Agricultural & Environmental Education (AEE)

In keeping with the Deed of Trust, the mission of Agricultural and Environmental Education (AEE) at Milton Hershey School is to support student success by engaging children and adults in experiential, land-based learning .

The goals of Agricultural and Environmental Education are to:

• Enhance student achievement in all academic areas through first-hand experiences that provide an authentic context for learning;
• Foster improved agricultural and environmental literacy;
• Facilitate development of life and career skills.

AEE utilizes the following land-based learning center resources to meet these goals:

• The Environmental Center combines laboratory, classroom, and outdoor learning environments to provide students with the opportunity to explore nature on and off campus. Its resources include a fish nursery, meadows, ponds, streams, wetlands, and woodlands. Students are involved in community service and stewardship projects as part of their environmental learning experience.
• The Horticultural Center supports the year-round study of plants and crops in various environments. Students learn about plants used as food (fruits and vegetables) and for ornamental purposes (landscaping and gardening).
• The Animal Center provides students opportunities to learn about the diversity and value animals provide to our society while working with large animals (horses and beef cattle) and small animals (sheep, goats, and rabbits).
• The Dairy and Foods Processing Center provides opportunities for students to develop an understanding of agriculture as it applies to the dairy industry by maintaining a production dairy herd and making and selling ice cream at the Spartan Ice Cream Center.
• The General Agriculture Program provides students the opportunity to work with all cropping and harvesting operations, including preparing the soil, planting, maintaining equipment, and storing crops.