The first Four Winds nature program training for the school year took place at Great Salt Bay Community School in Damariscotta on Tuesday, Sept. 18. The training was led by Lisa Purcell, executive director of Four Winds Nature Institute of Chittenden, Vt. The theme for this year’s nature lessons is “ecosystems.”
The 14 eighth-graders, five parents, and six community volunteers involved carefully examined a variety of leaves. All the leaves had been eaten by different “leaf eaters.” Participants discussed different types of leaf eaters. The group then went outside and looked for similar leaf eaters in the school’s backyard. After carefully selecting one eaten leaf, participants sketched the leaf. This activity led to a matching game of leaves and sketches.
The group then listened to a puppet show giving information about food chains and food webs.
Students in grades kindergarten through two at GSB will be presented with a similar lesson. Each lesson will be taught by a combination of the community volunteers, parents, and eighth-graders.
Purcell will teach four more lessons about ecosystems during the school year. Anyone interested in finding out more about the program should contact Betsy Ball at elizabethanneball.bb@gmail.com or Lorna Fake at lfake@aos93.org.