FRIENDS OF EDGEWOOD NATURAL PRESERVE
|
FRIENDS OF EDGEWOOD NATURAL PRESERVE
|
|
|
SPRING SCHOOL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES By Carol Hankermeyer Spring brought out many wildflowers at Edgewood and many local school children to witness them. We have had record participation and interest in field trips this season. Here is a summary of those events. On April 12 a group of four high school homeschoolers visited Edgewood to learn about the ecology of California grassland communities. Each student was to report on a specific aspect or group of organisms: one on native plants, another on insects, a third on reptiles and amphibians, and the fourth on birds and mammals. Unfortunately, ticks, which were not on the list to study, showed up on the students en masse!
On May 9 I led a group of 9 Tiger Cub Scouts, parents and siblings on an afternoon discovery hike on the Sylvan Loop Trail. A Treasure Hunt, including a search for wildlife signs and woodrat nests kept them almost occupied. What an active crew! And can anyone answer the question why Native Americans went around nearly naked while white settlers wore so many clothes?? On May 23 we welcomed Sharon Cotter's class of third graders from Encinal School. Three docents took them on the Sylvan Loop Trail to find out about animal and plant adaptations as well as Native American life in the foothills. We received very positive feedback from teacher, parents and students. We'll greet the rest of Encinal's third graders—100 students in all!—on June 4 and 8 to wind up the school field trip season. It's impossible to overstate the contribution made by the Edgewood docents who are willing to brave the uncertainties, frequent chaos, and special demands placed on them when leading groups of school children in the Preserve. I wish to honor all of them for their gift of time and talent and remind everybody that without them the Schools Outreach Program would simply not exist. They are: John Allen, Sam and Delpha Berry, Kate Connors, Barbara Erny, Herb Fischgrund, Dick Gehrer, Paul Heiple, Pat Lisin, Alex Maksymowicz, Donna Maytham, Roger Myers, Pat Oren, Susan Peterson, Jan Simpson, and Robert Strode. Thank you one and all! |
|
Diane Garcia, science teacher
at JLS Middle School, brought 52 sixth-graders to Edgewood on April 16 as an
introduction to their study of plants. Six valiant docents were recruited to
lead students on several different trails from the Day Camp. Everybody seemed
gratified by the experience, as witnessed by glowing letters of appreciation
from the teacher and students.