They're classmates, but only met for the first time on a field trip



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- They communicate every day, but students from Wisconsin Connections Academy came face-to-face with their peers and teachers for the first time at the school's statewide field trip day.

"You get to know them online and stuff and when you meet them, it`s like you've known them your entire life," said Wisconsin Connections Academy student Jasmine Ford.

Students living in the Greater Milwaukee area enrolled in the online school spent Monday, September 22nd visiting Growing Power.

"This is an opportunity for them to come into a very hands-on facility and see where some of the things they may be eating at home originate from," said Growing Power Senior Staff Member Steve Schiro.

Growing Power is an urban farm dedicated to sustainable growing practices. The field trip takes what students are learning in their curriculum and puts it in a real-life setting.

"I was very curious when I heard of Growing Power and wanted to learn more, so this field trip is for me as much as it is for the students," said Wisconsin Connections Academy teacher Tracy Otwald Kowald.

An urban farm can provide a great food source to people who live far away from farms.

The children learned about the health benefits of eating freshly harvested foods versus waiting for food to travel to them.

"The moment we harvest those greens the nutritional density of that item that we are going to eat -- a very intimate product that we put into our bodies is going to diminish over time," said Schiro.

It was a day meant to inspire the children, while getting them to think about what they eat.

"I first walked in and looked around and I said 'well this is really cool. I hope we can have one of these at home,'" said Wisconsin Connections Academy student Vivian Ford.

Growing Power offers public tours daily at 1:00 pm.

For more information on Growing Power, CLICK HERE.