Blog, Front Page News•
on January 25th, 2012•
Three groups, three jobs, and seven eager willing CELC students. Thumbs slowly become sore as each piece of wood is grasped by hands, and the pile slowly starts to grow. A loud sound races through the air as the wood splitter comes to life, ready to demolish the wood. The sudden crack sends the wood into two smaller pieces. Woodsplitting done, I am off to the chickens.
The noise of the chickens bounce back and forth through my skull.The rising smell sends me into NOT the best state, as I clear away the chicken dung from the ground. The fire wood still needs to be brought to the house by “mule”, so that’s where I’m off to next.
Crooked wood under my feet requires me to hold onto the top of the “mule”, as a quick jolt sends a trail of gas behind read more
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on January 11th, 2012•
For our theme study of Exploration and Discovery, we begin by having students relate to their own passions. The idea being that every explorer/discoverer probably begins with seed of inspiration that grows into a passion, leading to one’s exploration. Following is a student’s description of a passion project:
I shared my passion with CELC in two different ways. One was a short computer presentation, and the other was going on a hike and to the beach to take photographs. Those are two very different ways of teaching people something, and I believe they both work very well.
As we started on our hike, someone pointed out a deer on a nearby marshy island. It was quietly eating grass and weeds, maybe a hundred yards away. That was quite a start to our hike. As we walked along, people took pictures of mountain laurel groves and of new buds on a pine tree. One friend of mine found a beautiful, multicolored fall leaf to take a picture of. As the hike progressed further, I could tell that everybody was really enjoying themselves.
read more
Blog, Front Page News•
on December 10th, 2011•
CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) presents
Water Science with the Whitney Water Center to benefit LifeStraw®
Join us for an exciting lunch gathering, film presentation, and water science class on Monday, 9 January beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Peter Cleary, Communications Director with Vestergaard Frandsen, Incorporated will speak with students and families, and show a film documenting its work to save lives.
In addition, Brett Leckey, a 10-year old who initiated his own project (Ucan2) devoted to LifeStraw®, will also speak about his fundraising efforts to better peoples’ lives throughout the world. read more
Blog, Front Page News•
on December 7th, 2011•
For our theme study of Exploration and Discovery, we begin by having students relate to their own passions. The idea being that every explorer/discoverer probably begins with seed of inspiration that grows into a passion, leading to one’s exploration. Following is a description of two student projects where each had to share her passion with the group.
My passion is working with children.
When the CELC students came to my passion project field experience, everyone seemed interested and ready to work. The children we met were happy to see so many new faces. I really wanted to use shaving cream to make shapes because I thought that it would be a fun and easy exercise to begin our day. Everyone thought it was fun – this activity helped the children learn to develop fine motor skills, work cooperatively in small groups, take turns, and follow directions. The children at the center learn by playing and having fun. We also took a tour of the school and met most of the teachers. We went outside where some of the preschool students were playing. During our break/snack time we did a question and answer with me and my mother, who is the director of the West Haven Child Development Center. I could tell that everyone really enjoyed our time. Working read more
Blog, Front Page News•
on November 20th, 2011•
SPECIAL EVENT
to launch our Water Science Workshops with the Whitney Water Center:
Arrive at CELC in Branford at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, 28 November for an exciting presentation when Brett Leckey, a 10-year old who initiated his own project devoted to LifeStraw®, will speak about his fundraising efforts to better peoples’ lives throughout the world. The first Water Science Class will then commence from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
This special event is open to the public.
Admission cost is a donation toward Ucan2’s Life Straw Project.
Recommended for
ages 9 and up.
Contact us at mandm@CTExperiential.org
or call 203-215-2317 to register and for more information. read more
Blog, Front Page News•
on October 28th, 2011•
One may experience an initial inspiration that sparks a passion, which ultimately leads to a lifelong journey of immersion into a particular area of interest.
CELC’s thematic study for this academic year of Exploration and Discovery begins first by finding out what students are passionate about and then by sharing that passion with their peers.
A variety of initial activities takes place, including a collage depicting images and words that best describe the aspects of the passion that are meaningful as well as the creation of a board game that teaches and employs aspects of the topic relating to the passion. We have a wide range of interests in our seven-person group including child development, photography, football, and fencing.
The main event for students is to create a way to share their passion with their classmates. This must include a sharing of what is most meaningful, educating others and incorporating a way to have others experience the activity first-hand.
The first presentation occurred Tuesday when one of our students brought the group to the West Haven Child Development Center. Her mom is the director of the center, and this student has developed a passion for working with young children. read more
Blog, Front Page News•
on October 13th, 2011•
If you ask teenagers to list their favorite pastimes, much of the list would probably include things somehow related to being plugged in to some type of wireless device. When do young people play, freely, outdoors, creating games from their imaginations? 
Drama classes on Fridays at Long Wharf Theater have CELCers pretending. Creating shapes within a space, making up a way to mold (non-existent) clay into a gift for another, keeping track of instructions that focus all of the senses, simultaneously. 
Bring on a refreshing and much appreciated opportunity to utilize the whole self and have a chance to take the risk to think way outside the box. Play. A fine concept and best done on a regular basis. Imagination engaged, yes – indeed.
Tuesday brought CELC students to the Florence Griswold Museum, where art is alive and well. The current outdoor exhibit, Of Feathers and Fairy Tales, is an elaborately and artistically read more
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on October 5th, 2011•
We shall never cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
- T.S. Eliot
The words of T.S. Eliot, recited by Mother Margaret Georgina, gave perspective as CELC students began their Tuesday at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, CT. A special place and part of our lives at CELC, The Abbey was introduced to our learning community years ago through none other than Rob and Sally (a.k.a. Rob and Sally Cole-Whiffen) who, curious about rare breed cattle, heard a story about this related to the Dutch Belted breed raised by the sisters at the Abbey!
Our students now visit as a community service project, tending to gardens, working in the sheep pastures, or whatever task might be needed. Always, we learn much as we work and experience this loving place.
Our work included harvesting kale, chard, cabbage, and carrots, and spending time in the blacksmith shop with Mother Anastasia. This shop still has the original structures from the read more
Blog, Front Page News•
on September 16th, 2011•
Just a few days of our new year with a new group of students and we have already jumped right into the exciting life at CELC! CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) is back in session in Branford! read more
Blog, Front Page News•
on August 24th, 2011•
CELC has a new home at 28 School Street in Stony Creek! Painting walls, building shelves, moving into our new space – we are excited about the possibilities. Students will once again occupy the ‘Old School’ and we look forward to our learning adventures. In our new location, CELC will continue to provide an outstanding middle school education for students grades 5 – 8, as well as offer other special events and workshops.
As an educational resource center for topics relating to young adolescents, CELC plans to host informational sessions for parents, fun family and kid-friendly programming, and will extend the student travel component of our program. Stay tuned for news about our Open House to be scheduled for this fall.
Three groups, three jobs, and seven eager willing CELC students. Thumbs slowly become sore as each piece of wood is grasped by hands, and the pile slowly starts to grow. A loud sound races through the air as the wood splitter comes to life, ready to demolish the wood. The sudden crack sends the wood into two smaller pieces. Woodsplitting done, I am off to the chickens.
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