and available, the kiddos will try it – and who knows – maybe even love it!
  4. For ease and convenience of packing – opt for a small storage bin or basket around the house that you can easily fill up with some goodies for an afternoon at the park. 
  5. Get creative with your outdoor activities! Depending on the age of your littles, bring a board game, toys, soccer balls and sports equipment so you can make use of the outdoors and switch off between learning sessions.

There you have it! Round up the little troops and head outside to switch up the school week. Whether it’s taking a few hours to get outside to teach or interact with the kids, or just an intimate soccer practice at the end of the day – here’s our reminder to try to make the most of these moments and prioritize health, activity and overall wellness. Head on over to our Instagram @starr_ranch_growers to enter to win your very own set of Camelbak Kids Eddy Waterbottles for your next outdoor outing, as well as a Kids Amazon Kindle Fire to make learning that much more fun this semester.

Good luck! 

Be a Starr at Science

Be a Starr at Science

by | Sep 7, 2020 | Harvest Home

How was everyone’s long Labor Day weekend? Labor Day festivities truly are the last ‘hoorah’ of summer before it’s back to reality, and the fall semester kicks into full gear fast. If you’re a parent (turned teacher) or a full-time teacher and are looking for fun ways to engage the kiddos, we have a topic in mind that we think the littles will love!

We’re all getting extra creative with classroom ideas and daytime activities lately, and what’s more fun than playing – and learning – about food?! I love the idea educating our future generations about what they put in their bellies, and even how to grow it!

With apple harvest finally here, we thought it was only fitting to have an apple variety taste test experiment as part of our Back to School sweepstakes. If you’re looking to do this at home with your own kids, first start off by picking up your favorite Starr Ranch Growers apples at a store near you (at least 3 different varieties – meaning you can pick from varieties like honeycrisp, granny smith, gala, fuji, golden delicious, red delicious and more – totally your preference!) Grab a handful and place them in large bowls or baskets, and label each with the coinciding variety.

Next, make sure you grab a handy notebook and label a few different sections for the kids to follow along with – I personally enjoy analyzing things like flavor, size, color and texture, but feel free to add more to your liking! Also, be sure to have pre-cut slices ready to go so the taste testing can commence!

It’s so fun to assess the flavor profile of each apple – in this case we used gala, honeycrisp and granny smith – each so different in their own way. We found that Honeycrisp was the largest and sweetest with a vibrant red hue and a tinge of yellow, Gala was more of a muted red with subtle streaks of orange and yellow, fragrant and juicy, and Grannies were bold, green and extra tart! You can also compare the different sizes of each, count the little seeds, and even compare the different textures of the apples between the colorful skin and the sweetness inside. Have your little ones count their slices, make notes in their journal about their findings and decorate it with fun stickers so they too can become inspired for their very own garden one day!

There you have it – who knew a mini science experiment could be so fun (and delicious!) In fact, this week’s prize package is a William Sonoma DIY Garden Kit so the whole family can continue to become inspired about the food they eat, how to grow it – and who knows, maybe even plant their own apple tree one day. To enter to win, head over to our Instagram @starr_ranch_growers – good luck and have a great week!