Elementary-school students learned how golf course superintendents use science, technology, engineering and math skills during a recent field trip to Westminster (Md.) National Golf Course, as the 20-year-old First Green program that began in the state of Washington continues to extend its reach.
Using a calculator to multiply his findings, fifth-grader Andrew Simms learned first-hand how golf course superintendents use science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills to do their jobs during a recent field trip to Westminster (Md.) National Golf Course, the Carroll County (Md.) Times reported.
Andrew was one of 90 students from Winfield Elementary School in Westminster who visited the course for hands-on STEM activities, the Times reported, on a trip that was part of the national STEM program, First Green, that was begun in the state of Washington in 1997 to have students use golf courses as learning labs.
“We’re learning more about math because we’re measuring the length and width to get the area,” Simms explained to the Times during his visit to Westminster National GC. “It helps you understand how much water and seed you need to put in certain places.”
At the science station that was set up on the Westminster National course for the field trip, the Times reported, the visiting students learned about soil sampling and identified different grass and seed varieties. At the technology station, they learned how golf courses conserve water using moisture meters, and at the math station, they calculated measurements that superintendents often use to apply fertilizer.
There was also a special putting station set up for the visit, the Times reported, where Westminster’s golf pros taught students how to “engineer” their swings.
“We’re getting kids out of the classroom and seeing what golf course superintendents do on a daily basis,” Westminster National’s golf course superintendent, Ryan Kraushofer, told the Times. “We want to show them how technology fits into the job.”
Meghan Robertson, a physical education teacher at Winfield Elementary, told the Times that the field trip showed students “there’s a lot more to golf than just the sport itself.”
“Golf can be a lifetime physical activity for students, so introducing them to the sport at a young age is important,” Robertson added.
Denise Sharbaugh, a Winfield Elementary fifth-grade team leader, said the trip served as a good complement to the students’ curriculum units on earth systems and conservation.
“It’s a great hands-on learning experience, and it gives them a different perspective about conservation,” Sharbaugh told the Times. “I like that it’s cross-curricular—they’re getting STEM education and physical education at the same time.”
After visiting the putting station, fifth-grader Emma Larimore told the Times that she was taught “how to incorporate the hill and putt, based on how the wind is blowing.” And fifth-grader Aubrey Schroeder added that “They showed us the amount of force to use to get it in the hole.”
After the math station, fifth-grader Ryan Matthews described how the students practiced how to measure areas of the golf course. “It’s STEM learning, because you’re finding out the length and width of something,” he said.
“I found out there’s 121 acres here and I didn’t realize it was that big,” added fifth-grader Ella Robb.
Fifth-grader William Knight told the Times that he felt the trip helped to prepare the students for middle school. “This helped us learn harder math and challenged us,” he said.
Another First Green experience was scheduled for May 17 in the home state of the program, when middle school student from St. Cabrini School in Lakewood, Wash. will visit Meadow Park Golf Course in Tacoma, Wash., for hands-on environmental science activities. As part of the trip, the First Green organization reported, the students will study soil samples, learn about putting-green maintenance, and have a fun golf activity. In addition, the school will use public transportation to get to Meadow Park GC, to introduce students to using public buses.
As part of the activity-based format of First Green field trips, which allows for collaboration with community groups, Meadow Park’s General Manager and Golf Course Superintendent, Chris Goodman, was planning to have instructors from the First Tee of South Puget Sound to teach the golf portion of the field trip. A chance to play some foot golf at the course was also planned.
The First Green program provides resources for golf course superintendents, including online lesson plans, to help them prepare for school field-trip visits and to effectively use their courses as “environmental learning labs.” Other activities that can be incorporated into the students’ visits include testing water quality, collecting soil samples, identifying plants, designing plantings and assisting in stream-bed restoration.
For more information on the program and to view introductory First Green videos, visit thefirstgreen.org.
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