July 22nd, 2017
21ST CENTURY CLASSROOM
Exploring local ecosystems
By ALISHA SAWYER and JEFF ROULEAU
St. Albans City School, Bellows Free Academy St. Albans
ST. ALBANS — This year St. Albans City School (SACS) was thrilled to be able to partner with BFASt. Albans teacher, Jeff Rouleau to be able to offer an environmental science summer program through Open Doors. Rouleau worked with SACS teachers Hailee Adams and Erin Rocheleau to provide an active and engaging week for our students. The weather did not cooperate much during the week, but the program hardly suffered. The students canoed rain or shine, explored rivers and brooks in high flow events (safely) and worked around mother nature and her moodiness. Each day presented new material and new opportunities for learning and connection for children and adults alike.
On Monday the group explored forest ecosystems with visits to Hard’ack and the St. Albans Town Forest. Before heading out the group had a discussion on ticks: what they are, where they are, how to check for them, how to remove them and why this is important. They walked the trails and learned to identify the trees and birds by call. They also had some fun flipping over rocks and logs where they were able to look at the ecosystems created underneath those things. Tuesday was a focus on stream ecosystems, the students visited various spots on Stevens and Rugg Brook around the city collecting samples of the bugs that live under the rocks in the brook. The students learned to identify those bugs and determine what the presence of the bugs tells us about the brook ecosystem. While at the sites the students had discussions about what makes a healthy stream compared to an unhealthy stream.
On Wednesday the group took to the water with a trip to the Bay, they practiced paddling a canoe at the Bay Park in the shallow water. They moved onto the Bay Marsh on the other side of Black Bridge where the students put their bird identification skills to work as they looked and listened for different kinds of birds, they also learned to identify the plants that make up a marsh. The group then headed south where the group planned to put the canoes in at Georgia Beach, however the water was not safe enough forboating, so instead the students explored the walking trails in the area. On Thursday the group went to Fairfield Pond and canoed an hour out and then an hour back, all in the steady rain. The soggy students made it back to school where they warmed up and dried out with a well deserved movie break. On Friday the group ventured all the way up to Sterling Pond for a hike and lunch at the top. The students came each day with excitement and anticipation and we sent them home again dirty, exhausted, and most importantly - happy! We are hoping to be able to offer this program again in the near future.
Exploring local ecosystems
By ALISHA SAWYER and JEFF ROULEAU
St. Albans City School, Bellows Free Academy St. Albans
ST. ALBANS — This year St. Albans City School (SACS) was thrilled to be able to partner with BFASt. Albans teacher, Jeff Rouleau to be able to offer an environmental science summer program through Open Doors. Rouleau worked with SACS teachers Hailee Adams and Erin Rocheleau to provide an active and engaging week for our students. The weather did not cooperate much during the week, but the program hardly suffered. The students canoed rain or shine, explored rivers and brooks in high flow events (safely) and worked around mother nature and her moodiness. Each day presented new material and new opportunities for learning and connection for children and adults alike.
On Monday the group explored forest ecosystems with visits to Hard’ack and the St. Albans Town Forest. Before heading out the group had a discussion on ticks: what they are, where they are, how to check for them, how to remove them and why this is important. They walked the trails and learned to identify the trees and birds by call. They also had some fun flipping over rocks and logs where they were able to look at the ecosystems created underneath those things. Tuesday was a focus on stream ecosystems, the students visited various spots on Stevens and Rugg Brook around the city collecting samples of the bugs that live under the rocks in the brook. The students learned to identify those bugs and determine what the presence of the bugs tells us about the brook ecosystem. While at the sites the students had discussions about what makes a healthy stream compared to an unhealthy stream.
On Wednesday the group took to the water with a trip to the Bay, they practiced paddling a canoe at the Bay Park in the shallow water. They moved onto the Bay Marsh on the other side of Black Bridge where the students put their bird identification skills to work as they looked and listened for different kinds of birds, they also learned to identify the plants that make up a marsh. The group then headed south where the group planned to put the canoes in at Georgia Beach, however the water was not safe enough forboating, so instead the students explored the walking trails in the area. On Thursday the group went to Fairfield Pond and canoed an hour out and then an hour back, all in the steady rain. The soggy students made it back to school where they warmed up and dried out with a well deserved movie break. On Friday the group ventured all the way up to Sterling Pond for a hike and lunch at the top. The students came each day with excitement and anticipation and we sent them home again dirty, exhausted, and most importantly - happy! We are hoping to be able to offer this program again in the near future.