Troy University treated about 70 Dothan-area preschoolers to a day of fun and activities last week at CornDodgers Farm in Headland, Alabama, thanks to a program sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Children from Little Rebels Daycare, Ashford Christian Development Center, Southeast Alabama Medical Center Child Development Center and Honeysuckle Childcare & Preschool experienced a day of outdoor fun.
TROY also delivered each child a copy of the books “Brown Bear” and “Spot Goes to the Farm” to go with a TROY book bag.
The field trip was part of Project Pre-K to K Transition, a three-year program that offers training, supplies and hands-on support to child care centers in the Dothan area.
“Our Kellogg event at CornDodgers Farm was another great example of the partnership that Troy University has with the community of Dothan in making a real difference for young children,” said Judy Fulmer, director of sponsored programs at Troy University. “The Kellogg support for early childhood learning is directly tied to the University’s Early Childhood Education degree program.”
Funding for the program was doubled this year, allowing its scope to expand from two child care centers last year to four this year.
“The CornDodgers field trip was another example of how the Pre-K to K Transition funded by W.K. Kellogg Foundation continues to impact early childhood education,” said project co-director Pam Wimbish. “Our children received book bags and books to take home in addition to participating in a fun-filled educational field trip. There were smiles throughout the day from children and parents. What a wonderful experience it was for all of us involved with the program.”
In the spring, 21 preschoolers from Pal-A-Roos Daycare and Eastside Childcare Learning Center took a field trip to the University’s Troy Campus as part of the program.
“For the children who participated, they were connected to TROY in important ways that encourage learning,” Fulmer said. “We’re excited to be a part of this great partnership with Kellogg and the Dothan Community.”
