By Stephanie Tolar | Project Coordinator
Autumn has begun, and while it has been unseasonably warm in North Carolina, we are finally starting to see the changing colors of the leaves! Autumn is the perfect time to talk about ecosystems, resources, and the recycling of all things in nature. Thanks to your continued support, we were able to offer two scholarships to Forest View Earthkeepers this session!
With 22 Earthkeepers at Forest View Elementary, this season is one of our largest! We spend each day outside exploring, playing, and learning! We investigate the forest near the school and play in the big field. We have many young campers this session, with over half of our students in kindergarten or first grade. Some of the youngest campers were scared of going into the forest, but with gentle guidance and encouragement, they soon learned to face their fears, and that the forest wasn’t a scary place after all.
One of these young campers, and one of our scholarship recipients, is Raul. The very first day we went into the woods, Raul clung to one of the counselors and said he didn’t want to go. With some reassurance, he followed his classmates and was soon picking up pinecones and exploring the small creek. After several Earthkeepers classes, Raul said, “I’m not afraid of going into the woods anymore” and that one of his favorite things about Earthkeepers is “going into the forest, and the WHOLE THING!”
Raul’s brother, JC, is a returning Earthkeeper, and also one of our scholarship recipients. JC said, "I like going on the scavenger hunts where we find specific things in nature." He said he was once afraid of going into the forest, but "now that I know what is dangerous in the woods, like poison ivy, I am not scared anymore. " During our scavenger hunt this week, we incorporated some new nature vocabulary words. Using his past knowledge from Earthkeepers classes, JC was able to correctly guess what “abiotic” and “biotic” resources were, and explain the concept to his fellow Earthkeepers! It’s amazing to watch our Earthkeepers have this kind of transformative experience.
These amazing experiences are possible for these students because of your donations and support! We at the Piedmont Wildlife Center and the families of these students are grateful for the opportunities that you have provided for them to learn, play, explore, and grow!
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