Preschool Explorers Learn about Lifecycles at the Hinckleys Pond – Herring River Headwaters Preserve
Reflections by Naturalist & Walk Leader Andrea Higgins
Photos courtesy of Andrea Higgins and Leanne Vieres
HCT Preschool Explorers and their wonderful caregivers gathered together at the Hinckleys Pond – Herring River Headwaters Preserve on Tuesday and Wednesday morning for a bog and pond adventure. After sharing warm greetings, we discussed the plan for the day and set off down the sandy path towards the bog.
Pausing to take in the view, we made some observations: sweet and floral scents were carried in the breeze, cheery bird song filled our ears, and we saw so many colors including the bright and brilliant blue sky, tree buds in shades of crimson and pink, various shades of green dotting the trees, and the bog was sporting a stunning variety of burgundies, scarlets, and garnets. All this beauty and our adventure had just begun!
Sitting together on a sandy portion of the trail, we discussed poison ivy including how to identify it and why we shouldn’t touch it. I read Leaflets Three, Let It Be! The Story of Poison Ivy by Anita Sanchez. This wonderful and engaging nonfiction book begins by introducing the reader to the deer, rabbits and bears who nibble on poison ivy leaves, the salamander who shelters in the plant’s cool shadows, the fall insects who wrap themselves in poison ivy blankets, and the birds who feast on its berries in winter. I identified the poison ivy along the trail to our Explorers as little ones held their caregivers’ hands while strolling along the bog.
There was a fruit salad of berry blooms along the edge of and inside the bog! We paused to admire flowering strawberries, the precious bell-shaped flowers of the blooming bearberry, blueberry blossoms, and scanned the bog for flowers of the cranberry plant.
As our wonder wander continued, we peered into the ditches of the bog seeking out frogs, turtles, and insects while periwinkle-blue and orange-and-black butterflies flitted about, dazzling us with their wonderful aerial dance. Our group gathered and crossed the bike trail over to Hinckley’s Pond. We admired ducks and spotted loads of herring swimming in the shallows. Gathering under a maple tree, we heard the sweet song of a Baltimore oriole, so we peeked skyward and admired the bright orange and black beauty in the branches above.
Explorers circled together as I retrieved two minnow traps I had set out the night before. To our delight, we immediately spotted some critters wiggling and wriggling in the traps as I brought them out of the water. I gently transferred our catch into a water-filled tray for examination. Youngsters were enamored with our findings including six newly molted crayfish (including freshly shed exoskeletons), a very small fish, water boatmen (a type of aquatic insect), a tadpole, and a water scorpion!
After watching and admiring the assortment of pond finds, we thanked the critters for letting us learn about them and carefully returned them to their home. So precious to listen to 2-5-year-olds saying “thank you”, “good-bye”, and “have a happy life” to our local amphibians, invertebrates, and crustaceans.
I spread out a blanket for a cozy gathering spot to enjoy more stories and an arts and crafts project. Am I A Frog by Lizzy Rockwell and A Frog’s Life Cycle by Jamie Rice were this morning’s additional reads. All this immersive learning had us inspired to create! Markers, crayons, and recycled egg carton cups were passed around for Explorers to create tadpole models.
Next up, a variety of stations were organically created by our group. Papa led a pond station admiring the abundance of herring swimming close to shore, while a few mamas supervised a sand station where a few Explorers were busy digging up sand with spoons and filling containers. Simultaneously, other caregivers snuggled up with their children to read from a collection of books I brought about frogs, bogs, and tadpoles.
With our pondside adventure reaching its conclusion, we climbed up the hill, crossed the bike trail, and resumed our stroll back. Pretending to swim like tadpoles, we danced a wiggle as we wandered along the path.
Gathering at the trailhead where our adventures began, I was gifted sticks, a rock, a few leaves, hugs, good-byes waves, the sweetest of smiles, and one Explorer even gifted me his tadpole creation. Another incredible day of learning and discovering, wondering and wandering, creating and cultivating.
Heartfelt appreciation to all the efforts of the HCT team for preserving these beautiful spaces and for the kindness and generosity of our anonymous donor for gifting these programs to our community’s children – I am sincerely so very grateful.
Happy Exploring.
Smiles,
Ms. Andrea
