Kindergarten Class Builds Bat House to Aid Farm, Weaving Service into Learning

Next time you visit Erdenheim Farm, you may hear the happy chirps of a bat colony, thanks to Jenny Culbert’s kindergarten class. As part of their Wit & Wisdom curriculum, the class has been learning about farms and the nocturnal critters that keep pests away from crops and livestock: bats!

Armed with a bat house kit, several books, and their research, they built a cozy bat abode with the help of math teacher Charlie Grogran. But their good deeds didn't stop there. They penned a heartfelt letter to the farmers, explaining their project and expressing hope that the new bat house would attract some helpful winged residents.

“We built the bat house using a hammer and nails. It was hard; we did not give up,” wrote the students. “It is yours to keep forever.”

This isn't just a one-off project for the kindergarteners in Culbert’s class. Weaving service into their curriculum is a core principle. From baking pumpkin bread for a soup kitchen to collecting coins for a KIVA loan to empower a girl across the globe, they're constantly finding ways to make a difference.