FARMINGTON – Students at W.G. Mallett School explored a variety of hobbies, occupations and skills during the first Students-Exploring-Everything Day held at the school Friday.

About 40 presenters from the community demonstrated and engaged the students in learning about the things that they do and know. Things like beekeeping, gardening, handling police dogs, spinning wool and making pasta … just to name a few.

“It’s incredible to see the spark start in the children’s eyes,” said Principal Tracy Williams as the sessions wound down. “Several have already told me … I really want to do this … when I grow up.”

The school staff and PTA planned the day to give children in grades K-3 a chance to explore and learn about a variety of activities outside the school curriculum, while involving many parents, grandparents and people in the community.

When one game warden found out he couldn’t attend, Williams said, he was determined to find a replacement.

“He said he absolutely had to find a substitute because he became a game warden after someone visited his school when he was in the fourth grade and shared their occupation,” she said.

Children were given an opportunity to choose three workshops to attend during the morning session. There were approximately 40 offered.

“Awesome,” was the response from one little girl just leaving a fly-tying demonstration while other children questioned, touched and created as they were taught different skills.

Farmington police officer Mary Hastings had a large group of youngsters ready for a tour of her police cruiser and students were also interested in the work of state Trooper Scott Dalton and his K-9, Mikey.

Bees, cows and goats, music, clowning, tree work, pottery and basket weaving were just a few of the subjects children could learn about.

Betsy Hyde, a mother of one of the children at the school, gave a workshop on gardening and planted flowers with the help of volunteer Jill Perry. They also started planters for the front of the school, she said. Both Hyde and Perry were enthusiastic about the response and interest the children showed, they said.

One child commented that he liked gardening because his mother was often busy with older siblings and gardening gave him some “alone time” with his mom, Hyde said.