Ecosystem Explorers program takes kids on a natural adventure
The red-backed salamander might have been the star of the day, but there were lots of highlights at a recent Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) Ecosystem Explorers program guided by naturalist Andrea Higgins.
“We’re going to go on an adventure,” Higgins told an enthusiastic group of five to 10-year-old explorers, and suddenly we were off on an outdoor odyssey, with exciting natural discoveries around every corner. The program cultivates curiosity, builds self-confidence and provides a nice dose of exercise in the fresh Cape Cod air. Parents and caretakers of kids are guaranteed to learn something too!
Naturalist Andrea Higgins and the kids examine plants and insects near a fallen tree during a Harwich Conservation Trust Ecosystem Explorers program. Harwich Conservation Trust photo.
“This is a great place for all kinds of wildlife,” Higgins told the kids. “I know who lives here by what they leave behind. What do animals leave behind that tells a story that they were here?”
The kids were right on the ball, with answers like footprints, scat, feathers and fur. The joyful Higgins explained these animal clues, even offering up a new catch phrase, “scat is where it’s at.”
If a tree falls in the forest, Higgins will be there to explain what happens next. We sidled over to a fallen tree and a comprehensive investigation began, aided by super-fun magnifying glasses.
“Mother Nature is decomposing this tree,” said Higgins. “She’s an artist.”
Some of this artistry was revealed when Higgins showed a spectacular example of British soldier lichen to the group. The small green mat was festooned with tiny red fruiting bodies, like flowers in a mini-meadow.
A deer bone and a salamander
Then we stumbled on what appeared to be a deer hip bone! This caused quite a sensation and everybody closed in for a good look. But what were the little marks on the bone?
Higgins knew the answer. “In the winter months, sometimes rodents are so hungry looking for food, they’ll nibble on bones to get some of the calcium. You’ll see tiny scratch marks from a rodent’s teeth.”
A red-backed salamander was an exciting guest star at a recent Harwich Conservation Trust Ecosystem Explorers program. Harwich Conservation Trust photo.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, a live salamander was discovered. “This is one of my favorite friends,” said Higgins. “It’s called a red-backed salamander, and everyone should have a turn holding it.”
Who could say no to an opportunity like that? The kids kneeled down and held out their hands, and gently, Higgins placed the salamander in their upturned hands. There, in the warm sun of a Cape Cod spring afternoon, a magical natural memory was made.
Cooking up compost
After admiring some highbush blueberry plants, we adjourned to a lovely open space and learned all about compost. Higgins outlined the key ingredients of successful composting, and the kids created drawings of the recipe.
Now that they knew how to compost, the kids gathered leaves and sticks and built a starter compost pile. To top it all off, everyone was given a Town of Harwich Food Waste Tote bucket to take home and get their own compost going — a great souvenir from a day full of learning.
Higgins also added an important lesson about land conservation. “The beautiful thing about preserving land is that it will be here forever,” Higgins told the youngsters. “You can come back here with your children.”
—HCT would like to thank our wonderful community partners who help supported our Earth Week Ecosystem Explorers program, including the Brooks Free Library, the Harwich Department of Public Works, the Harwich Garden Club, the Harwich Transfer Station and HarwichSport Bait & Tackle. For families with youngsters aged 2-5, check out HCT’s May Preschool Explorer adventures with Ms. Andrea at HCT’s website under Walks & Events.