Send 30 Children to Afterschool Nature Program

What a great first week at Githens Earth Connectors!!

MONDAY

We started with an opening circle where we played a name game to get to know everyone better. After that we went to a field and set pitfall traps around the edge of the field near the woods to see what kinds of things we could catch. To make the traps we dug holes in the ground and set jars in them.

After setting the traps we made a circle and played an awareness game called “blind ninja”. In the game someone is blindfolded and everyone else quietly avoids being tagged by the blindfolded person. Throughout the game we increased the number of blindfolded ninjas and decreased the size of the circle. This game was met with strong support and we ended up playing two or three times giving different people a chance to be blindfolded. After the last game we gathered in a closing circle to complete our day. During the circle we encouraged them to share a positive story from their day while being respectful and attentive to other people’s stories. Many of the students mentioned the ninja game as their favorite thing of the day while some others really enjoyed setting the traps.

WEDNESDAY

We started with another opening circle where we played another name game and talked about respect and community. After the circle we went to check our traps.

On the way to the traps I gave the students an I.D. challenge; I had found a large leaf in the cafeteria and asked them to find the tree it belonged to on our way to the traps. The first student to find the tree was given a field guide and he correctly identified the tree as a Sycamore tree. Also on the way we found a Red Spotted Purple butterfly and discussed some of the plants we were walking near like Dog Fennel, Poke Berry and Beauty Berry. In the pitfalls we caught several ground beetles, a cricket, and a wolf spider.

On the way back we played some quick games, found an Ornate Harvestman, and a large Wolf Spider. When we got back to the school we showed them some of the wildlife ambassadors we had brought. First we brought out an Eastern Box Turtle named Sheldon; we discussed the differences between male and female Box Turtles, the differences between Box Turtles and other types of turtles in the area, and what to do if a Box Turtle is found crossing the road.

Then we brought out the Greenish Rat Snake named Jade.  All of a sudden, Elizabeth screamed "eck, don't get that thing close to me!" I told her I wouldn't make her touch it and discussed some snake anatomy, how harmless most snakes are when treated with respect, and the proper way to handle them. I then walked around the group and let everyone touch Jade.  Elizabeth moved away at first but in the end she fearlessly touched the snake and was really excited.  See her in the photo above!

To end our day we had a closing circle and allowed everyone to share their thoughts on the day. Many mentioned the reptiles, the pitfall traps, and the other critters we found as their favorite things about the day.

NOTE TO DONORS: How many of the flora and fauna in Bold Italics above do you know?