ECOLAB Update February 2012
By: Andrea Harris, Friends Environmental Educator

For the past six months I’ve been bringing Mr. Dennis’ 2nd and 3rd grade class of San Antonio Elementary to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. They come every other Thursday, and as of March the kids have been to the refuge eight times. For a kid, going somewhere eight times or even two times can get boring, but the refuge never ceases to provide entertainment. One trip we saw a tarantula hawk eating a spider, then a snake, and some coyote scat. The next visit there was a bald eagle right in binocular view, and a group of javalina scurrying across the road. Even after the umpteenth time the kids watched a group of snow geese take flight, they still stopped in their tracks and said, “WHOOOAAA”. This amazement and discovery is exactly what this environmental education is.

In addition to all these field trips I go to their classroom every other Tuesday. During these in class sessions, I teach about the scientific concepts and prep them for the Thursday field trip. There are three units that consist of 4 weeks, and each unit has a different theme. We just wrapped up unit 2, which was all about birds. In correlation with the program Mr. Dennis assigns projects to enrich the experience. During the bird unit, the students each had a different bird that they were writing a report on. Watching their faces light up in delight when they saw their bird, in real life, on the refuge was priceless.

The spring unit will highlight plants and trees. The students will be planting native plants on the refuge and for Earth Day we will be involved in a cleanup day at a San Antonio River Park with all of San Antonio Elementary.

ECOLAB is about creating a relationship with a natural place, and understanding that new things can always be revealed and learned by taking the time to observe and enjoy. The students are taught what a habitat or a carnivore is, but for a child to discover how to take true pleasure in nature is a lesson that is invaluable.

If it wasn’t for your support, this program would cease. In just three months, $1,835 dollars were raised in the visitor center donation box (WOW!). Thanks to these generous contributions, the Friends purchased 30 pairs of quality binoculars for ECOLAB. The students are so excited to have a pair of “real” binoculars to use, and they remind me to bring them for each field trip. Your support is fundamental for programs like this to continue, and we are very grateful to have members that care so much!

If you’re interested in volunteering for this program please call 575-838-2110 or email Friends Environmental Educator for more information.
Memberships and donations to the Friends of the Bosque de Apache NWR make programs like these possible.
Thank you for all your help!

PHOTOS!

Bald eagle sighting on the Marsh Deck! The students took a good look at the eagle through their binoculars and were excited to look it up in their guide books. “Ms. Andrea, this is not a juvenile and they only lay two eggs.” Nice work! Vole, mole, mouse or bird? Each student dissected an owl pellet, and then identified what the owl ate with help from the bone chart. Students gather at the Marsh Overlook to write in their nature journals. We saw Tyler’s bird the merganser and Olivia’s bird the cormorant at the boardwalk. They also put those binoculars to good use with a noisy flock of snow geese off in the distance. Students take a break from catching macroinvertebrates to watch a flock of snow geese take flight. Each child in the program is equipped with a discovery pack that includes a backpack, nature journal with pencils and crayons, a track and scat guide, a pocket guide of common plants and animals, and a magnifying bug box.

Refuge Biologist, Ashley Inslee catches a Western Coachwhip for the kids to see up close. The brave were allowed to touch! What's the difference between looking at something and really seeing something? Students hone their observation skills by exploring a 3'x3' area, and listing the tiniest things they can find. Who's the sneakiest fox? Students learn that predators must be very quiet and sneaky to catch their prey, while prey animals need to listen carefully and be alert to avoid being eaten! Matt Mitchell, Friends Vice President, shows the class one of his peregrine falcons, and discusses their amazing adaptations. Students draw the clay and sand striations in a pit dug by Refuge staff. Refuge Biologist, Ashley Inslee explains different soil types indicate what water does on the surface and below. Students increase their understanding of wetlands when they use a sponge to simulate how wetlands capture, store and release water.

 

 

Andrea Harris
Environmental Educator
Friends of the Bosque Del Apache NWR
PO Box 340 San Antonio, NM 87832
575-838-2110
friendsee@sdc.org
www.FriendsoftheBosque.org