Preschool Explorers are Curious about Chipmunks at Cornelius Pond Woodlands
Reflections by Naturalist & Walk Leader Andrea Higgins
Photos courtesy of HCT Outreach & Administrative Coordinator Halley Steinmetz
Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) hosts Preschool Explorer Adventures led by naturalist Andrea Higgins on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at a selection of Preserves. Geared towards cultivating curiosity and a lifelong appreciation of nature in youngsters, these expeditions are full of discovery, stories, art, learning, friendship, and fun.
Today our crew of Preschool Explorers and their caregivers gathered at Cornelius Pond Woodlands. This beautiful 15-acre Preserve with its 0.5-mile trail is a perfect place to admire a mixed pine, oak, and sassafras forest, a coastal plain pond, and lovely meadow habitat.
Setting off down the pine needle and oak leaf covered path, we paused to admire bayberry bushes lining the trail. We gently caressed the soft needles of the white pine and the prickly needles of the pitch pine. Chickadees and crows shared their songs, adding to the chorus of the forest. Continuing on, we examined the bark of white oak, black oak, sassafras, cherry, and pine trees, noting similarities and differences in the textures.
Upon arriving at a fork in the trail, our Explorers had an opportunity to run around and get their zoomies out. Once the youngsters were (momentarily) tuckered out, they settled in on a bench to listen to a few storybooks about chipmunks. Inspired by our learning, we pretended to stuff our mouths with nuts by sucking in a big gulp of air, holding it, and poofing our cheeks out. This of course prompted a round of giggles from parents and kids alike. After reading a few books at this location, we wandered some more before arriving at another bench. We snuggled in once more for the final chipmunk story of the day.
Further down the trail, we stumbled upon a clearing in the meadow blanketed with wintergreen. A circle of mats was set up awaiting our arrival. It was the perfect spot for today’s art project and to share some interactive learning. Each family was given a card with chipmunk facts to read aloud to the group.
Next, each child was given an extra-large sheet of folded construction paper with a picture of a hole on the front (representing a chipmunk’s front door, aka a hole to enter its burrow) and an illustrated chipmunk on the inside. Preschoolers created pictures of the chipmunk’s habitat surrounding the burrow entrance including trees, a stone wall, and whatever else their imaginations cooked up. On the inside, Explorers were tasked with drawing the chambers within the chipmunk’s home including areas for sleeping, storing food, and a place to hide from predators. Youngsters got straight to work decorating their chipmunk burrows with all the colors of the rainbow. Once complete, each child showed off their chipmunk dwelling drawing and told stories of their created habitats with family and friends.
Art projects in hand, our young Explorers skipped down the path back to the trailhead where our adventures began. What a wonderful and busy morning of movement, learning, creating, and discovering! I can hardly wait ‘til next week when we gather once again for more fun in the forest.
Happy Exploring.
Smiles,
Ms. Andrea
