Event seeks to spark childhood environmental education

Agriculture and farming have been woven into the fabric of Delmarva, and Friday evening at the Chincoteague Bay Field Station, an event was held to make connections between local farmers and chefs. 

The focal point of the event was the raise funds to help teach children about agriculture and where their food comes from.

Event organizer Elise Trelegan says the idea behind the event is to have local chefs and farmers supporting local kids.

Serving Up The Shore has been connecting farmers with local chefs for three years now.  The dinner is a celebration of locally grown and produced foods.

"It's something that helps us get some exposure but really what we're doing is donating to this cause which is environmental outreach and education," said Stewart Lundy, owner and manager of Perennial Farms.

The money raised goes toward teaching the next generation about farming, ecology, and the process of food from the farm to the dinner table.

SPARK, Shore People Advancing Readiness For Knowledge, is a free program for Accomack County children to learn and grow together through outdoor experiences.

"I think it's indispensable for the future to get kids, especially the new generation thinking ecologically because for me that's sound ecology is sound economics and we've got to get that early," said Lundy.

"That brings together families, together in the community to learn about  environmental education, learn about different science concepts while they're out in the field with hands on experiences," said Trelegan.

And learning early can teach the next generation how to control their own carbon footprint.

"When people see how an ecosystem is interconnected as this elaborate web, they're much more careful about how they stomp around or what damages they cause," said Lundy.

For more information on the SPARK program, you can find them at cbfieldstation.org/spark.