Volunteers can help students learn about GPFWA
If you're interested in helping some area fourth graders and getting an up-close look at Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area at the same time, mark Sept. 23 on your calendar.
Volunteers are needed to help some Bloomfield Elementary School students as they visit GPFWA for a field trip.
According to Brad Feaster, property manager for GPFWA, about 80 students will make their way to the Greene County wetlands that day.
"We will divide them into three groups. There will be three activities that each group will rotate through. Each activity will last approximately one hour and 25 minutes," Feaster explained.
"The activities will be a nature/birding hike, macroinvertebrates and wetland type identification followed by a presentation on the life cycle of Monarch Butterfly."
The students will arrive at 9 a.m., break for lunch around 11:45 a.m., and return to the field at 1 p.m. They will head back to Bloomfield at 2:15 p.m.
The three activities will include:
* The nature/birding hike will entail a walk around a selected wetland looking for anything interesting (birds, mammal sign, butterflies, wetland plants etc.)
"This will really be an unstructured time to let the students explore and ask questions," Feaster said. "This will be a good time for the leaders to talk about wetland functions, and answer questions. Binoculars and a spotting scope will be helpful, but not necessary."
* The macroinvertebrates portion will let the students dig through the mud to see what types of critters they turn up.
"We'll divide the kids into groups of three or four. Each group will dig around and save some of what they find. After about 30 minutes, we'll get everyone together and review/ID what they found," Feaster said.
The group will then talk about the life cycles of some of the critters found.
"The kids like this activity a lot. There will be lots of stories," Feaster noted.
* For the Wetland Type identification activity, the group will be divided into six smaller groups.
"We'll give a brief talk about how not all wetlands are the same, then give each group a set of index cards with wetland descriptors and a wetland key," Feaster said. "We'll have each group key out the wetland types. After they are done, then they'll review the outcomes and talk about each wetland type.
"If this activity finishes up and there is still time left, then I will have some Monarch caterpillars and chrysalis that can be used to talk about the Monarch life cycle to fill time."
Feaster said he'd like to have at least two volunteers per activity. He said you don't have to be a wetlands expert to volunteer.
"Don't be intimidated by some of the material. I will provide more detailed information as needed to activity leaders," Feaster said. "Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. "
If you're interested in helping, e-mail Feaster at bfeaster@dnr.in.gov . You may also call 659-9901 for more information.
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