Class VI marked their entry to the Upper Mid with a three-day trip that encouraged students to connect with classmates, expand their comfort zones, and gain a better understanding of the environment around them. Students spent one day and night at Sprout Creek Farm in Poughkeepsie, New York, where they participated in farm chores, prepared group meals, and learned from farmers about the work they do. Students spent a second day learning about local ecosystems and urban farming at Alley Pond Environmental Education Center and the Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm, both in Queens. The juxtaposition of urban and rural learning experiences also provided students with a broader understanding of food production and of energy cycling in ecosystems both familiar and less familiar.