Connecticut Experiential Learning Center, CELC Branford, Connecticut – Experiential Education

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Children In the Woods at CELC

These days, being outdoors is not considered by many kids as place to go to spend their time.  Being plugged in to a wireless device is more the trend.  “I like to play indoors better, because that’s where all the electrical outlets are,” said a fourth-grader quoted in the book Last Child in the Woods, in which author Richard Louv coins the term “nature deficit disorder.”

Outdoor education takes many forms at CELC.  The “outdoor education class” happens twice per week for two hours at a time. We work with environmental educators such as Ranger Russ at Meigs Point Nature Center, do a lot of hiking, letterboxing, winter skiing, work on an organic farm, kayaking, and lots more. In addition to being a time to learn and be in nature, outdoor education also incorporates physical education.  Playing basketball in a gym, bowling, or doing yoga are all possible activities.  We play each day, no matter what the weather – call it recess or just being outside – after noon meal, CELCers run around outdoors.  They may toss a football, play guitar, or build forts in the woods. read more

Water Science Event to Benefit LifeStraw®

Passion Projects at CELC in Branford

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

Oh, The Places CELC Goes!

A rich and full learning experience, while par for the course, is not to be taken for granted.  At times, I become reflective and take pause to notice what we do from day-to-day, week-to-week at CELC.  Yesterday for example, Monday, although typical of the CELC way, was not just any ordinary Monday!

Students arrive and get to the business of a Literature Circle class.  Opening their copies of Huck Finn, they read, prepare for the literature circle roles, and quiz each other on the vocabulary for the upcoming test (all 80 words, in context, to be dynamically presented in a written evaluation in a couple of weeks).

One math class pursues understanding decimals and the magnitude of the applications, while another group works on algebraic equations and measures of central tendency.  Then, in keeping with our theme of Exploration and Discovery, we engage in a “passion project” presentation on football.

With the idea that any explorer or discoverer began with some seed of inspiration, CELCers take to our study by exploring their passions and then design a way to share with the class in a hands-on way.

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Special Event with Ucan2 for LifeStraw®

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

Brazil Comes to New Haven via CELC

CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) brings internationally-known ethnomusicologist Emilia Biancardi from Salvador, Bahia to New Haven on Monday, 7 November to share with students from CELC, Coop High School, and Yale College her knowledge of the music of Brazil in an interactive way.

Emilia Biancardi is known as one of the foremost authorities on the folkloric music and culture of Brazil.  She pioneered the recognition of this music as an art form, performing it on stages all over the world.  Her long awaited book The Musical Roots of Bahia was published in 2000.  Emilia has been musical director for many folkloric programs in the Pelhourino district of Salvador. Her collection of traditional musical instruments from around the world is on permanent exhibition in Salvador, under the direction of the Museums of Bahia.  She is also co-founder, along with Gerilyn Greco, of “Iabas” – an all-women’s Brazilian folkloric band based in the Hudson Valley of upstate New York.

At this workshop, Emilia will discuss the history of the music of Bahia, read more

Gratitude Expression for CELC in Branford

When Eileen asked if she could share her knowledge of the ancient origins of Halloween, she gave us plenty to think about as we approach this holiday, along with stories based on graveyard legends from New Haven’s past – such a history to the Halloween that we now know!

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