Four spotlight classes will be offered at Pono’s Summer Camp B! Join us for a lesson on Coffee, Pedigree Dogs, Food Systems, and International Politics!

Note: This is an elective class that consists of four different sessions. Children who sign up are expected to attend all four.

Day/Time: Fridays, 10:20-10:50 am Eastern Time
Dates: 8/14, 8/21, 8/28, 9/4 (Summer B)
Ages: 10 to 14

1. Coffee, with Rob Moran

A lot of work goes into the coffee we drink! In fact, there are 39 steps used to bring a cup of coffee all the way from the farm to your cup. While we'll touch on those 39 steps, we'll also walk through how coffee is roasted, bagged, and served.

Rob Moran has been in the coffee industry for more than six years as an owner of a coffee shop in San Diego, CA. Prior to that, Rob traveled the world in bands and has had the luxury of trying coffee from Argentina to Japan. Rob has a passion for coffee and music, and he's found a way to merge those passions into being a successful coffee roaster.

2. How Pedigree Dogs are Made, with Mitali Parekh

We'll learn about some popular and exotic breeds of dogs, the purpose they were bred for, their distinctive characteristics, and their unique history. We'll also briefly look at the science behind breeding practices. Eli Parekh-Burman, a therapy dog who raises cats, will join in the sessions.

Mitali Parekh is a dog trainer and canine behaviorist based in Mumbai. She is one half of a team (the other member being Eli) that conducts animal-assisted therapy programs for senior citizens and children with developmental and physical challenges. She also facilitates children-animal interactions. Eli is a 5-year-old boy dog who loves swimming, adopting cats, and eating bananas.

3. Environmental Impacts and our Food System

Farm Sanctuary’s humane educators explore the environmental impacts of our modern food system and a positive vision for a more compassionate and sustainable future.

As the founding farm animal Sanctuary in the U.S., Farm Sanctuary has rescued and provided refuge for countless survivors of the animal agriculture system. Today, at Farm Sanctuary’s Los Angeles, CA, and Watkins Glen, NY Sanctuaries you will find nearly 1,000 rescued animals—each with an individual story to tell. These survivors are ambassadors, representing the billions of farm animals currently in the system. They, and others like them, have changed the hearts and minds of a generation.

4. Introduction to International Politics, with Grayson Meyerowitz

In this session, you will learn about Socrates, the three main schools of thought in international relations/politics, and the current systems of government in use around the world. You'll learn some of the advantages and disadvantages of these systems, as well.

Grayson Meyerowitz is an undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with a minor in French at Temple University in Philadelphia. He enjoys weaving philosophy into discussions of politics and applying past lessons to current conundrums.