Join a Maine Master Naturalist for ecology exploration at Hidden Valley Nature Center!
As we explore the woods of Maine, knowing the names and identifying features of the ecology around us allows for a deeper understanding of the landscape. This can be easy in summer when flowers are in bloom and trees have all their leaves, but becomes a challenge once the blooms are gone and the branches hang bare. But here in Maine our trees are leafless half the year. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to identify most trees all year long? While winter makes tree identification more difficult it also makes noticing the unique and beautiful lichens that adorn these trees more noticeable. From flat patches of crustose and leafy circular foliose, to the lovely hanging fruticose varieties, lichens appear everywhere once you learn to spot them.
Join Maine master naturalist Heather Hardy to focus on learning to identify the most common trees and lichen types at Hidden Valley Nature Center. This program will involve an easy walk along the trails at HVNC with frequent stops to talk, observe and learn. Participants should wear comfortable hiking shoes and bring water. Feel free to bring along a tree or lichen identification book.
Participants of all ages welcome so lace up your boots or grab the kids for a morning of engaging outdoor learning.
A note to educators
There is immense value in getting students outside, even for short amounts of time, to explore the natural world. Research is continuing to show that taking kids outdoors benefits social-emotional learning and leads to greater focus when students return to the classroom. For many teachers, this may seem daunting for a plethora of reasons from short class blocks, behavioral concerns, ticks, access to trails, and the perceived difficulty of meeting learning goals in an unconventional setting. Teachers may also be new to learning about the ecology of their setting. This Naturalist Workshop Series is designed to help address the concerns and challenges of taking students outside and grow your comfort level facilitating class learning goals within and beyond the playground.
Each program will provide an opportunity to observe an educator teaching to a group of students. We will provide supplemental materials for teachers to bring back to school, content you can use with students, and time at the end to ask questions and brainstorm ways you can transfer the lesson to your school's unique setting.
We hope you will step outside with us and bring what you experience back to your schools!