Connecticut Experiential Learning Center

A Week In The Life of CELC

The osprey are doing well.  We visited the platform located near the Tabor Lutheran Church this week and observed the newest nesting pair to arrive in Branford.  The male stayed close to the nest while the female flew off on occasion for what seemed to be a lunch of fish and to bring back some nesting materials.

The pair at Center Cemetery now have eggs in the nest.  We know this because the female was positioned quite low in the nest.  We will continue to make weekly observations for the Branford Land Trust. read more

CANstruction 2010 Seeks Sponsors for CT Food Bank Food Drive

CANstruction takes CELC students to visit George Penniman Architects of Essex, Connecticut.  Heather passed out the meeting agenda as students gathered at the conference table – she wanted to simulate the experience of how architects might conduct a meeting.  We discussed our collaboration called CANstruction, a creative food drive where students team up with architects to design and build a structure made entirely out of full cans of food, which all will be donated ultimately to the Connecticut Food Bank. Many schools throughout the state read more

CELC Visit Days April through June

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For students who may not thrive in a large middle school environment, Connecticut Experiential Learning Center (CELC) provides a small setting where capable students discover the joys of learning.  CELC combines strong academics with experientially-based learning to encourage young people to be enthusiastic learners and confident adolescents, offering a full-time middle school academic curriculum for students ages nine through fourteen, including hands-on science, writing, grammar, history, literature, math, Spanish, culinary arts, outdoor education, music, and field studies. Contact Maria or Melinda to schedule a visit.

A Week in the Life of CELC – from osprey observations to yoga inversions

For News of the Week we will be posting our weekly activities, as it has dawned on me just how varied and interesting a week in the life of CELC happens to be, and we’d like to share.  Each day is a new adventure, whether we are  “home” involved in our subject areas, or out and about making our way in the world, students are open to opportunities to learn and grow all of the time, and it is very exciting.

Last week for example, while at the  Watering Pond Yoga Studio with Dorothy, students felt their strength as they practiced headstands. read more

Water – Our Precious Resource

The CELCscience of Water event brought young people together for a great cause – learning about water – our planet’s precious resource.  Students were involved in a variety of activities, from “becoming” a water molecule to calculating the percentage of water available for human use to designing a watershed and more.  All of this was to raise awareness and raise funds for LifeStraw, an affordable water filter being used in parts of the world where clean water is not available.  The straws cost $5.00 each, can eliminate 99.3% of bacteria and other particulates, and can last up to one year of use per person.  We will continue to support this cause and to be conscious of our water footprint on this planet Earth.

CELCscience of Water to Benefit LifeStraw

In recognition of World Water Week, CELC will host a CELCscience of Water event to benefit LifeStraw®, an affordable water purifier that helps people around the globe to obtain safe drinking water.

Students will explore, through concrete examples and hands-on lab activities, the amount of water available for human use on our planet, chemical properties of water, and more.

This special event will take place on Monday, 29 March from 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at 58 Huckleberry Court in Guilford, CT. read more

Greetings from Washington, D.C.

CELC students tour Washington, D.C. – we are having full days and lots of fun!

Today’s (Wednesday, 3 March) highlights include The National Zoo, The Library of Congress, and the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit.

Today (Thursday, 4 March) we toured the Capitol

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Snow Day or Go Day ?

Snow Day or Go Day ?

When I was a kid I cherished the very few days that it snowed enough to cancel school. Come on – a chance to go sledding at the golf course or skating at the pond behind the school. Who wouldn’t choose that over sitting in a classroom all day?

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Science Fair – Science is happening at CELC !

Visit the CELC science fair/share on Monday, 1 March from 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. in Guilford.  RSVP by email or call 203-215-2317 for directions and to let us know how many will be coming.

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Peace Jam Northeast Director visits CELC

Peace Jam is a great organization where young people from around the world work together with Nobel Peace Prize Laureates to create positive change through Peace Jam’s Global Call to Action.  Today CELC students met Barry Felson, our Northeast Peace Jam representative.  

“He made me feel like I coud be a part of things and make a difference when he made the point that everything counts and you can make a difference – you don’t have to do something huge.” H.S.,  8th grade student.

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