This year, students at The Crossroads School are experiencing significant growth, and this development is noticeable on multiple levels.
Middle school students participating in the Baltimore Urban Gardening with Students (BUGS) program will be showcasing their achievements at the BUGS Youth Farmer’s Market. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., where they will be offering fresh produce, eggs, honey, seedlings, and handmade items such as jewelry, lip balm, candles, and lotion.
All produce featured at the market is cultivated in an on-site greenhouse at The Crossroads School. In addition to selling goods, students will be preparing hot food items and conducting tours of the campus, including visits to the greenhouse and chicken coop. This marks the 27th year that the BUGS initiative has held this market.
The BUGS program emphasizes outdoor environmental education, concentrating on the urban ecosystem. At The Crossroads School, students delve into topics such as gardening, urban ecology, the watershed, environmental issues, and sustainability. They also receive education on nutrition and cooking, utilizing a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) framework.
As an integral part of their school curriculum, students engage in the BUGS program, translating their newfound knowledge and skills into practical applications in their environments. Through hands-on projects and experiential learning, they familiarize themselves with urban agriculture techniques and food production.
The Crossroads School operates as a tuition-free public charter school under the management of Living Classrooms Foundation. Located at the Edward St. John Learning and Teaching Center on the East Harbor Campus, the school accommodates 160 students in grades 6 through 8. Its instructional focus encompasses essential subjects such as reading, writing, math, science, and technology while nurturing social-emotional growth and whole-child development. The philosophy is centered around experiential learning.
Living Classrooms Foundation is dedicated to enhancing communities through hands-on education, workforce readiness, and programs promoting community safety and wellness, utilizing the surrounding environment as a “living classroom.”
The BUGS Youth Farmer’s Market will take place at The Crossroads School, which is situated in Harbor East at 802 S. Caroline St., Baltimore, Maryland.
