School Program Volunteer Training

For pictures of the day, click HERE.

According to the brochure, “School Program Volunteers are naturalists at heart, who want to share the wonders of nature with 2^nd and 5^th graders.”

Last week I attended the training at Paris Mountain State Park to help new volunteers and to see if any changes were made in the program as well as see what new things I could see on the hike. My favorite activity is to lead 2^nd graders on a nature hike around the lake.

In the morning, Ranger Cathy gave a program overview and then we went to the creek to simulate a lesson. Some people put on boots or crocs and went into the creek to find organisms. Then we took them to the picnic table to do some scientific measurements. We measured the air and water temperatures, ph level of the water, and measured the organisms.

After lunch we walked around the lake.

Things I Learned:

1. The fence around the swimming area has been removed and it looks much friendlier and welcoming.
2. There were a lot of mushrooms along the trail.
3. There was a white egg-like substance on the alder that the ants were eating.
4. Cardinal flower, flowering spurge, butterfly pea, and tick trefoil were blooming.
5. There was a lot of new beaver activity evident along the trail.