Who knew that the great outdoors could boost brainpower? A 2022 study published in Frontiers in Public Health* reported that learning in natural outdoor settings provides surprising benefits for school-age children, including increased engagement and ownership of their learning, improved academics, and development of social and collaborative skills.
The 1,052 second-graders participating in this year’s Agriculture in the Classroom (AIC) Field Trip may not have noticed these benefits, but their teachers surely did. As the keiki made muddy seedballs, tried on beekeeping gear, watched sheepdogs herding sheep, and studied soil with magnifying glasses, the smiles and eagerly raised hands said it all. Out in the fresh, open air of Haleakalā Ranch, learning about agriculture was easy to do.
On April 23 and 24, 2026, Haleakalā Ranch hosted 16 schools from around Maui for the annual AIC Field Trip, presented in partnership with the Maui County Farm Bureau (MCFB). Participating schools were: Kahului Elementary, Kihei Elementary, Makawao Elementary, Maui Christian Academy, Princess Nahi‘ena‘ena, Pukalani Elementary, Kula Elementary, Hawai‘i Technology Academy – Kihei, Carden Academy of Maui, Kihei Public Charter School, Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Maui ma Pāʻia, Kamehameha Maui, Kamali‘i Elementary, Pōmaika‘i Elementary, Lihikai Elementary, Waihe‘e Elementary, and Pu‘u Kukui Elementary.
The students rotated through six stations with a 20-minute lesson at each, presented by educator partners from the community. University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resilience (CTAHR) presented “Canoe Plants”; Maui Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) presented “What’s In Our Soils?”; Bayer presented “Parts of a Plant”; Hawaiian Electric presented “Nutrition”; and Haleakalā Ranch presented both “Watershed Conservation Partners in Ag” and “Ranch Animals.”
New at AIC this year, Bayer educators brought a “kid-safe bee observation hive” as part of their plant presentation, highlighting the importance of pollinators to agriculture. Bee expert Clint Wall showed keiki the professionally built sealed hive, allowing them to safely view a single frame of honey bees through a clear Plexiglas viewing window and to ask questions (they had a lot!).
The AIC event is always a favorite of Haleakalā Ranch management, as a way to connect firsthand with the younger generation and hopefully to inspire them to pursue careers in the agriculture industry—or at least for them to know and appreciate where their food comes from.
HRC’s Jordan Jokiel, vice president – stewardship and forestry, and Greg Friel, vice president – livestock operations, both gave presentations, as they have for several years. Jokiel shared the importance of watersheds and conservation of our natural resources and how being good stewards of the land is part of living on Maui. Friel gave a demonstration of how stock dogs help with herding, to the delight of the keiki as the amazing sheepdogs did their work.
“We are always thrilled to be the host venue for Ag in the Classroom,” said Scott Meidell, HRC President & CEO. “Every year, you can see the kids’ eyes light up as they start to understand more about agriculture, and it’s a great feeling to know that they will take that knowledge home and share it with their families.” Since 2015, Haleakalā Ranch has been the host venue and inspiring backdrop for the AIC event, giving the keiki a real life visual of what agriculture in our community looks like.
AIC is sponsored by Maui County Farm Bureau in partnership and support from grant funders Maui County Department of Agriculture and Maui County Council and Haleakalā Ranch Co., as venue host and education partners Bayer, CTAHR, Hawaiian Electric, and SWCD. A big mahalo to Old Lahaina Lūʻau, Maui Gold Pineapple Co. and Kula Country Farms for providing the keiki with delicious treats of banana bread, chilled pineapple and fresh strawberries; and Native Nursery for helping with event set-up and breakdown.
A grand mahalo to all of HRC’s conservation partners including East Maui Watershed, Maui Invasive Species Committee, Skyline Eco Adventures, The Nature Conservancy, Mauna Kahalawai, Ulupalakua Ranch, Maui Forest Birds and Maui Cattlemen’s Association. A special mahalo to Kanoa Awai Dickson of Ulupalakua who worked with Greg in the livestock activity station.
Whether they head home dreaming of bees or sheepdogs, seeds or soil, the 1,000-plus keiki who visited Haleakalā Ranch this year learned plenty, thanks to our ag educator partners, sponsors, presenters, organizers and teachers—and the brainpower boost of just being outdoors!
* Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/publichealth/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.877058/full